While I drink tea daily for myself, there are times when one needs an impressive tea blend for company. This is a more simplified version of a tea blend I created for gifts and serving to guests at home. The recipe below makes enough for a nice pot of tea to share with cherished friends. It holds up well to a little milk and honey, or a little wedge of fresh lemon is nice as well!

Even though it seems a little fancy, it's a nice all-purpose tea for health and pleasure...

The days are short and grey around here, and while I tend to be a person with plenty of projects to keep me busy through even the dingiest times, that doesn't mean I'm always in the best of spirits. That's where the perfect cup of tea can be extremely helpful. This blend is full of delicious flavors and I like a little "nip" of Mood Care extract stirred into the finished cup too (made with Kava Kava, Gotu Kola, Passionflower, Ginger root, and Wild Lettuce) for extra perky pleasures...

From our weekly series: The Sunday Steep

I don't know about you, but I've been indulging. From Thanksgiving all the way through New Year, it's been treats and toddies and glorious meals with wonderful folks. But, now, it's time to do a little gastronomical regroup. This tea is made up of some wonderful herbs and roots and has a lot of flavor to help you get back on the health track! I like to make up a quart jar and sip throughout the day for a couple of days to reset my system...

From our weekly series: The Sunday Steep

Just like many of you, I have my personal list of favorite herbs - the ones that not only suit my palate, but also seem to be just the ones my body craves. Sage is one of those herbs I absolutely love and I have several Sage plants (or Mother Sage, as I like to call them as I brush by, pull off a leaf, and munch on it like an irresistible snack) growing in my garden. I use it for cooking everything from eggs to popovers! The fact that it stays green year-round means I can use it fresh or take advantage of the dried form for teas.

From our weekly series: The Sunday Steep

While lolling about on a soggy Sunday is always a treat, there are times when I want caffeine! But, of course, I want the flavors of herbal tea (hopefully something with a little zing) and the goodness of a nice, organic black tea. This recipe is the best of several worlds by combining the smoothness of our organic Ceylon tea with some seasonal herbs and spices. You might as well make this one by the pot because one cup is just not going to be enough...

We're still working on the leftovers from Thursday's big feast and we've already jumped into the hustle and bustle of the upcoming season with great abandon. After all, we're staring headlong into the frosty eyes of December! My belly could use a reprieve from all the tasty treats and maybe more of a boost than can be had from an ordinary cup of tea. This is the perfect time for a stronger infusion or a decoction. While tea is a type of infusion, sometimes it is helpful to steep herbs for longer than the usual 3-5 minutes--especially some of the woodier roots and nutrient-packed plants.

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!