Zhourat shamia facts for kids
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| Type | herbal tea |
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| Country of origin | Damascus, Syria |
Zhourat shamia (pronounced Zoo-rat Sham-ee-ah) is a special kind of herbal tea. Its name means "flowers of Sham" in Arabic. Sham is an old name for the area around Damascus, Syria. This tea is made from a mix of dried herbs and flowers. You simply add them to hot water to make a warm, comforting drink. It first came from the sunny Mediterranean region called the Levant.
This unique tea mix began in the old markets, called souks, of Damascus. You can still find it in places like the historic Al-Buzuriya market. Here, it is sold by weight or in pre-packed bags. Sham flowers have become very popular in countries around the Persian Gulf. This is partly because many people from Syria have moved there.
What's in This Special Tea?
When spring arrives, people in Syria go to valleys, mountains, and fields. They collect many different wild herbs that grow there. These herbs are then dried and used in the tea mix.
The exact mix might be a little different depending on where you buy it. But most mixes usually contain these ingredients:
- anise (يانسون)
- Damask rose (زهرة الجوري)
- thyme (زعتر)
- pennyroyal (نعناع البري)
- lavender (خزامى)
- sage (ميرمية)
- violet flower (بنفسج)
- rosemary (إكليل الجبل)
- common rose (ورد)
- chamomile (بابونج)
- lemon balm (ورق المليسة)
- khatmia or marshmallow flowers (تمية), which can be red or white flowers.
To make the tea, you do not boil the mixture. Instead, you pour hot water over the herbs and flowers. This process is called infusing. People often add honey or sugar to make it taste sweeter.
