Gahhh! Happy Lunar New Year! So excited about this as I'm the year of the hare and I'm extremely excited to have some much needed good fortune. I posted a poll on what you guys wanted to try this month aaand Floral, Minty, Spicy won featuring roses. Hope this midway point between winter and spring brings you much hope and happiness.
Disclaimer: It is the policy of Blu Radical Apothecary LLC not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment.
February's Monthly Tea Box Loose Leaf Tea
(Holy Basil, Cinnamon, Peppermint, Rose, Chamomile, Cardamom)
Rose (Rosa rubiginosa):
Did you know, true wild roses have only 5 petals and a giant starburst color in the middle?
They range in color from white to a deep-pink and are truly aromatic to say the least. How did we get to the roses that we know today? Breeding and more breeding, which unfortunately lead to less medicinal properties and little to none aromatics.
Roses fluidly address our physical and emotional health making it an amazing medicine for our heart. Since people associate February with love day, what better tea to make than rose to help keep our hearts strong and vital.
You can read more about roses here plus get two recipes!
Some but not all benefits of rose tea may include: helping to reduce anxiety, improve digestion, sooth menstrual cramps, high in antioxidants, contains antimicrobial properties, reduces inflammation, high in vitamin C, caffeine free
Holy Basil (Ocimum tenuiflorum): Holy basil also known as tulsi has been used in Indian culture as a religious, spiritual, and healing herb for more than 5,000 years. It is often found as an ingredient in herbal medicines, tinctures, and volatile oil preparations.
Tulsi is a sacred herb, Vaishnava legend relates the origin of the tulasi to the Samudra Manthana, the churning of the cosmic ocean by the devas and the asuras. At the end of the churning, Dhanvantari rose from the ocean with amrita (the elixir of immortality). Vishnu procured it for the devas, when the asuras tried to steal it. Its connection to Lord Vishnu makes this herb especially loved in specific cultures.
Some but not all benefits include: As an adaptogenic, tulsi helps lower anxiety, good for brain health thanks to the flavonoids, it's hydrating, caffeine free, contains calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, and zinc, antiseptic and antibacterial properties
There is evidence that tulsi can address physical, chemical, metabolic and psychological stress through a unique combination of pharmacological actions. Tulsi has been found to protect organs and tissues against chemical stress from industrial pollutants and heavy metals, and physical stress from prolonged physical exertion, ischemia, physical restraint and exposure to cold and excessive noise. Tulsi has also been shown to counter metabolic stress through normalization of blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid levels, and psychological stress through positive effects on memory and cognitive function and through its anxiolytic and anti-depressant properties. Tulsi's broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, which includes activity against a range of human and animal pathogens, suggests it can be used as a hand sanitizer, mouthwash and water purifier. (Cohen M. M. (2014).
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum: A small evergreen tree is native to Sri Lanka and a member of the Laural family. The tree grows up to 50′ tall. Plants are grown commercially for the inner bark that is used to make the spice cinnamon for cooking as well as herbal medicine.
The genus name, Cinnamomum, is derived from the Maylasian/Indonesian word kayu manis meaning sweet wood.
Volatile oil is distilled from the bark fragments for use in food, liqueur, perfume, and drugs. Cinnamon was once more valuable than gold. In Egypt it was sought for embalming and religious practices. In medieval Europe it was used for religious rites and as a flavoring. Variations: Chinese cassia (Cinnamomum cassia), Vietnamese, or Saigon, cinnamon (C. loureiroi), Indonesian cinnamon (C. burmannii), and Malabar cinnamon (C. citriodorum).
5 Benefits Of Cinnamon
1: Cinnamaldehyde
Cinnamon is scientifically known as Cinnamomum and is made from the inner bark of trees. This inner part of the tree is extracted and the woody parts removed. When the bark dries the strips roll up into cinnamon sticks.
The aroma comes from the oils in the bark which contain high compounds of cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for the beneficial effects of health and metabolism.
Cinnamaldehyde helps fight bacterial and fungal infections such as respiratory tract infections, Salmonella, helps prevent tooth decay, and reduce bad breath.
2: Antioxidant Rich
Antioxidants protect your body from oxidative damage caused by free radicals.
Loaded with antioxidants such as polyphenols, in a study between cinnamon and 26 other spices, cinnamon won, out ranking foods like garlic and oregano.
3: High Anti-inflammatory Properties
Helps your body fight infections, and repair tissue damage.
4: Lowers The Risk Of Heart Disease
This spice may improve some key risk factors for heart disease, including cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure.
5: Can Improve Sensitivity To The Hormone Insulin
Insulin is one of the key hormones that regulate metabolism and energy use. It’s also essential for transporting blood sugar from your bloodstream to your cells. The problem is that many people are resistant to the effects of insulin. This is also known as Type 2 Diabetes.
Helps reduce insulin resistance helping the hormone do its job.
Aids in reducing high blood pressure.
Cinnamon has been shown to reduce fasting blood sugar levels.
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum): This spice consists of whole or ground dried fruits, or seeds, of Elettaria cardamomum, a herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). It’s highly aromatic and is popular in South Asian dishes like curries. The cardamom pod contains hard black seeds which contain the volatile oil that gives it its flavor and scent.
The aroma and flavor of cardamom are obtained from the volatile oils which are composed mainly of α-terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole. Cineole, the major active component of cardamom oil, is a proven antiseptic that is highly effective in killing the bacteria responsible for bad breath. It aids in treating infections and helps ease breathing. While green cardamom has a higher cineole content than black cardamom, there is a marked chemical difference in both.
Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for over 5,000 years to treat ailments like UTI’s and low blood sugar levels. Also, wrapped in betel-nut and chewed for its digestive benefits. Cardamom is one of the most expensive herbs right below saffron and vanilla.
Some but not all benefits may include: Helpful to liver function, may help to prevent the build up of fat, may decrease bad LDL cholesterol, protects dental health by inhibiting bacterial growth, antibacterial properties may also aid in effectively treating halitosis - bad breath, aids in lessening dysphoria, anxiety, and tension, boosts immune system - packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, protects heart health, high levels of potassium which helps decrease inflammation and pressure on arteries and blood vessels, improves blood circulation and lowers your risk of heart attack and blood clots, helps digestion - crushed cardamom seeds have anti-inflammatory properties that soothe irritated stomach muscles, like ginger it can also help treat nausea.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita L): Peppermint is a cross between wintermint and spearmint and has a long history. Ancient Egyptian medical text dating as early as 1550 BC includes peppermint and is indigenous to the middle east and later migrated to Europe via slavery despite assumptions of its origin in Europe.
Peppermint has been used traditionally in Eastern medicine as an aromatic, antispasmodic and antiseptic in treating indigestion, nausea, sore throat, colds, toothaches, cramps and cancers.
Specialized cells produce peppermint oil in the leaves of the peppermint plant. The peppermint oil is released once the leaves are crushed or chopped. Peppermint is the most extensively used volatile oil, both commercially and medicinally.
Some but not all benefits include: Helps ease digestive issues, relieve tension headaches and migraines, freshens breath, relieve clogged sinuses, improves energy levels, help relieve menstrual cramps, beneficial against bacterial infections, improves sleeps, aids in healthy weight maintenance, improve seasonal allergies, improve concentration, caffeine free. (Groves, M. (2022).
That there is evidence-based research regarding the bioactivity of this herb. The phenolic constituents of the leaves include rosmarinic acid and several flavonoids, primarily eriocitrin, luteolin and hesperidin. The main volatile components of the essential oil are menthol and menthone. In vitro, peppermint has significant antimicrobial and antiviral activities, strong antioxidant and antitumor actions, and some antiallergenic potential. Studies demonstrate a relaxation effect on gastrointestinal (GI) tissue, analgesic and anesthetic effects in the central and peripheral nervous system, immunomodulating actions and chemopreventive potential. (McKay, D. L., & Blumberg, J. B. (2006).
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomillia):
Name “chamomile” originates from Greek words “chamos”, which means “ground” and “milos” which means “apple”. Chamomile is named that way because it grows close to the ground and smells like apple.
First used in the 13th century, the spelling chamomile corresponds to the Latin chamomilla and the Greek chamaimelon. The spelling camomile is a British derivation from the French.
Flower consists of large number of individual flowers called florets. Outer part of the flower consists of 18 white ray florets. Yellow disk, located in the center of the flower, consists of miniature florets that have tubular shape.
Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.) is a well-known medicinal plant species from the Asteraceae family. Nowadays it is a highly favored and much used medicinal plant in folk and traditional medicine along with personal care products, and more.
Traditionally, chamomile has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, mild astringent and healing medicine. As a traditional medicine, it is used to treat wounds, ulcers, eczema, gout, skin irritations, bruises, burns, canker sores, neuralgia, sciatica, rheumatic pain, hemorrhoids, mastitis and other ailments. Externally, chamomile has been used to treat diaper rash, cracked nipples, chicken pox, ear and eye infections, disorders of the eyes including blocked tear ducts, conjunctivitis, nasal inflammation and poison ivy. Chamomile is widely used to treat inflammations of the skin and mucous membranes, and for various bacterial infections of the skin, oral cavity and gums, and respiratory tract. Chamomile in the form of an aqueous extract has been frequently used as a mild sedative to calm nerves and reduce anxiety, to treat hysteria, nightmares, insomnia and other sleep problems. Chamomile has been valued as a digestive relaxant and has been used to treat various gastrointestinal disturbances including flatulence, indigestion, diarrhea, anorexia, motion sickness, nausea, and vomiting. Chamomile has also been used to treat colic, croup, and fevers in children. It has been used as an emmenagogue and a uterine tonic in women. It is also effective in arthritis, back pain, bedsores and stomach cramps. (Srivastava, J. K., Shankar, E., & Gupta, S. (2010).
Some but not all benefits include: helping reduce menstrual pain, helps in treating diabetes and lower blood sugar, slowing or preventing of osteoporosis, helps reduce inflammation, helps in aiding sleep and relaxation, helps with skin conditions such as eczema
Note: Not for children under 6 months-1 year
GET YOUR BOX
Aroma and Flavor
Floral, minty, spicy
Tasting Notes PDF HERE: Print as many as you want when you get your box in! This is also fun to do with friends & family.
GET YOUR BOX
New here? If you are on the fence about getting your box here’s what you can expect each month:
What You Get In Your Monthly Tea Box:
Small Batch Loose Leaf Tea & Seasonal Infused Honey!
Tea
Hand-crafted organic small batch loose leaf tea.
GET YOUR BOX
(Above Image: Variations of what our tea boxes may look like, small apothecary gifts may vary. Tea, honey, and reusable bags are consistent.)
16+ Delicious cups
Your monthly tea box makes 16+ fresh cups! Or 32+ cups re-steeped.
Local Infused Honey
The perfect pairing with your tea, infused with different healing ingredients to bring you different flavor profiles of honey.
FREE Shipping
Explore loose leaf tea, shipped for FREE.
More Details
Your tea will make 16+ cups or 32+ re-steeped cups. Your tea box also contains reusable muslin tea filters + healing honey + monthly herbal tea plant profile + downloadable tasting notes + steeping information.
ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS INCLUDE:
- Hand-crafted organic loose leaf herbal tea
- 1.5 oz. Jar of organic seasonally- infused honey
- Each Tea Box makes 16+ cups (32+ if you re-steep)
- Reusable and biodegradable filters
- Steeping guidelines and tasting notes
- Exclusive 15% discount on tea in the apothecary shop
- Small gifts from the apothecary - items vary, not specific
- 50% off MEMBERS ONLY portal (coming SOON!)
What Makes Our Tea Boxes Stand Out Compared To Store Bought Tea Boxes
-Loose leaf tea + combinations
-Biodegradable/Recyclable packaging
-Small Businesses Support
-Freshness
-Detailed information about specific herbs
-Customizable
-Shipped directly to you
Disclaimer: It is the policy of Blu Radical Apothecary LLC not to advise or recommend herbs for medicinal or health use. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be considered as a recommendation or an endorsement of any particular medical or health treatment.
Steeping Guidelines/Directions
- 205 degrees F water
- 1-2 teaspoons per 8 ounces of water.
- Steep for 5-7 minutes
- Strain.
- Enjoy!
Note: Always store herbs in a cool dry place, feel free to transfer the contents to a glass jar.