Botanical name - Nepeta cataria
Country of Origin - USA
A catnip plant just by its name may not be readily recognizable by many, but those who own cats know that it is the plant that their cats love. Botanically the catnip is a herbaceous plant and member of the mint family.
The best way to consume catnip is by drinking catnip tea. Catnip tea with helps relax the mind and induces good sleep at night. Pregnant women should best avoid drinking catnip tea because it promotes urine contraction.
To create this amazing brew, take one teaspoon of dried catnip. Boil the water and remove it from the heat. Allow the water to cool down before you add catnip. If you add catnip when the water is hot it will lose its natural flavour and certain positive benefits.
The duration to steep catnip tea will depend on the taste and the requirement of the person. If you want to get the most out of the catnip, then it best to steep the catnip as long as possible. However, if you are just looking for flavour then the duration to steep your catnip tea should be short. The maximum steeping time should not exceed 18 minutes.
To change the taste of catnip tea you can add herbs like mint or lemon grass. You can also add other natural products like honey, lemon juice, strawberry and sugar. The quantity of herb or natural products that has to be added to catnip tea will depend on the taste of the person.