What happens when you pour boiling water over linden?

Rapidly boiling water is perfect for sterilizing a jar, but far too harsh for a delicate flower like silver linden. Linden blossoms and bracts contain tannins and mucilaginous compounds. If the water exceeds ninety degrees, the tannins scorch and turn harsh, giving the tea a sickly, astringent taste that dries the tongue.

Guidelines for a gentle brew

Proper preparation is a simple exercise in patience:

• Wait two minutes: Once the kettle shuts off, let the water settle until it reaches around eighty-five degrees.
• Optimal steep time: Six or seven minutes are enough to achieve a clear, yellowish-green hue.
• Do not crush the flowers with a spoon: Let the petals float freely so you do not cloud the liquid.

The mark of a successful infusion

A properly prepared infusion has a delicate, silky texture and a warm fragrance of wood and summer blossoms. There is no need to add sugar, as mountain linden has its own natural sweetness when brewed with care.