Spreading joy with Sidra Tea Blend

Last month, we visited Gawilan refugee camp to gift packets of our Sidra Tea Blend and introduce residents to our latest project: the Gawilan Community Garden.

The tea, made from ingredients grown and dried in our Azadi Community Garden in Domiz 1 camp, helped open up discussions about the new garden we are creating and how people can get involved.

Our Gawilan team – Othman, Roken and Hamid – spoke with many residents about the garden will be a green space where people can come together as a community to cultivate food.

The new garden has sparked plenty of interest, with many locals eager to grow their own produce and take part in gardening activities.

“It’s great to see so many people interested in the garden,” said Othman. “There’s real enthusiasm for getting involved.”

Expanding Sidra Tea outreach to other camps

After seeing the positive response in Gawilan, we decided to extend the reach of our Sidra Tea gifting to other camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This simple gesture helped us connect with more residents and introduce them to our upcoming initiatives, such as the cooking competitions we’ll be hosting soon.

Sidra Tea Blend: From garden to table

Sidra Tea Blend is a mix of damask rose petals, lemon balm, rosemary, lavender, santolina, and mint. All the ingredients are grown, handpicked and dried by gardeners in our Azadi Community Garden. Each packet of tea reflects the hard work and skills of the community gardeners who produce it.

Here’s how you can make Sidra tea at home:

Sidra Tea Blend recipe

Ingredients:

Equal parts damask rose petals, lemon balm and rosemary, with a small amount of lavender, santolina and mint.

Method:

1. Add the leaves and petals to water and bring to the boil.
2. Simmer for 5 minutes.
3. Strain the tea, let it cool slightly and enjoy.
4. For dried ingredients, steep them for 5 minutes before boiling.

Progress on the Gawilan Community Garden

The Sidra Tea distribution is part of our larger effort to raise awareness about the new Gawilan Community Garden we are creating. Once completed, this green space will allow residents to grow fresh produce and participate in community activities. It will serve as a central hub in refugee camp, home to more than 10,000 people, to boost food production and create a shared space for people to come together.

“The more residents get involved, the stronger this project will be,” said Othman. “We’re looking forward to seeing the garden take shape.”

Help us build the Gawilan Community Garden

To make this project a reality, we need your support. Donations to the Gawilan Community Garden Appeal will help cover construction and ongoing operating costs.

All donations are currently being matched, so your contribution will go twice as far.

🌱 £25 GBP / $30 USD could provide a month’s supply of compost
🫖 £50 GBP / $62 USD could provide 3 months of refreshments for our gardeners’ tea breaks
💡 £80 GBP / $100 USD could help with plumbing, electricity, and maintenance
🥬 £160 GBP / $200 USD could buy a small polytunnel
🍞 £1,750 GBP / $2,200 USD could fund a bread oven and a year’s supply of flour

Visit our Gawilan Community Garden Appeal to learn more and make a donation today. Your support will directly impact families living in Gawilan camp. Thank you.