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!

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! 

From our weekly series: The Sunday Steep

As much as I always hope the end of summer will bring on easy relaxing times, it actually seems that my world gets even busier as the leaves start to fall! There is still plenty to do in the garden and the last of the preserving (the figs are just getting ripe and the persimmons look quite promising this year!) Meanwhile, between trips to the pumpkin patch, parties, and the autumn blast of fundraisers and community events, I find that extra boosts of nutrition, antioxidants, and vitamins are definitely in order.