Lacto- fermented Herbal Tea

My first experimentation with fermenting herbal teas was with a red raspberry leaf and mint blend.  It turned out ok.  It had a flavor that reminded me of honey and lemon.

My next try was using the Dr Cinnamon tea from the Bulk Herb Store.  This one turned out much better!

Ingredients:

1 quart of fresh water
1/4 cup loose herbal tea of choice
3 tablespoons honey
1/3 cup whey from yogurt or kefir or a few tablespoons of lacto-fermented vegetable brine 

Instructions:

Prepare the herbal tea by bringing the water to a boil.
Add the 1/4 cup herbs to a quart jar and pour boiling water over herbs. 
Cover and allow to steep for at least 10 minutes to extract the properties of the herbs.
Strain the tea from the herbs into another quart jar. 
Add sweetener while still hot in order to dissolve the sugars. 
Allow to cool to room temperature with a lid on to keep out dust and bugs.
When the tea and sweetener have cooled add the whey or other culture starter. 
Stir well with a wooden spoon, cover loosely with either a towel and rubber band or a fermenting lid.
Place in a dark, warm place for a couple of days and check for fermentation. 

Is it slightly sour or slightly fizzy? If you desire a more carbonated drink you can add a bit more sweetener and cap the jar tightly. After another day (three total, depending on temperature) you should have a bubbly brew.

Drink immediately or move to cold storage.

This is a great way to get some probiotics and IMO, is a nice, refreshing drink after a run =)