My Herbal Wellbeing - Herbal Tea Database - Dill (Anethum graveolens)

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Dill
Common Name	Dill
Scientific Name	Anethum graveolens
Dill, whose other names are Dillweed, Dilly, and Garden Dill, received its name from the Norse word dilla, which means "to lull." Magicians used it to cast and ward off spells. It was called the "meeting-house seed" by American colonists, who nibbled it to prevent hunger while they spent long hours in church. During the Middle Ages, a bit of dill drunk in wine was believed to enhance passion. Dill tea is a popular remedy for an upset stomach, and it is also used to stimulate the appetite. A decoction of the seed is said to overcome insomnia and pains caused by flatulence. Chewing the seeds is thought to get rid of halitosis. Native to western Asia, dill now grows weedily in the grain fields of Spain, Portugal, and Italy.
Plant	A hardy annual, sometimes classed as a biennial. Its single round stalk has shiny green feathery leaves, and dill is often confused with fennel, though dill's spindly tap root is not usable. Fennel commonly shows many stems from a single root, but dill seldom has more than one. Numerous yellow flowers bloom in flat terminal umbrella-shaped clusters which appear from July to September. Seeds follow.
Height	3 to 4 feet.
Soil	Average, well-drained.
Exposure	Sun. Keep out of wind so seeds won't disperse prematurely and plants won't bend to the ground.
Propagation	By seed sown 1/4 inch deep in spring or fall during the first or second lunar phase.
Care	When seedlings are about 2 inches high, thin them so the plants stand about 12 inches apart. If growth seems weak when the plants are 1 foot tall, fertilize with an all-purpose mixture.
Part used for Tea	Leaves gathered early in summer or seed gathered in late summer and early fall.
Taste	Seed tea-sharp, pungent; leaf tea-milder.
How to Brew	SEEDS, BY INFUSION: Steep 2 teaspoons of crushed seeds in 1 cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. LEAVES, BY INFUSION: Add 1 teaspoon of dried, or 3 teaspoons of crushed fresh, leaves to 1 cup of boiling water. Steep to taste.