A Look Into My Tea Cabinet: What We Drink Daily And For Specific Ailments
This article was originally published in October of 2010.
Yesterday I told you why I made the switch to loose leaf teas and what equipment I use for brewing them. I am finding that some teas can be enjoyed on a daily basis for their added nutrients and antioxidants, while others can be used to address specific health issues.
Many of you asked where I source my tea and herbs. Most teas and herbs are difficult to come by locally so I almost exclusively purchase from Mountain Rose Herbs. They have very high growing and freshness standards and they are reasonably priced. I order teas, herbs, spices, and coconut oil from them a few times per year and have never been disappointed. For that reason I link to them as an affiliate.
Our Daily Tea – Green, Black, and Herbal
I like to keep loose green and black teas on hand. Organic and fair-trade are important as conventional teas may contain harmful chemicals and fair-trade ensures that farmers get a fair price for their products.
I keep an English Breakfast and Gunpowder Green tea on hand, which more often than not make it into a cup of spiced chai. While I am still developing my bulk recipe, I thought I’d share how I make our spiced chai, my husband’s favorite, a few times per week.
:: On the Fly Spiced Chai
- In a tea strainer place 1 heaping teaspoon black or green tea.
- In a mortar and pestle combine 4-5 cardamom pods (green), a teaspoon of cinnamon chips, two whole cloves, two black peppercorns, and 1/2 teaspoon dried chopped ginger. Pound until cardamom is broken up and other spices have been bruised or broken, about a minute. If you do not have a mortar and pestle, just crush the cardamom pods underneath a heavy jar. Add to tea in infuser. (this is just a starting point, change up spices as desired)
- Pour two cups of boiling water over mixture and steep for about five minutes for black tea and three minutes for green. Strain, add honey, stevia, cream, milk, and vanilla to taste.
:: For Every Day Health
These are the two teas that we use to brew up a big pot for the family. On their own or in combination with flavored herbs they are great health boosters.
- Tulsi or Holy Basil (caffeine free) – helps strengthen immune system, which Kimi wrote a great article about.
- Roobios (caffeine free) – super high in antioxidants. Also comes in green and vanilla.
:: For Balancing Women’s Hormones
I have mentioned before that I am working on balancing my hormones. I drink at least two cups of Women’s Freedom every day. It is not only delicious, but over time I have noticed an increased "evenness" in my hormone-related symptoms.
{photo credit}
Herbal Teas For What Ails You
When someone in our family has an ailment or general health concern I throw together one or more herbs or roots and brew up some tea. Some work in acute situations, but many herbs are best used over time. I recommend doing some research before taking my word for it – even plants have recommended usages.
With that in mind, here is a peek at my herbal tea collection and their usage.
For congestion or cough:
- thyme leaf – for chest congestion
- sage leaf – for cough
- slippery elm – for sore throats
To settle tummies:
To relax or unwind:
To detox or cleanse:
For Fever or Infection
To Build the Blood/Anemia
During Pregnancy
General Brewing Instructions
:: For Leaves – Use 1-2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes, covered, and strain.
:: For Roots and Barks – Use 1-2 teaspoons per cup of water. Add herbs to water, bring to a boil and steep at least 10 minutes. Strain.
This is just a peek into my personal tea cabinet. I am not a medical professional and I do not claim that any of the above will heal or cure a disease. I do, however, keep these herbs on hand for a reason – they work for us.
So tell me… what do you keep in your tea cabinet?
I find it interesting that you do not have Elderberry in there. Is there a reason for that?
Cheryl – Good point! I have never made tea out of elderberries, although I do have some in my cabinet. So far I have only used them to make a tincture, but I should give a try. Thanks for the reminder!
great post! I will refer back to this for sure.
liked this post. thanks for linking the women’s balance tea, too. I was planning on just doing a “NORA” tea (nettles, oatstraw, red raspberry, and alfalfa – google NORA pregnancy tea for more info) but I’m not pregnant, lol. So might try and either make up my own based on the MRH mix or buy their actual mix.
I keep loose Organic Irish Breakfast as my go-to tea, a wonderful Golden Yunnan I love with a bit of honey, Some Oolong and various herbal bag teas like chamomile orange. I’ll admit I’m just not a big green tea drinker. My favorite Iced tea is Irish Breakfast brewed with a bit of honey, rose hips, and lemon, or mostly now just straight unsweetened un-lemoned Irish breakfast. Being borderline diabetic it’s a great safe drink and I don’t miss the sugar now at all.
I have a “witches brew” I made with chamomile, orange peel, hibiscus, lavender, and mint, it was quite yummy. I’ve got tons of herbs I just don’t concoct tisanes myself usually. I bought a “TMJ & Facial Muscle Headache Tisane” this august from Auntie Arwen’s Spices, it’s got chamomile, clover, catnip, hops, orange peel, passionflower, st. john’s wort, horsetail, black cohosh root, skullcap, and lavender in it. I have to drink it at home, because halfway through the cup I get a bit loopy.
I really only like black tea, plain. I like English or Irish Breakfast other than just plain Lipton’s-type. Is the Greenpowder green tea a little less “green”? Unfortunately, for the last several years I have found that drinking tea makes my mouth/tongue burn and my throat hurt. I have drank tea my entire life, and have asked three doctors, and can find no reason why this is happening. It is very frustrating!
@Kim,
Have you asked conventional doctors or a naturalist, homeopath, iridologist etc ? Are you taking any medications or made any lifestyle changes (different toothpaste even) in the past couple years? Any of these could cause it.
Love the idea of making my own chai. I buy a loose leaf chai blend that I love, but I go through it rather quickly and it can be expensive. Quick question — where do you find the dried ginger?
I don’t know about Shannon but I can purchase bulk dried ginger at my local co-op. I would imagine that most natural/health food store would sell it.
Leah – yes, you can usually find ground ginger there, though I go to Mountain Rose Herbs for the cut (not ground) ginger.
@Leah,
You can slice and dry your own in a dehydrator.
I was wondering if you drink the Women’s Freedom tea every day? If so, how long did it take you feel “evenness” after starting to drink the tea? I am very interested in these teas for alternative medicine. Thanks
Karen – I have been drinking it for over a year now. Not every day, mind you. I have made a lot of changes that are also helping to even out my hormones. But I do think that this tea has helped, even shortly after I started drinking it. It all adds up more and more over time. I hope that helps, Karen.
Could you tell me other things that you are doing to even out your hormones? Like
using natural soaps, grass-fed meats things like that. Anything thing that you feel has
been very helpful besides the tea? Maybe you could do a post on it. Balancing hormones seems to be a daunting task that I think we will never totally understand
on this side of heaven. It doesn’t seem like it is just one herb or one vitamin.
Thank you for your input. Blessings.
Karen – Great question! I really should do a post on it, though I am no expert and have not finished the job yet. I’ll put that in my drafts pile 🙂
I would really love to know where I can get those glass storage containers that are holding tea in the top picture!
Leah – Great question, except that photo is not mine :). From time to time I use stock photos to fill out my posts and place photo credits throughout. So… I looked them up and found these through Amazon. They look just like the ones in the photos and store 4.5 oz each. Set of 12 is $20. They are cute, aren’t they?
I see that you like slippery elm tea for a sore throat. Do you know of any other sore throat soothers? Sometimes I try some hot chicken broth with cayenne pepper in it, but I’m looking for something that’s more like a cough drop – pop in as needed throughout my work day. Cough drops in the stores that actually taste half good are usually sugar filled.
I have made “lozenges” by using a simple combination of slippery elm and raw honey. Just mix until it forms a very thick paste that can be rolled into individual balls. You could keep them in a small container and pop them in as needed.
There is an herb called “self heal” that is very useful.
http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/selfheal.php
I also keep lemon balm around (to mix with chamomile in tea). I am experimenting with cramp bark tea occasionally to see if it can replace NSAIDS at certain times of the month, but my understanding is that the crampbark tea should be limited to only a couple of cups a day for a few days…
Does any herbs/teas help with inflammation that you have done a post on? TIA
i second the request for a post on balancing women’s hormones. despite many changes in my diet and personal products, this continues to be a problem. any comprehensive information/suggestion would be helpful!!
Just found your blog through my friend, and yours. I LOVE it, and have just read the last 30 posts or so. Am so interested in hearing about your move off grid…and don’t worry, I sent out updates for a year from rural Sudan using solar power…I hope you continue to post as well. What a fantastic blog!
I love loose leaf teas. We grow mint and lemon balm every year and then store it away for winter tea. My children’s favorite is these two mixed!
I drink, daily, Mama’s Red Raspberry Tea. I found that after a few days of drinking it my nails grew faster, my hair was silkier and my back didn’t hurt as much from lack of calcium. I love this tea from Bulk Herb Store online and even my husband enjoys it~
~Cinnamon
I am a midwife. The red raspberry leaf tea recommended for pregnancy I usually don’t have my patients start until the last month of pregnancy since it is a uterine toning agent. I don’t necessarily want to encourage the uterus to contract until the pregnancy is advanced enough that the baby would do well if born. It also is good to sip on while in labor.
Celeste – I have read that some midwives recommended it from the beginning and others do what you do. My midwife recommended it from the get-go with all three of my pregnancies and that is what I have stuck with since it seems to help and not harm. Thanks for you input!
Just a caveat about echinacea: If you’re allergic to ragweed you might be allergic to echinacea as well.
Thank you for all the information. Would you please tell me where you found your beautiful jars for tea. Thank you.
I would also like to know where you found those herb jars. Thanks!
I also love the herb jars in the top photo. Would you mind sharing where you buy them? Thank you!
Thanks for sharing great recipes. The following is an old Italian recipe and excellent way to sooth an upset stomach:
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon fennel seeds and 2 bay leaves.
Boil until the colour of the water has a dark golden hue – 10 minutes approx. Strain and enjoy!
Hi, I was wondering if any of these, especially echinacea, is safe for children and in what proportions? Also, is elderflower tea safe for children? Thank you.
Hi Tilly!
Yes, echinacea and elderberry are both good for children. I generally will give them a cup of the tea of these with 1 teaspoon of echinacea or elderberries per 6-8 ounces boiling water. Does that help?
Yes, thank you Shannon.