This blog was originally published in 2012. Because it's so popular, we decided to update it for you. Enjoy! 

Many of us here at Mountain Rose Herbs are big fans of frankincense and its fresh and grounding aroma. While most folks are familiar with the essential oil these days, there are actually a few different ways in which you can enjoy the wonderfully unique aroma of frankincense.

When the air gets cooler and the days shorter, it’s time to cozy up indoors with good company and good food. Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, one of our favorite things to do this time of year is to create delicious, herb-inspired recipes to share with our co-workers. When you have a variety of flavorful, organic spices to play with, you can’t help but get creative in the kitchen!

I’ve been a little obsessed with cranberries since I learned that these bright red beauties were native to my home state of Oregon. And while our organic cranberry powder is a customer favorite in everything from herbal capsules to natural DIY make-up, I can't help but find ways to use the fresh berries I love.

Sprouted seeds make it possible to feature fresh greenery on your dinner table year-round! Especially when our gardens are barren and local farmers markets have shuttered for the season, we like consuming these beautiful microgreens. They only take less than a week to sprout and are so simple to grow!

New Orleans is a special place for many reasons. It’s a hotbed for music and culture, but clearly one of its shining features is its delicious Cajun and Creole cuisine. New Orleans has countless native dishes, but I’d be hard-pressed to think of one more closely linked with this city or more celebrated than gumbo. I know vegetarian gumbo may sound like an oxymoron, but with the right organic herbs and spices, you won't even miss those traditional proteins. Feel free to call it vegetable stew if that suits you more!

Needing a quick appetizer using items already in your pantry? A nice drizzle of homemade infused oil makes for an easy and flavorful starter in no time flat! Whether used as a tasty marinade for your favorite soft chevre or served up in a dipping bowl alongside a fresh baguette, this beautiful and flavorful creation is a true crowd-pleaser. While herbalists know solar-infused herbal oils are a lovely way to extract botanical goodness for an array of herbal preparations, an infused oil made on the stovetop works well in a pinch.

At home, my kitchen is never lacking cardamom. I like this spice so much that I’ve got a separate hand-held spice grinder filled with just hulled cardamom (hint, if you use a clear glass vase grinder, you won’t get your cardamom confused with your black pepper). This way, I can have freshly ground cardamom goodness whenever I want! One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is in sweets, like shortbread or teacake. I adapted this recipe for my gluten-free and dairy-free friends, so we could all enjoy it together.

I discovered this recipe from an herbalist friend in North Carolina. It’s the perfect healthy (and tasty) addition to a snack table. This recipe makes about 2 cups of delicious garlicy goodness. Serve with crackers, veggies, pita, or use as a spread on sandwiches and wraps!

Deep in the Himalayan foothills just west of Nepal is a relatively unknown tea region: Kumaon. In the springtime, these hillsides are awash in green. Lush, vibrantly hued tea plants that smell as intoxicating as they taste, grow between stands of conifers. This is where you’ll find Desmond, the manager of our certified organic tea operations there.

Fermenting foods is one of my passions in life. With just a little bit of salt and water, you can transform vegetables into something completely different and also increase their healthful properties. Fermented foods contain probiotics, which can be beneficial for the digestive system.

This blog was originally published in 2012. Because it's so popular, we decided to update it for you. Enjoy! 

It's the time of year where pumpkin spice scents and flavors are popping up everywhere. Instead of reaching for a candle or room spray that's chock full of synthetic fragrances, try making your own diffuser blend with certified organic essential oils to bring those familiar pie-inspired smells into your space!