if you like tea rituals or giving tea offerings, then this post is for you! keep in mind, though, DEFINITELY do your research on any of the herbs/plants I've listed here if you've never put them in your body before. there's no harm in making substitutions or omitting certain things for the sake of your own health. i've gone ahead and highlighted some herbs that have potential side effects (although not everything i've highlighted may effect you, and not everything i haven't is for sure safe).
also, all of these teas can be made with one of those little tea strainer balls, or with a good mesh sieve. either way, have some way of removing the mix after it's steeped, because over-steeped tea can get sour. store any leftover tea mix in an airtight container in a cool, dry place
if you need to replace any fresh ingredients with dried, divide the quantity in half. also, some of the floral teas will seem like it's a lot of mix just for one cup, but petals just aren't as strong as leaves/roots/etc.
CLEAR SKIES TEA
Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried peppermint, 1/4 cup marigold petals, 2 stalks of finely chopped lemongrass, 2 tsps orange zest, 1 tsp ground ginger
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup
EVERYDAY MORNING TEA
Ingredients: 1 rooibos tea bag, a thin slice of lemon/or a little bit of juice, two thin slices of ginger, 3 cloves (or 3/4 tsp of ground clove), top with a few lemon balm or spearmint leaves after steeping
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes to make 1 cup
COTTAGE TEA
Ingredients: 1 cup earl grey leaves, 1/4 cup dried lavender, 2 tbsps each of cornflower and sunflower petals, add a couple vanilla seeds or extract in each cup
Extra Instructions: steep for 3 minutes, use 1-2 tsps to make 1 cup
GROUNDING TEA
Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag of black tea (assam or darjeeling is best), 2 tsps/1 bag of chamomile tea, 2 tsps elderflowers, add a pinch of lemongrass and a few vanilla seeds/a couple drops of extract to each cup
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 2 cups
CALMING TEA
Ingredients: 1 cup lemon balm leaves, 1/2 cup valerian root (I use lavender instead), 1/2 cup rose geranium petals, 1/2 cup chamomile flowers, 1/2 cup comfrey leaves (or nettle leaf)
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes to make 6 cups
GODDESS TEA
Ingredients: 1 tsp each of hibiscus petals, marigold petals, rose petals, and thyme leaves
Extra Instructions: steep 5 minutes, makes 1-2 cups
TEA FOR FAIRIES
Ingredients: 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup green tea leaves, 1 cup lemon balm leaves, 1 cup calendula, 1/4 cup of rose petals
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 2 tsps to make 1 cup
DANDELION DIVINATION TEA
Ingredients: 1 tbsp fresh dandelion petals (although you can use the full flowers), 1 tbsp fresh marigold, top with a lemon/orange slice after steeping
Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes to make 1 cup
ROSE VERBENA TEA
Ingredients: 1 cup Chinese green tea, 1/2 cup rose petals, 1/4 cup dried lemon verbena leaves
Extra Instructions: use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup. steep for anywhere from 3-10 minutes (3 is best for the tea, 10 is best for flowers)
FULL MOON RITUAL TEA
Ingredients: 2 tsps dried elderflower, 2 tsps dried lavender, 1 jasmine tea bag, 1/2 tsp dried yarrow leaves (or can use elderflower), 3 crushed cardamom pods
Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 2 cups
GREEN SPIRIT TEA
Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag green tea, 1 tbsp dried rose petals, 1 tsp each dried dandelion petals and dried nettle
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 2 cups
APOTHECARY'S BREW
Ingredients: 2 cups dried echinacea, 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup dried mint leaves, 1 cup dried anise seeds, 1 cup dried thyme leaves
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup
ROMANTIC TEA
Ingredients: 2 tsps/1 bag white tea, 4 tsps rose petals, 2 tsps each raspberry leaf and lemon balm leaves (can substitute jasmine and mint for these), add a couple vanilla seeds/drops of extract in each cup after steeping
Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 2 cups
MAGIC REALISATION TEA
Ingredients: 1/2 cup dried borage flowers, 1/2 cup dried thyme leaves, 1/4 cup dried dandelion, 1 tsp each fennel seeds and ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground ginger
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 1-2 tsps for 1 cup
FAIRY CIRCLE TEA
Ingredients: 2 cups dried chamomile flowers, 1 cup dried lemon balm or mint leaves, 1/2 cup dried calendula petals, 1/4 cup dried rose petals
Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, use 1 tbsp for 1 cup
JASMINE JOY TEA
Ingredients: 4-5 jasmine tea bags, 2 tbsps each lemon balm leaves and rose geranium petals, top with a few sprigs of mint and a slice of lemon after steeping
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, makes 5-6 cups
AURORA TEA
Ingredients: 1 oolong tea bag, 1 tsp dried cornflower, 1/2 tsp dried peppermint leaves
Extra Instructions: steep for 5 minutes, makes 1 cup
KINDRED SPIRITS TEA
Ingredients: 2 cups dried thyme, 1 cup dried rosemary, a few cloves, 3 ground/torn up bay leaves, 1 star anise, the dried rind of a small orange
Extra Instructions: steep for 10 minutes, use 2 tsps for 1 cup
abridged from "Enchanted Tea Time" by Gail Bussi (a bunch of these recipes I changed to be a little easier to do for the average person, or provided alternatives for a "risky" ingredient)
Ingredients:
Apple slices
Cinnamon sticks
Cloves (optional)
Honey
Preparation:Place apple slices, cinnamon sticks and, optionally, cloves in a tea filter.Put the tea filter in a teapot and pour boiling water over it.Allow the tea to steep well, at least 8 minutes.Serve the tea in a cup.Extra option: You can pre-cook the apple in a saucepan. Use the boiling water with apple as the tea water
In honor of eclipse season, I wanted to share a recipe to bring your buzz down a notch (or two). I've been drinking this nervine tea for nearly five years now; it features all of my favorite herbal flavors! I'm not going to go into detailed herbal profiles for each of these botanicals, but I suggest looking into them more if you are curious. I think learning the basics of herbalism can greatly benefit the kitchen witch.
Each of these ingredients can be found in any decent grocery store, bought online, or grown yourself. The combination is designed with flavor and herbal actions in mind; it's not a measure of exact ingredients - mix with your heart. All of these botanicals are well tolerated and can be drunk regularly by most people. Please be careful when trying new herbs; allergic or other adverse reactions can occur.
Hibiscus, Hibiscus sabdariffa
Hibiscus is the primary flavoring agent in this blend. It gives our tea its Cool, Moist, and Sour properties. Please keep in mind that hibiscus will stain anything it comes into contact with, including clothing, wooden spoons, and even countertops. If you don't think you're familiar with hibiscus, it is the primary flavor in all "Zinger" teas. It tastes tart and inexplicably red.
Peppermint, Mentha piperito
Peppermint is the first of our gentle nervines to be added to our tea. Nervines do exactly what you expect them to: they calm your nerves. In addition to being a nervine (primary benefit), Peppermint adds its properties of Pungent, Sweet, Cool, Warm, and Dry to our tea. I'm sure you're all familiar with peppermint; you could probably substitute a different mint here with similar effect.
Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm is a nervine and a mild sedative. It brings the properties of Sour, Cool, and Dry to our tea. Some people don't like the taste of lemon balm, saying that it tastes like Pledge. If that's you, just omit it from this drink. The taste of hibiscus strongly overpowers the lemon balm, though, so maybe try it first.
Tulsi (Holy Basil), Ocimun santum
Tulsi is a nervine and adaptogenic herb, which means that it helps the body manage stress better. Its properties are Pungent, Sweet, Bitter, and Warm. With its heady, peppery notes, Tulsi is certainly an acquired flavor. If you get along with this herb, you will know almost immediately upon drinking it for the first time. A little goes a long way; you don't need to overdo it.
Dried Apple, Malus sp.
Although apple is primarily a flavoring agent (and sometimes a sweetening agent) in this blend, it does have mild sedative effects that lend themselves to the overall feel of this tea. I suggest using the apples you would eat in this recipe; you can dry slices of apples by putting them in your oven at 225F for 1.5 to 2 hours. Use a sweeter apple if you want a sweeter tea.
Minx's Anti-Anxietea
2 parts hibiscus
1 part peppermint
1 part lemon balm
1-2 parts dried apple
.5 part tulsi
Start by adding 1 tsp tea to hot water and steeping for 8 minutes. Adjust to your tastes from there.
This drink tastes great, hot or cold.
I've never sweetened this tea because I like my drinks bitter like my soul, but I bet a dollop of honey would be lovely in this—especially a nice summery wildflower honey. I've added sweetened cranberries in the past (1-2 parts) for more sweetness. And honestly, I don't measure. I know when it smells right.
I apply this drink liberally, but some people may find it too strong a diuretic to consume more than once daily. I drink it any time that I feel especially anxious or when I know I am going to be under a lot of stress. My partner likes to drink it before bedtime and claims it's one of the only things that will calm them down when they feel like they have too many thoughts.
You can witch this up (it's a verb now!) as little or as much as you like. I like to work calming energy into the drink step by step as I create the mixture by working with each botanical individually. You could charge this with a candle or sigil, dedicate it to one of your favorite gods or spirits, or store it on your altar. I create bindrunes for my favorite tea blends and use them as magical labels.
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It is fall, and deep in the ancient groves of the enchanted wood, a woman gathers earthy roots and plump, fragrant mushrooms. She places them in her basket beside wild ruby-red rose hips, juicy dark-purple elderberries, and silvery mugwort gifted by the hedges.
Her hooded woolen cloak brushes against the soft ferns that line the path over spongy moss and pine needles as she makes her way home. There, at the edge of the wood, her small stone cottage is surrounded by goldenrod and purple aster swaying in the breeze. A black cat in the doorframe mews, eagerly awaiting her return.As the teakettle heats over the hearth fire, she crafts a Samhain tea blend with the flora and fungi she’s foraged in the wood. This autumnal tea ritual honors the bounties of harvest time and celebrates the Triple Goddess, who now begins her seasonal transformation from Mother to Crone. The spirit ancestors whisper to her from beyond the veil, which is at its thinnest this time of year.
Join her and the collective of ancestors who came before you by putting together your own Samhain tea ritual celebrating and honoring the vibrancy of autumn, the abundant gifts of the harvest, and the deep love given to and received by one’s ancestors in spirit.
