Mistletoe

[Donnie]

Mistletoe is the plant badge of Clan Hay. I wear a sprig in my bonnet any time I put it on!

[MacLowlife]

RR, Methinks Yaupon holly has caffeine in it. According to Wikipedia, its name ILEX VOMITORIA is unfair, as the vomiting aspect of the ritual drink made from it does not seem to come from the plant itself. Still, I think I would go slowly at first. If you want some, the lowlife plantations are awash in it.

[Nighthawk]

I wore some hanging from my belt buckle once...

[MacKay71]

I wore some hanging from my belt buckle once...

Interesting idea!

[Zardoz]

I wore some hanging from my sporran last night

[Ancienne Alliance]

Ah, cool! I'm quite the fan of tea, really, and the idea of making an herbal infusion of holly sounds great to me! So, for you have to do anything special to the leaves, before you brew it? Also, infuse for how long and what temperature water?

Hah- sorry for all the questions, and thanks!

EDIT: Hang on... are we talking about Yaupon holly, or regular holly? I was hoping you were telling me we could drink tea made from "standard" holly.

Beware.

Mistletoe and holly are two completely different plants: The Mistletoe grows on trees and have very soft light green leaves ; the berries are white and toxic.
The holly other IS a tree with dark green pricky leaves; the berries are red.


Best,

Robert

[Bugbear]

Ah, cool! I'm quite the fan of tea, really, and the idea of making an herbal infusion of holly sounds great to me! So, for you have to do anything special to the leaves, before you brew it? Also, infuse for how long and what temperature water?

Hah- sorry for all the questions, and thanks!

EDIT: Hang on... are we talking about Yaupon holly, or regular holly? I was hoping you were telling me we could drink tea made from "standard" holly.

No, Yaupon holly is the only type I'm talking about. (Ilex vomitoria) sorry about the confusion; that is the only variety that will grow here in the desert where I live. It might also grow over in your neck of the woods.

You could use the leaves fresh, usually the younger ones, but normally dried and crumbled. Use water that has been heated to a boil, then prepare it in the way you prefer to make regular tea: bag etc. Or put it in your coffee maker the way you make coffee if you're not too picky.

You might look up European varieties of (Ilex) holly and see if anything is done with those leaves, or should not be done with those leaves.

I also use a lot of rosemary off of my plants, and that's kind of nice in a tea, as well, as citrus zest.

[Chas]

It's a good point - I'm pretty sure mistletoe is a clan's plant badge (must look it up).

Which raises a point - does anyone here on the forum wear their clan plant badge in their bonnets or elsewhere ? After all, it pre-dates clan tartans.

The only plant badge I wear is the X Marks plant badge - the Dandelion. I wear it in my lapel when I am out of doors, kilted or not. This is Paul Henry and me at the Tate Modern in London last week.



It is permanently fixed in that jacket.

Regards

Chas

[graham_s]

Wearing mistletoe on your hat strikes me as somewhat tacky/sleazy.
That may just be cultural bias though.

I suspect anyone doing that sort of thing over here would be viewed as a bit off.

[JSFMACLJR]

It's a good point - I'm pretty sure mistletoe is a clan's plant badge (must look it up).

Which raises a point - does anyone here on the forum wear their clan plant badge in their bonnets or elsewhere ? After all, it pre-dates clan tartans.

Crowberry is difficult to come by in Kentucky, but I do wear a sprig of holly in my bonnet from time to time ( holly being another plant badge of the MacLeans ).