Journal
Strawberry + Basil Kombucha
Spring Herbal Tea Infusions
Happy Spring Equinox! A time of new beginnings, growth + coming out of winter hibernation. The canyon in the springtime is full of new life. Walking the roads with Yarrow, I notice all of the native plants alongside the road that are starting to bloom; vetch, ceanothus, hedge nettle, yarrow, yuccas, echium, etc. The smells are so strong, especially after the rains. This is a great time of year to incorporate herbal teas into my daily routine more. I find that they help me slow down, are nourishing + aid with nervous system. I rarely drink caffeine so herbal teas have become one of my go-to drinks. During the winter they are great warm, and during the cooler months I stick my infusion in the fridge overnight and have a refreshing tea to drink throughout the daytime. Some herbs I prefer to use in my infusions are: tulsi, oatstraw, rose petals, lemon balm, skullcap, nettles, peppermint, hibiscus, and yerba buena. If an infusion tastes a little too bitter for my liking, I'll add in some peppermint and honey and it does the trick.
Spring Infusion Blend: Take a couple tbls of each dried herb into a large jar. Cover with boiling water and place lid on jar. Let steep for at least an hour (I let mine steep for 3 and sometimes overnight). Strain + enjoy :)
Rose: Calms the mind, relaxes the body, soothes the gut, heart healer
Tulsi: Soothes the nervous system, strong adaptogen
Skullcap: Nourishes the nervous system, mood boosting, promotes relaxation, eases nerves, supports restful sleep
Peppermint: Soothes the gut/aids with digestion, helps with mental clarity + focus
Nettles: Helps with seasonal allergies, boosts the immune system, helps with hair, skin + nails growth
Canyon Honey Elderflower Cordial
May 2022
Sweet, fragrant Elderflower begin to bloom in the canyon and across the central coast around early May. The dense clusters of tiny, white flowers are one of the great offerings from an Elder tree, for after the flowers bloom, Elderberries are soon to ripen. Both the flowers and berries have so many beneficial medicinal + healing properties. They are full of antioxidants, vitamins, anti-inflammatory, etc. They both can strengthen the immune system and are great to turn to when the body is feeling run down. When fighting a cold, flu or dealing with seasonal allergies, ingesting elderberry syrup/drinking elderberry tea and/or an elderflower cordial will help ease these symptoms. I also like freezing my elderflower cordial and elderberry syrup in ice cube trays and adding these to summer mocktails :) Adds medicinal properties + more flavor to the drink!
You'll Need:
+ 10-15 elderflower clusters
+ A few local lemons
+ Local honey (about 1/2 - 1 cup)
+ Water (about 3 cups)
+ Mesh strainer or muslin cloth
+ Sterile jar with lid
Instructions:
+ Remove the blossoms from the elderflower heads, discarding as much stem as possible, and place them into a large bowl. Let the blossoms sit in the bowl for an hour or so, small insects will start to crawl off the blossoms. This is a good way to clean the blossoms before processing. Once you get all bugs off flowers, add the lemons and honey.
+ Heat the water in a saucepan or kettle until just simmering, but not boiling. Pour the hot water over the elderflower mixture and use a wooden spoon to stir until the honey dissolves fully.
+ Place a finely woven cloth or tea towel over the bowl and set in a cool, dark place. Let it steep for 2-3 days, checking after the second day. If you’d like it to be stronger, leave until day three.
+ Once the cordial is finished steeping, strain it through a fine-meshed sieve and pour into sterilized jars or bottles. Keep in the refrigerator for up to a month, or freeze for longer storage (ice cubes)! :)