Summer Chill: Cooling herbs for the heat
- Lauren Snyder
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Here locally in Ojai; this time of year is about the time that the thermostat begins to climb up rather quickly. Depending on the year, we usually get a little bit of June Gloom (foggy mornings and slow to warm days) rolling in from the coast; but as soon as July hits...the sun cranks up the heat and the days turn scorching. And, it will often stay pretty toasty through September/October.
So, this is where our summer cooling and nourishing herbs can come in super handy!
Read on to get an introduction to some of my favorites; and stay on to the end for a couple summer recipes for enjoying them!
Also, if you're looking for a ready made cooling herbal tea for summer, check out my Botanical Breeze Tea blend! This delightful mix of Lemon Balm, Hibiscus, Rosehips, and Calendula flowers is the perfect way to cool off and chill out on a hot summer day.
Lemon Balm: This happy and zesty herb is pure joy wrapped in a green leaf! It has a distinct lemony smell and taste that make it a great herbal substitute for adding lemon flavors without actually adding the citrus. It is a nervine that gently soothes the nervous system. It is also a relaxant diaphoretic that can be used to move heat up and out of the body. It is anti-viral and nootropic (which means it helps to "wake up the brain" and enhance cognitive function.) Because of its overall cool temperature and sour taste it is a great at helping to cooling heat and irritation within the tissues. This makes it a perfect ally for those exceptionally hot exhausting summer days.
Mint: If you've ever had a cup of iced mint tea or enjoyed a cold scoop of chocolate mint ice cream on a summer day; then you know exactly why I included mint in this lineup. It is a pungent aromatic with strong essential oils. It has affinities for the digestive system, meaning it stimulates digestive energy and relieves tension in the gut. It also has pain relief properties and a gentle nervine effect on the nervous system. Mint has a generally well tolerated flavor that pairs well with lots of summer flavors (especially fruits!); and it is super easy (almost TOO easy) to grow right at home so you can always have a fresh supply! Mint also comes in hundreds of varieties, so you can experiment with flavors like chocolate mint, orange mint, pineapple mint, spearmint, peppermint, etc.
Hibiscus: Hibiscus has a distinctly sour taste that has a cooling effect on the body's tissues. It can gently calm over excited and irritated tissues; especially in the cardiovascular system. It is also somewhat moistening (especially in cold water infusions), so this is a great balancing herb for blends with more drying herbs. It makes an absolutely perfect summer iced tea and it pairs beautifully with all the other herbs on this list.
Rose/Rosehips: I chose to add Rose and Rosehips to this list, not only for their cooling and relaxing properties; but because of their loving and nurturing energetics. Many of my summer herbs and flavors are distinctly sour and/or fruity; and while rosehips also fall into that category; rose petals lend a subtle and beautiful floral note to balance out the flavors. Both parts however have an affinity for gently relieving heat and excitation in the cardiovascular and nervous systems; which makes them one of my go to additions for summer cooling recipes. Also...personally, I feel like working with rose and rosehips is just like one big calming, loving, botanical hug!
Nettle: Although Nettle is not as distinctly cooling like some of these other plants; I included it in this list because of its nutritive properties. Nettle can grow abundantly during this time of year (more so in the shade as the Ojai temps begin to climb) and it is full of nutrition, vitamins and minerals. Sometimes, when we're in the throws of summer adventures and moving with lots of energy, we can neglect our own wellbeing a bit. So, whether it is a full day at the beach, a long road trip, or just spending extended hours in the sunshine...Nettle is here to restore and refresh you from the inside out.
It is one of those plants that I use as food AND as medicine. Nettle pesto is a perfect way to kick up the healing properties of your evening pasta dish.
Chamomile: Chamomile has a more complex temperature effect (when you stop to consider its bitter flavor and digestive effects); but it's essential oils are definitely cooling. Chamomile is an herb that I add to my summer blends to bring flavor balance, calming effects, and to keep my digestion regulated and balanced even when I am enjoying lots of fun summer meals that may not be as gentle on my digestion.
Tulsi: While this is the one herb on the list that actually leans more into being a warming herb; I chose to include it because of its restorative and tonic properties. It is also an adaptogen that can help the body to to adapt to the busy-ness and stresses of summer while helping to regulate and enhance emotional resilience. This is one I enjoy more in the summer evenings or as a balancing herb in tea blends with much more cooling herbs.
Summer Herb Salad Dressings
To brighten up your salads and bring a little cooling to your day! *Note: I run on pure vibes in the kitchen, so the fact that I measured and wrote down these recipes for y'all is nothing short of a miracle! So, feel free to let your own inner "vibe chef" out when you make these and play around with the portions and flavors a bit; make it entirely your own. Enjoy!
Nourishing Nettle Herb Dressing (Great for green salads and as a tangy herby glaze for tofu, chicken, or beans) Feel free to adjust to your tastes. I tend to enjoy a more tangy and slightly sweet vibe; but you might like more herbs or a little more garlic...enjoy the explorations!
2 Cups fresh Nettle (can used dried if needed) 1/4 Cup fresh Lemon Balm (dried tends to be less flavorful/potent, but is acceptable in a pinch)
1-1.5 TBS Lemon Juice
1 TBS Dijon Mustard
1 TBS Agave Nectar/Honey/Other Sweetener (I used Agave)
1 clove of garlic
1/2 tsp thyme (fresh or dried)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/4 Cup neutral oil of choice (I used Avocado)
Mix together ingredients in a blender, pulse until smooth. Add a little water if needed to thin it out.
Refreshing Raspberry Mint Dressing/Glaze
(Great for green salads, fruit salads, and as a dessert glaze) Adjust to your tastes, this is a base recipe that is heavy on the raspberry and mint flavors.
1 Cup fresh Raspberries 3 TBS fresh Mint leaves
4 TBS fresh Tulsi leaves (can use dried, but the flavor will be lighter)
Juice from 1/2 a lime
1 TBS neutral oil (I used Avocado. You can also skip this if you are avoiding oils)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp Vanilla *Optional: If your raspberries are on the more tart side, you can add a tiny bit of sweetener (agave, honey, sugar, etc.)
Stay Cool friends!
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