Meet the Blend This week's tea captures the magic of the holidays while keeping stress at bay! Our Holiday Harmony blend features cinnamon bark, tulsi, orange peel, licorice root, and rose petals. It tastes like the holidays smell—warm, spicy, and comforting—while supporting your nervous system through the busy season. Herb Spotlight - Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum spp.) Our herb of the month! Cinnamon is warming, circulation-stimulating, and naturally sweet. It helps regulate blood sugar, supports digestion after rich holiday meals, and brings that cozy holiday feeling we all crave. Plus, it's a gentle mood lifter! - Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum, Holy Basil) This adaptogen is your secret weapon against holiday stress. Tulsi helps balance cortisol levels, supports adrenal health, and promotes calm alertness—perfect for navigating family gatherings and holiday to-do lists. - Orange Peel (Citrus × sinensis) Dried orange peel adds bright citrus notes and is rich in vitamin C. It's uplifting to the spirit, supports digestion, and brings that festive orange-spice combination we associate with the holidays. - Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) This natural sweetener and adaptogen supports adrenal function and adds a pleasant sweetness that balances the spices. It's like nature's candy cane in your tea! - Rose Petals (Rosa centifolia) Rose petals bring heart-opening energy and emotional balance to this blend. They're cooling and help temper the warming spices while adding a touch of floral elegance. Benefits of the Blend This blend is designed to keep you grounded and joyful during the holiday season. The warming spices (cinnamon and orange peel) support circulation and digestion, while the adaptogens (tulsi and licorice) help manage holiday stress. Rose petals add emotional support for those moments when family dynamics get intense! How to Prepare: - 1 teaspoon dried cinnamon bark (or ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon) - 1 teaspoon dried tulsi - ½ teaspoon dried orange peel - ½ teaspoon dried licorice root - ½ teaspoon dried rose petals - Pour 1 cup hot water over the herbs - Steep covered for 10-15 minutes - Strain and sweeten with honey if desired. Perfect as a morning energizer or evening wind-down. Drink 1-3 cups daily throughout the holiday season.

Let's Talk About Cinnamon's Bold Cousin: Cassia! 🌶️ Hey there, cinnamon lovers! While we've been celebrating the gentle sweetness of Ceylon cinnamon this month, I thought it was time to give some love to its bolder, more intense cousin - Cassia cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum)! Meet the Spice Rack Superstar If you've ever grabbed cinnamon from a regular grocery store, chances are you've been getting cozy with Cassia all along! This is the cinnamon that gives us that classic "cinnamon roll" flavor - stronger, spicier, and with a bit more bite than its Ceylon cousin. Cassia's Personality Think of Cassia as the extroverted sibling in the cinnamon family. Where Ceylon whispers sweetly, Cassia announces itself boldly! It's got that warm, almost fiery quality that makes your taste buds sit up and pay attention. The bark is thicker, darker, and rolls into those sturdy quills we're all familiar with. Where does Cassia Shine? Pop over to the classroom to read more about it. Share your Cassia love stories in the comments - I'd love to hear about the recipes and memories this bold spice brings to your life! 🎄✨

December's Herb of the Month: Cinnamon - Great Minds Think Alike! 🌟 Hello, beautiful community! I'm so excited to officially introduce December's Herb of the Month: Cinnamon! Now, I have to chuckle a little because I've been seeing cinnamon pop up everywhere lately in other herbal groups and wellness communities. It just goes to show that when the season calls for something, we all seem to tune into that same energy! I actually planned cinnamon as our December herb months ago, knowing it would be perfect for the holiday season and winter wellness. But seeing everyone else gravitating toward this warming spice right now just confirms what I already knew - great minds really do think alike! ✨ Meet Our December Star: Cinnamon Cinnamon isn't just one herb - it's actually a family of aromatic trees that give us this beloved spice. The two main types you'll encounter are: Ceylon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) - Often called "true cinnamon," this is the gentler, sweeter variety. It has a delicate, almost floral quality and is much safer for regular use. The bark is thin and papery, rolling into delicate quills. Cassia Cinnamon (Cinnamomum aromaticum) - This is what you'll find in most grocery stores. It's stronger, more pungent, and has that classic "cinnamon roll" flavor we all know and love. However, it contains higher levels of coumarin, so it's best used occasionally rather than daily. Why Cinnamon for December? Beyond the obvious holiday connection, cinnamon is exactly what our bodies crave as winter deepens. It's warming, circulation-stimulating, and helps support our immune systems during cold season. Plus, with all the holiday indulgences, cinnamon's blood sugar balancing properties are especially welcome right now! I love how the universe seems to guide us all toward the same healing wisdom at just the right time. Whether you're here in our community or seeing cinnamon talked about elsewhere, it's clear this sweet, warming spice is calling to all of us this season.

Hello, my lovely herb friends! Are you ready to dive deeper into the wonderful world of Ceylon cinnamon? I'm practically bouncing with excitement to share some of my favorite recipes and the most delightful cinnamon facts that'll make you appreciate this sweet spice even more! Let's Talk Ceylon Cinnamon - The Gentle Giant I'm focusing on Ceylon cinnamon (the "true" cinnamon) because it's so much gentler on our bodies. You can use it daily without worry, and honestly, once you taste its delicate, almost honey-like sweetness, you'll wonder why you ever settled for anything else! Cozy Cinnamon Recipes to Warm Your Soul. You will find more in the classroom! Cinnamon-Honey Throat Soother - 2 tbsp raw honey - 1 tsp Ceylon cinnamon powder - Pinch of sea salt Mix together and take by the teaspoon when your throat needs some love. My grandkid actually asks for this! Warming Cinnamon Golden Milk - 1 cup coconut milk - ½ tsp Ceylon cinnamon - ¼ tsp turmeric - ¼ tsp ginger powder - 1 tsp coconut oil - Honey to taste Warm gently and sip before bed. Pure liquid comfort! Fun Cinnamon Facts That'll Blow Your Mind! 🤯 Ancient Romans valued cinnamon 15 times more than silver! Can you imagine paying your rent in cinnamon sticks? The Dutch once burned entire warehouses of cinnamon to keep prices high. Talk about playing with fire! Ceylon cinnamon trees can live and produce bark for over 100 years. Now that's what I call a long-term relationship! It takes about 2-3 years before a cinnamon tree is ready for its first harvest, but then you can harvest it twice a year. Patience pays off! The curling of cinnamon bark into those beautiful quills happens naturally as it dries - no human intervention needed. Nature is such an artist! In medieval times, cinnamon was thought to come from giant birds' nests. People believed these mythical birds collected cinnamon sticks to build their homes high in the mountains!

Heart & Mind Harmony Tea Blend Meet the Blend This week's tea is your evening companion, called Heart & Mind Harmony Tea Blend, that combines the soothing properties of lemon balm, tulsi (holy basil), passion flower, gotu kola, and hawthorn berries. Together, these herbs craft a tranquil brew, perfect for winding down after a busy day. Herb Spotlight - Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Known for its gentle sedative qualities, lemon balm calms the mind, eases anxiety, and enhances sleep. Its refreshing lemon scent is enough to soothe frazzled nerves. - Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum, Holy Basil) A cornerstone of Ayurvedic tradition, tulsi is an adaptogen that shields against stress, raises mental clarity, and supports adrenal health. It stands as a beacon of tranquility in this blend. - Passion Flower (Passiflora incarnata) An herb of serenity, passion flower promotes relaxation and alleviates insomnia. It's famed for its ability to quiet the mind and prepare you for restful sleep. - Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) Celebrated in Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, gotu kola enhances mood, promotes circulation, and fosters mental clarity. It's often used for its rejuvenating properties. - Hawthorn Berries (Crataegus monogyna) Known for their heart-supportive characteristics, hawthorn berries also aid in emotional grounding. They add a subtle, fruity essence that rounds out the blend. Benefits of the Blend This blend is ideal for promoting relaxation and emotional balance. With lemon balm and passion flower targeting anxiety and sleep, tulsi and gotu kola offering mental clarity, and hawthorn berries lending heart support, this mix ensures a holistic unwinding experience. How to Prepare - 1 teaspoon dried lemon balm - 1 teaspoon dried tulsi - ½ teaspoon dried passion flower - ½ teaspoon dried gotu kola - ½ teaspoon dried hawthorn berries Pour 1 cup hot water over the herbs. Steep covered for 10-15 minutes. Strain and enjoy warm. Drink in the evening as a relaxing ritual.