Teas

Native to modern-day Iran and Türkiye and now familiar on many continents, Alfalfa is a field herb, easily recognized by its delicate leaves and clusters of small purple blossoms. It brings a gentle, green character to the cup. Peppermint has been... [read more]

Alfalfa is native to modern-day Iran and Türkiye. Its name comes from the Arabic language: al-faṣfaṣa which translates literally to Father of all Foods, reflecting its importance in early agriculture. With clover-like leaves and deep roots, Alfalfa has... [read more]

Aromatic and earthy, this is a tall plant with clusters of pale green blooms. It grows across Europe and Asia, sharing botanical ties with plants such as carrot, dill, and fennel. Lore states that the secrets of this ancient herb were bestowed upon a... [read more]

Anise Seed comes from a delicate annual herb native to the eastern Mediterranean and Southwest Asia. The plant grows with soft, feathery leaves and airy clusters of small white flowers that set into tiny, ridged seeds as the season turns. These seeds... [read more]

This thistle-like plant is native to the temperate Mediterranean and we use its bitter, silvery green leaves for tea. Artichokes you find in the grocery store are the large, green, unopened flower buds that form above the leaves. Because the leaves carry... [read more]

Powerful and resilient, this small shrub grows in the dry regions of India, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East, spreading low to the ground with soft green leaves and small red berries enclosed in papery husks, which give rise to the name Winter... [read more]

Powerful and resilient, this small shrub grows in the dry regions of India, North Africa, and parts of the Middle East. It spreads low to the ground with soft green leaves and small red berries enclosed in papery husks, which give rise to the name Winter... [read more]

Astragalus is a hardy perennial native to northern and eastern China, where it grows in open grasslands and sandy soils under wide skies. The plant carries rows of small oval leaflets along slender stems, giving it a soft, feathery look. In season, it... [read more]

A close relative of the blueberry, Bilberries have grown wild across northern Europe for centuries. Low to the ground and spreading, the shrub bears dark blue berries that stain lips and fingers with deep purple juice. Long valued as food ~ eaten... [read more]

Various species of Bilberry grow in cooler regions of Europe and North America. It likes acidic, open ground where plants hug the hillsides and forest edges. This hardy, low bush is easy to recognize by its small, bright green, oval leaves with fine... [read more]

Woodland native, this beauty is at home in the rich, shaded forests of eastern North America. It favors moisture-holding soil and steady canopy cover ~ popping candle-like flower stalks above other ground cover. It’s commonly wildcrafted in parts of... [read more]

Woodland native, this beauty is at home in the rich, shaded forests of eastern North America. It prefers moisture-holding soil and steady canopy cover ~ popping candle-like flower stalks above other ground cover. It’s commonly wildcrafted in parts of... [read more]

Wild and aggressive, this plant is called Bramble in some places. It grows in arching canes in fields and along forest edges, growing dense hedges as the plants intertwine. As a member of the Rose family, this aggressive perennial is often one of the... [read more]

Herbal and resolute, this hardy herb is native to the Mediterranean region where it grows in open ground and dry soils. It forms striking yellow flowers in the expected thistle-like character. During the Middle Ages, Blessed Thistle was widely grown... [read more]

This Russian native now is a common weed in much of North America and Europe. In parts of Asia, it’s cultivated as a root vegetable as part of the regular diet. Growing 2–5 feet tall, with a thick woody stem and deep roots, you can spot Burdock in... [read more]

Burdock has a long history of use. This Russian native now is a common weed in much of North America and Europe. In parts of Asia, it’s cultivated as a root vegetable as part of the regular diet. Growing 2-5 feet tall, with a thick woody stem and deep... [read more]

In an age long past, Indigenous peoples gifted their traditional herbal knowledge to those in need. This powerful four herb tea was refined and reintroduced nearly 100 years ago in the Bracebridge area of Ontario. It’s still in use today. Now offered in... [read more]

Sunlit and cheerful, this daisy-family blossom thrives in cool-to-mild gardens and open fields, sending up branching stems topped with bright, many-petaled flower heads. Often called pot marigold, Calendula has long been grown across Europe, where it... [read more]

Wild and untamed, Cat’s Claw is a woody climbing vine that grows in South American Rainforests. Along its stem grow curved thorns that resemble a cat’s claw (hence the name) ~ they help the vine climb into the canopy. Once the plant is mature the top... [read more]

This perennial of the mint family grows 2~3 feet tall with soft, downy leaves and square, sturdy stems. Native to Europe and Asia, it was brought to North America by early settlers, where it quickly took root along roadsides and garden edges. Catnip has... [read more]

Earthy and strong ~ Chaga is a fungus that grows on birch trees in the boreal forest. It’s in symbiosis with the birch tree, helping seal wounds and keeping sick trees alive that would otherwise die. Unlike the soft fruiting bodies of common... [read more]

Chamomile has documented use going back thousands of years, with records appearing early in ancient Egypt and later across the Mediterranean and northern Europe. This low-growing member of the daisy family is native to Europe and western Asia, now... [read more]

Chamomile takes its name from the Greek word for “ground apple,” a nod to the flower's apple-like fragrance. This modest plant has been revered since ancient Egypt, where it was dedicated to the sun god, and later celebrated in Greek, Roman, and European... [read more]

Mellow and bright, Chamomile is a humble daisy relative, now growing wild in most temperate regions ~ a tough, adaptable plant found along gravelly paths and in poor soils. The small white & yellow flowers are used for tea. Its name literally... [read more]