Kawakawa has a special place in my heart – it was the first ‘real’ (ie not from a bag) herb tea I ever made many moons ago. Such a powerful healer – 72 medicinal uses according to Murdoch Reilly’s “Maori Healing and Herbal” – and I was at the time healing up from wicked eczema. The eczema is long since cured but my love of Kawakawa lives on. The best afternoon pick me up ever.
Kawakawa + Ginger Tea
4 kawakawa leaves (choose the holey ones)
1 or 2 slices of ginger
2 cups of water
Put everything into a small pot and simmer very gently for 15minutes or so with the lid on to capture all the goodness.
Strain into a cup and add a good squeeze of lemon.
Honey to sweeten if you need it.
Kawakawa is indispensable! As useful in the garden as in the kitchen.
One of those helpful shrubs that’s happy in the shade beneath taller trees. So good to fill this otherwise weedy zone. Her heart shaped leaves bring a contrast and restful green lushness. Perfectly at home in native plantings – I’ve scattered Kawakawa through the flaxes and corokia in the border around our property, but works equally well with exotics. Here she is tucked under the wing of the Michelia Figo that keeps our water tank cool in summer. I harvest this one close to the house for my tea.