You don’t have to stretch your imagination far to understand Black herbalism. You’ve likely already lived it. A kitchen with worn counters. A pot that gets used more than anything else in the house. Roots drying on a windowsill. Someone older than you telling you, “Drink this. You’ll be alright.” 

I recently purchased a kitchen scale, and it has completely changed the game when it comes to testing and developing recipes. My newest culinary gadget has been such a gamechanger that I am quickly forgetting the many years I spent guesstimating measurements and eyeballing ingredients. This has been especially true for simple yet finicky recipes, such as bread dough,

A handcrafted scented bar of soap is both grounding and quietly luxurious. The fragrance that greets you in the shower or at the sink isn’t just an afterthought…it’s part of the sensory aromatherapeutic experience of bathing. In cold process soapmaking, scent is woven into the art and chemistry of the craft. Understanding how cold-process soaps are scented, and how to choose a blend that suits your mood and your skin can help deepen your appreciation for every bar.

These days more and more folks are participating in Dry January. Whether it be a New Years resolution, a health reset after holiday indulgence, or a lifestyle shift, a month without alcohol can feel like a sacrifice of sorts. But does it have to? With the holidays now over and months to go before the return of the sun, it’s important to find ways of bringing celebration into our lives. Which is why we like to think of Dry January as a celebration. And what better way to celebrate then by making copious amounts of delicious mocktails to replace the boozy beverages we might be missing?

At a Lammas harvest celebration one summer evening, I gazed up at a towering vitex beside a weathered chestnut-board barn. Violet flower spikes were alive with bees. I rubbed a few of the delicate palmate leaves between my fingers and breathed in the earthy scent.

A few weeks back, I wound up catching a “bug” that really took me out. While I’m usually pretty prepared for most things that may come up in my household, I didn’t have what I needed when I needed it. I was in no condition to be making medicine or trying to source it. With a high fever and intense fatigue, it was hard to even think straight, let alone try to guide someone else to find what I needed or make me something.

This blog is final recipe of the 6-part series on recipes featuring our new line of organic flavor extracts.

Well, it’s official folks. My 6-part recipe series showcasing Mountain Rose Herbs’ new line of organic flavor extracts is coming to a bittersweet close. Dusting off my flour-drenched apron and reflecting on the recipe rabbit holes I have fallen down since beginning this journey, I’ve found myself filled with gratitude for each and every uniquely delicious experiment we’ve explored together. Starting off simple yet strong, we began with vanilla crème brûlée, then onto notes of sweet and sour with my hazelnut pear tart and lemon poppyseed Bundt cake, followed by the chocolatey wonderland of peppermint mocha and orange chocolate. For our final stop, I wanted to challenge myself and bring us full circle with the last flavor extract on the list: almond extract.

As we reflect on the last year, we want to share our most notable accomplishments and extend our gratitude to you. We could not have accomplished these things without your incredible support. Here are some of our favorite initiatives from 2025 and a peek at what’s coming up in 2026.

“Seeing that certain medicines are discovered,”

wrote Paracelsus, physician-alchemist of plants,

“which preserve the human body and its power to recover

from sundry ailments, and which perchance

This blog is part of a 6-part series on recipes featuring our new line of organic flavor extracts. Stay tuned for more flavor inspiration coming soon!

Maybe this is just me and my sweet tooth, but the candies I enjoyed as a child have stuck in my brain like hard candy sticks to molars. From distinctly wrapped strawberry bonbons, saltwater taffy from the Oregon coast, to orange-shaped chocolate spheres covered in gold foil, each sugary morsel shaped many of my earliest memories. In particular, the latter takes me back to (literal) sweet moments spent carefully breaking off each chocolate orange slice one by one, and letting the rich, citrusy flavors melt onto my tongue. With this mouthwatering memory in mind, I set out on a mission to recreate this nostalgic treat in my own kitchen.

When we think of bitters, most of us think of taking an extract before eating to get our digestive juices flowing and prepare our bodies to process a meal. While this is most certainly a core part of working with bitters, there is more that can be considered.