Honeysuckle Tea

The matrons took advantage of the early morning to collect buds off the honeysuckle vines which were planted on the south facing slope years ago.  The Nubbins referred to the vines as ‘lonials' (1).  The original plants were said to have come with the early settlers of the forest. Over many years the arching vines of the climbing plants were tied and trained by the little people on chansa tree poles, so that they would form a ladder-type network.  Artfully done, the appearance of the site simply looked like the vines had climbed the trees of their own accord, keeping the culture of the vines hidden to any tall one who might venture through the hillside slope.  The "ladder" also allowed the small people to climb up and reach the top of the plants to harvest the tubular shaped yellow-orange and yellow-white flowers. These flowers produce sweet, edible nectars and will also produce berries later in the season.

This particular sunny location, selected with care by the Nubbins, produced earlier blooms on the vines than normally would be the case.  In fact, these plants were almost four weeks ahead of the other vines that skirted the tall ones' farm.  The women carefully chose certain blossoms, leaving others to produce berries for gathering in the early fall and for the nourishment of the bees.  About one cup of the flowers, now just about ready to open, would be added to a quart of boiling water to make a special tea.   This tea was always served on the third night before the new moon of the coming cycle and was said to have powers that provided fine vision and promoted good health (2).  

While the matrons worked on gathering the blossoms, several of the men carefully cut sections of the vines and tied up others.  The cuttings would be shaped into a wreath and hung on the elders' lodge opening, where a ceremony honoring the vines would take place on that chosen night.   

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(1) Our research could find no reason for this term ‘lonial.’

(2) Honeysuckle tea has been used for centuries by both Eastern and Western herbalists to treat various disorders. 

Image: David Hawgood [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons