Most of the time when somebody around here gets a cough that won't quit, I put the kettle on.

Mullein tea isn't a cure-all. But it's the thing I reach for first when somebody's chest sounds thick, when allergy season has settled into everybody's sinuses, or when the tail end of a cold has been dragging on longer than it should. We grow and wildcraft mullein right here on the farm, and we've been drinking it long before we ever sold a bag of it.

Here's how we do it.

What you need

Dried mullein leaf, a mug, hot water, and a fine strainer. That's it.

The strainer matters. Mullein leaves have tiny, fine hairs on them, and that's what gives them that flannel feel. Those hairs are harmless, but they'll tickle your throat if they get in the cup. A regular tea strainer isn't always enough. We use a fine mesh strainer lined with a piece of cheesecloth, or a clean coffee filter set in a strainer. Takes an extra ten seconds and makes the difference.

How to brew it

1. Put 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried mullein leaf in your strainer or infuser
2. Boil your water, then let it sit for just a minute. You want it just off the boil, not a full rolling boil
3. Pour 8 oz over the leaves
4. Cover the mug while it steeps. A small saucer works fine. This keeps the steam and the volatile oils in the cup where they belong
5. Steep 10 to 15 minutes
6. Strain carefully through your fine mesh or coffee filter
7. Add a spoonful of raw honey if you like. Honey has its own soothing work to do on an irritated throat

Drink it warm. That's when it does the most.

One thing people miss

Cover the cup. I mentioned it above but it's worth saying twice. A lot of what mullein does for your airways starts with the steam before you even take a sip. If you let that steam escape while it steeps, you're leaving some of the benefit behind.

Same goes for when you're drinking it. Breathe it in a little before each sip. Let it work on the way down.

How much and how often

When someone in the house is actively sick or congested, two to three cups a day is where most people land. Space them through the day, not all at once.

For general fall maintenance, or for keeping things moving in allergy season, one cup in the morning is plenty. We're not talking about a medicine schedule here. It's tea. Drink it when you need it, skip it when you don't.

What it tastes like

Mild. Earthy in a gentle way, not a dirt way. Nothing bitter. The honey smooths it out nicely. I've had guests at the farm surprised by how easy it is to drink. Most people expect something medicinal and strong, and mullein tea is neither of those things.

When I'd use the tincture instead

If someone is in the thick of something and needs faster relief, or just doesn't want to drink tea three times a day, I'll suggest our mullein extract instead. A dropperful in a little water does the same work in a more concentrated form. I keep both on the shelf. Tea for the slow, steady approach. Tincture for when you need it to move faster.

A note on where the mullein comes from

The dried leaf we sell, and the same leaf I use in my own kitchen, is grown on our farm or wildcrafted from clean land nearby. We pick it by hand, dry it on screens in good air, and it comes to you from here. That matters to me when I'm making tea for my family, and I figure it matters to you too.

If you want to try it, our dried mullein leaf is a good place to start. Or if you'd rather skip the brewing, the mullein tincture is what I reach for when somebody needs something quick.

And if you want the deeper background on what mullein does and why, Greg wrote up everything we know about this plant on the Learning Center page.

Carole

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.