Aromatic herbs and spices like sweet cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and vanilla define our culinary palate this time of year, and that goes for cocktails too. Thankfully, you don’t need to stock the cabinet with a fortune’s worth of pretty liquor bottles to enjoy these delights.

It's coming! In fact, for many of us, it's already here.

This week marks the start of some busy, invigorating, stressful, and downright overwhelming days as we plunge headlong into the holiday season. It's going to take some focus to make sure we take care of ourselves, get plenty of rest and give our bodies the nutrition and support we need to carry us through the coming weeks. For me, oatstraw, red clover, and lavender are musts for a nourishing, calming cup of herbal tea! I call this recipe my "Do All The Things" tea blend; it even has a boost of Lemon Balm extract or tincture for a little extra concentrated feel good!

Elderberry syrup is delicious and oh-so-good-for-us, but what if you haven't had time to make up a batch? Maybe you've just drizzled your last drizzle and are in need of some elderberry boost right now! There's something a little decadent about this fruit and spice tea, but there's also a lot of soothing deliciousness. Why not brew some up and snuggle in for a blustery day? (This recipe makes enough to share and can be made ahead and refrigerated too!)

This blog was originally from the Sunday Steep series.

We are entering the season of hearty, heavy, rich, and delicious meals! Parties and potlucks abound, as do cozy meals around the hearth at home. I don't know about you, but that means my digestion could use a boost in helping to make sense of all those delicious treats and homemade goodness. I created this tea recipe for savory sipping either right before or right after a heavy meal.  It can be sipped hot or cold and has a nice, savory aroma too!

The fennel and cardamom seeds in this recipe are a wonderful addition for the tummy. If you're in a pinch and not in the mood to make tea, take 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds and a 1/4 teaspoon of cardamom seeds and chew (you can add a little sugar if you like). These herbs are helpful to keep your tummy happy after eating large meals!