Kitchen Cure: DIY Sweet Corn Silk Tea For Aches & Pains—Drink Up!

/ Wednesday, August 28, 2013


Aches and pains have been on my brain lately and I wonder if we could chat about it for a second (in a food-related way, promise)! You see, I'm a runner but long story short, I've worn down the cartilage in my lower-back despite my young age and apparently I'm supposed to quit it. Forgive me this sob story (it's been a frustrating few days) but I'm getting to the recipe, I swear...





When I was working at Food Network, I interviewed Chef Jeff Smedstad from Elote Cafe in Arizona; he told me that he made tea from leftover corn silks (those long thread-like fibers between the husk and cob) when his cooks had joint/muscle pain during service. It seemed like such a strange DIY remedy at the time but it always stuck with me.


I'm not an expert on the health benefits of corn—if you are, by all means please chi
me in!—but some sources say corn silk has anti inflammatory properties and could help with joint health. Obviously this is not a longterm solution for me or any of you who might be going through something similar. That said, it feels good to be doing something (anything) that could potentially help, right? Plus it's a tasty, waste-reducing project!

The tea tastes mildly of fresh corn. It's sweet on its own but you can add a pump or two of simple syrup if you'd like it a little sweeter. If you're having corn-on-the cob over the long weekend, save your silks in a resealable-plastic bag in the refrigerator (for up to 1 week), then use them to make this tea as desired. It's worth a try!








CORN SILK TEA

MAKES: 1 cup

1 cup water
1 cup corn silks (from about 2 ears)

1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir in the corn silks and simmer, about 5 minutes. Strain into a tea cup; discard the silks. Drink plain or add a few pumps simple syrup to sweeten. 






2 comments

  1. :( I am sending good thoughts your way! I recently had to stop running in the last 6 months because of knee problems, and its TERRIBLE to go through that endorphin high withdrawal. It probably took me those 6 months to realize/admit/accept that no i can't run and i need to find something else to fill its place (had to give up kick boxing too). Cuz we both know not eating cookies is not a possibility. Good luck finding a replacement, or having your corn tea work wonders.

    Love your blog !

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anna thank you so much for sharing. I completely agree with you, running withdrawal is intense and super frustrating. I hope you've found something else that gives you those wonderful post-excercise feeling! I'm testing out swimming right now—obviously it's not the same but I'm enjoying it a lot more than the elliptical/exercise bike. Obviously no cookies is not an option :) Thank you, thank you. You're the sweetest.


    PS. I love your blog, too!


    xox Erin

    ReplyDelete

Let's chat! And be sure to check back—I make an effort to respond to every comment! xo EEP

© Hey, EEP!. Design:Maira Gall.