For a long time, green or black tea, which reached Lithuania in the 17th century, was considered a noble pleasure. Only in the 19th century tea was started to drink in Lithuania Minor, in bigger Lithuanian towns and manors. Peasants and inhabitants of small towns drank bought teas rarely, only with special guests or on bigger events. The desire to have the urban tea forced women to look for local substitutes, they began to collect various herbs, berries, fruit and berry leaves. Tea in Lithuania is still made from lime blossoms, caraway seeds, chamomile, raspberries, thyme, oregano, mint, St. John's-wort, etc.
Find more recipes of Lithuanian culinary heritage: http://www.localtaste.lt/
