The beautiful orange color of calendula flowers makes for a lovely and flavorful iced tea. Calendula is a pretty flower that is also edible and a very useful herb. I always have calendula growing in my garden, which I use to make this iced tea and many other recipes!
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Herbal Uses of Calendula Tea
Calendula has many uses, but is most known for being soothing for the skin. Studies have shown that calendula has excellent anti-inflammatory activity, making it helpful for wound healing and skin calming.
It is often made into an infused oil that is then used to make calendula salve, calendula lotion bars, calendula cream, or calendula soap.
Beyond being good for the skin, calendula is also edible and delicious! The fresh flowers are wonderful added to shortbread cookies or other yummy treats.
When taken internally, calendula flowers are soothing to the digestive tract and may help with indigestion and heartburn.
Calendula has long been used in traditional herbalism for antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and antibacterial activity. Modern studies support this wisdom.
Components of calendula, such as phenolics and tannins, have antioxidant action as well as anti-ulcer action, so they may help soothe indigestion or other gastrointestinal discomfort.
While calendula is safe for children, pregnant women should avoid taking it internally.
This calendula iced tea is a wonderful way to enjoy some of these soothing herbal qualities in a delicious spring drink!
Get recipes using wild violet, lilac, forsythia, chive, calendula, lavender, white clover, nasturtium, elderflower, yarrow, rose, and Queen Anne’s lace flowers in my ebook Edible Flower Recipes: Infusions, Syrups, Jellies, Beverages, & Snacks!
Calendula Iced Tea Recipe
I like to make this tea using fresh calendula flowers from my garden. If you don’t have access to fresh calendula, it can also be made with dried calendula flowers.
Fill a quart jar with fresh calendula flowers (or halfway full if using dried calendula). Boil some water and pour it over the flowers, filling the jar.
Let that steep for several hours or overnight, until the tea comes to room temperature.
Then strain out the calendula flowers, add honey to taste if desired, and pour the tea over ice.
I like to freeze whole calendula flowers (and other edible flowers like wild violet and borage) into ice cubes to make the iced tea even prettier!
Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve!
I know you will love this botanical calendula iced tea! It’s simple to make, surprisingly delicious and refreshing, plus it is full of soothing herbal properties.
This is going to be my new favorite warm weather drink! Cheers to spring!
Calendula Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh calendula flowers, loosely packed or 2 cups dried calendula flowers
- 4 cups water
- raw honey to taste, optional
Instructions
- Fill a wide mouth quart jar with fresh calendula flowers (or halfway full if using dried calendula).
- Boil some water and pour over the flowers, filling the jar.
- Let the calendula flowers steep for several hours or overnight, until the tea comes to room temperature.
- Strain out the calendula flowers with a fine mesh sieve.
- Add honey to taste if desired, and pour the tea over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.
I’ve read that when using the flowers for injesting (rather than infusing in oil), only use the petals and cut the green bottom of the flower off, as the green part is bitter.
So glad to hear of the Ball Jar ambassadorship! I use them exclusively. Great company paired well with your amazing website. Thank you for all the great info, Colleen! Looking forward to the forage/grow season with you on the East Coast now! (I only found your site last winter)
Sincerely, Poggi
Thank you so much, Poggi! I’m so glad you’re here!
We just planted some calendula. It only has 4 flowers on it currently. Do I just pluck a flower or two off to use in recipes (or is there a better way to harvest them)? Should I wait until it has more flowers before I harvest any? Thank you !!
Hi Holli. You can pluck the flower from the stem as soon as they’re in bloom (don’t wait until they begin to dry and go to seed).
Last year was the first time I’ve planted them. These plants are great.
Keep picking the flowers, because they’ll just keep flowering. I realize your question was from 2 years ago, so maybe you’ve discovered that already. lol
What about making sun tea with the flowers ?
Yes, you could do that too.
Can I just use the petals?
Yes, of course.
I bought the dried calendula and have been using it daily in my tea. I fill a tea pot with boiling water and add about a tablespoon or more of calendula flowers. When my teapot cools a little more, I add a green tea bag and some Jasmine tea leaves. I strain and add add some honey. It’s great!
That sounds delightful, Loretta!
Do you wash the flowers before pouring the boiling water over them?
Yes, you can rinse them if it’s needed.
Thanks for sharing! I’ve never tried Calendula before, mostly due to a lack of access, but I might just have to give it a go now. :)
Also it’s interesting to learn that it can soothe indigestion and heartburn – you’ll mostly hear of the anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting benefits more than anything. Great post!
Best wishes,
James
Calendula is my go-to for sore throats, especially swollen glands. I never thought of infusing it like this overnight and having it cool. It would sooth a sore throat so much better!
Thanks!