May is a month of joy in the tea industry, with millions of tons of leaves being produced in the tropics and northern hemisphere. It is also the time for linden-leaf harvesting. Linden tea, crafted from the lime-tree (Tilia) leaf, offers a soothing and aromatic beverage cherished across many cultures. Also known as lime-blossom tea or Tilia tea, it boasts a delicate, floral aroma and a subtly sweet flavour profile. Renowned for its calming properties, it is also believed to aid digestion and support the immune system. Widely available in France, but hard to find in the UK, linden tea is served as a bedtime drink. A little may be good for you, but drinking to excess is not advisable.

How to serve

Brewed at 100°C for five minutes, it offers a gentle, refreshing experience with therapeutic qualities.

Where to buy

The Kent & Sussex Tea & Coffee Co, £2.95 for 30g (01233 840265; www.tea-and-coffee.com or pick and dry lime-tree leaves and blossoms come midsummer.

Jonathon Jones discovers teas from around the world, finds new flavours and cultivation techniques, and takes English tea to Asia.