Hawthorn is found mainly in Europe, eastern Asia, and eastern North America. Its use has been growing since the 1800's. In Britain, Hawthorn was an important part of many May festivals and was known as 'May flower'. In France, Hawthorn goes by the name "l'epine noble" (a noble thorn) from the belief that the crown of thorns worn by Christ was made of its branches.

Hawthorn boasts dark-green lobed, toothed leaves and in late spring it yields clusters of lovely, sweet scented white flowers. The interaction of leaf and flower make for a taste that is sweet, yet slightly bitter.

This Australian native has been naturalized to many parts of the world for use as a decorative tree and an herbal remedy.

A time-honoured folk remedy, Eucalyptus can be used for many complaints, but is an especially useful tonic for symptoms involving the respiratory tract. The high oil content of the leaves makes Eucalyptus tea an effective inhalant. Make an extra hot cup of tea to evaporate the volatile oils, then just breathe in the steam!

Dandelion’s first use was recorded in China in the seventh century. In the eleventh century the Arabs promoted its use, and by the sixteenth century it was well established throughout Europe. It was introduced to North America by the early settlers where it now grows wild. Today, Dandelion greens are common in spring salads. The leaves also bear special properties and good flavour as an herbal tea.

Damiana can be found growing wild throughout the southern United States, South America and the West Indies. It is a small shrub with yellow flowers and long, broad, light green leaves. The flowers have an aromatic scent with a warm, bitter camphor-like taste. Damiana was named 'mizib-coc' (meaning plant of asthma) by the Mayan Indians of Yucatan, but the herb's legendary reputation is noted by the second part of its botanical name ‘aphrodisiaca.’

Today, Damiana is renowned for its effects and holds a special place in Mexican folklore and medicine.

Catnip is a member of the mint family and grows 2 to 3 feet tall with bunches of flowers and thick stems. It is native to Europe and Asia, but was naturalized to North America by early settlers.

Feline behaviour is powerfully affected by Catnip, causing them to roll upon, chew, and tear to bits any they can find.

Catnip also has numerous uses for humans and is most serviceable in tea form. We hope you will enjoy the faint mint aroma and distinct taste.

Blackberry has been in use throughout the world for ages. The ancient Greeks and Romans used the leaves and roots for their medicinal properties both internally and topically and prized the fruit as a delicacy. In the New World, the same was true of our indigenous peoples.

Blackberry leaf tea doesn't taste like blackberries at all, it tastes more like black tea thanks to the special fermentation process. The tea is flavourful, high in tannins, and contains no caffeine, which explains why it's often used as a tea substitute

Native to the tropics of the Americas, Papaya has been in continuous cultivation for several centuries, principally for its sweet fruit. The leaves are widely used in cooking and contain an enzyme that is useful in tenderizing tough meat. In some parts of South Asia, the young leaves are steamed and eaten like spinach.

Papaya was once considered a mystical tree; its leaves were used for medicine and its fruit for food. It remains one of the most popular herbs in Central and South America.

Indigenous to eastern Europe, Parsley has a long history of use in Turkey and Lebanon. Later, the English would spread it around the world after learning its many uses. Associated with spiritual protection, war, and St. Peter, the Greeks originally used Parsley as a garnish to guard a meal from evil. The tradition of garnishing with Parsley continues today, but the purpose is different; it has a fresh clean flavour and many medicinal benefits that chefs appreciate.

Brewing a nice green cup, with aromas of a summer garden, Parsley tea is an ancient and revered beverage that is being rediscovered today.

Yarrow has a history dating back as far as the battle of Troy, where it was used to treat injured soldiers and adopted the common name of 'soldier's woundwort'. The ancient Greeks gave Yarrow the name ‘Achillea’ after Achilles, the legendary heroic warrior.

This perennial herb grows to about 3 feet tall and is found in Europe, west Asia, and North America. The white flowers appear in flat, daisy-like clusters. It may be found in pastures, meadows, and along roadsides.

Yarrow makes a very good medicinal tea with a strong, astringent taste.

Tulsi, also known as Holy Basil, is a multi-branched shrub with strongly scented green or purple leaves. It is an important symbol in the Hindu religion, where it is used in meditation and rituals. Tulsi is revered in Ayurvedic medicine for its various medicinal benefits and its tea is known as the ‘elixir of life.’ This powerful herb has only recently begun to gain popularity in the Western world.

This antioxidant rich tea has a strong aroma and wonderful cooling mellow taste. Relax with a refreshing cup of Tulsi tea and enjoy the extraordinary benefits of this legendary herb.

Originating in the Mediterranean, Thyme can now be found worldwide as a flavourful, aromatic herb. It is worthy of note in the journals and publications of many of our herbal forefathers such as Culpeper and Pliny.

Thyme is one of the oldest and most honoured of herbs, its medicinal effects being profound and widely recognized. It makes an aromatic and soothing beverage; great after meals and during stressful times.

The use of mint is documented in the Bible and in herbal manuals of ancient apothecaries. In those times, mint was a different plant closely related to the bland “horse mint” or “wild mint.” It is only through thousands of years of horticulture that we now have such a potently aromatic and invigorating herb as Spearmint.

Spearmint is appreciated chiefly for its high oil content and “double mint” flavour. We owe a debt of gratitude to our forbearers for giving us this wonderful and luscious plant.

The use of Senna as an herb apparently predates written records. Senna is native to Arabia and Somolia but it now grows in most tropical parts of the world where there is rich soil.

This Senna, also called Alexandria Senna, reaches up to 3 feet in height and has pale green stems with brittle, olive green leaflets, which are usually consumed as a tea. Senna is frequently combined with aromatic herbs such as Cinnamon, Ginger, Anise, and Fennel. Try adding fruit to make a tasty treat.

Sage is a perennial member of the mint family, native to the northern shores of the Mediterranean. Much more than a culinary delight, Sage was an active part of the medicine cabinet of the ancient Romans. Manuscripts of monks from the 10th and 11th centuries document

Sage as an honoured herb among apothecaries. In medieval Europe, Sage tea was a favourite hot beverage and was often added to ale.

Today, Sage is popular as an aromatic tea as well as a culinary herb.
Enjoy!