Some of my fondest memories are centered around shared meals. My fiancé and I host dinners at our home quite frequently, and we find that it’s the little extra efforts we put in that make people feel special and pampered during their visits. One fun thing I started to include on the table are colorful finishing salts. I love to bring the powers and vibrancy of herbs to the dinner table. Not only do finishing salts add fun flavors, but they are also a good conversation piece. Their uncommon beauty piques curiosity and allows me to share my love of herbs when my guests ask, “What’s in the shakers?”

Each year, when I make my holiday gift list, I aim to meet a set of criteria. Offerings that are thoughtful, personal, and useful are amongst the most important to me. I have generally found that homemade gifts are more appreciated than things I can find in mass quantities at any big box store. Small-batch DIY gifts also allow customization, making them personalized for your beloved recipient. It can also help to keep waste out of landfills.

The holidays have fallen upon us, and what better way to celebrate the season than by gifting the home herbalist in your life with a thoughtful present that inspires their passion for plants? Whether your loved ones are just embarking on their herbal journey or are a seasoned herbalists in their craft, we've put together a holiday gift guide that will offer useful, thoughtful, and sustainable gifts for all types of herbal enthusiasts. From evocative essential oils kits for the aroma-aficionado, Ayurvedic skin care for the enlightened, or gourmet spice blends for the herbal chef, this guide highlights a plethora of unique herb-inspired gift ideas. From the Mountain Rose Herbs family to yours, we wish you a wonderful, joyful, and festive holiday season with the ones you love most.

We have all at one time or another, had the feeling of being stuck in our heads and emotions. This kind of stagnation is a human experience that often results from a trauma; past, present, or anticipated. During the holiday season, this can manifest more easily, so having some herbal allies “on call” can empower us with supportive tools for these times of need.

The connection between the moon's phases and the menstrual cycle is rooted in various cultures across history. This connection is grounded in the observation of natural rhythms and cycles, which were often personified and mythologized to explain and connect human experience with the divine and natural world. The word menstruation derives from the Latin and Greek word for moon, mene.

Healthy snacks are a staple in any herbal tinkerer’s toolkit. One of my all-time favorites snacks has always been caramel apples! While they get the most hype around Halloween, I’ve created an oh-so-perfect vegan version that is too good to only enjoy for one season per year. This date-based alternative offers the sweetness and consistency of caramel with earthy undertones of mesquite and maca powders. And if there is a way that I like to get my herbs in, it’s blended perfectly in a sweet-treat like this!

Each fall, I add a fresh batch of fire cider to my wellness cabinet. For years, I have (loosely) followed the classic recipe with excellent results, but I wanted more—more vitamins, more minerals, more health benefits! Fire cider is generally an herbal preparation that is used to support the immune system, but since so much of our immune system is affected by diet, I decided to explore the idea of adding more vitamins and minerals to the recipe.

The older I get, the less often I seem to want alcohol. Over the last couple of years, I have been better at listening to my body, and have leaned into the low-alcohol lifestyle. The biggest conundrum for me was not wanting to miss out on hosting or attending social events that were drink-focused. It was for this reason that I decided to get good at crafting tasty and unique zero-proof cocktails. Giving myself and others the option to skip the booze is a great way to still enjoy the act of sipping and chatting with friends and family without the negative effects of alcohol. Plus, it opens up a new way to bring herbs into everyday life. (Who doesn’t want that?)

If you’re looking for a new warm drink to try this fall, a saffron latte might be just what you need. It’s warm and comforting, with a touch of decadence. The floral notes of saffron, mixed with a hint of vanilla and spice, create a delightful balance in this recipe.

Fruity fizzy drinks are a staple in my household. As much as we love water, there is something extra satisfying about a fizzy beverage— the sound and sensation of carbonation bring a kind of magic and celebration to the very mundane act of imbibing. My partner and I have even taken to adding agave nectar to flavored sparkling water to satisfy both our craving for effervescence and our sweet tooth. This simple method of creating a bare-bones mocktail inspired me to try my hand at crafting an herbal variation to bring a bit more glamour and some seasonal wellness to our fizzy drink routine.

If you love including apple cider vinegar in your food and beverages, there are a few fun herbal preparations that you can accessibly make at home. Vinegars are a great way to work with herbs and can be very customizable depending on your own palate and what’s in season. One of my favorite methods of working with herbal vinegars is by making herbal shrubs.