About a year ago I started going into Homegrown Herb and Tea at least every other day and sometimes daily. Over the course of that year it became a habit that stuck and I can honestly say that it has changed the way I feel, both mentally and physically, in such a positive way.
Each and every cup of tea that is mixed and brewed at Homegrown is done right when you order it. Sarah doesn’t have her tea already blended and sitting around; it’s all freshly made and beautifully cared for right on the spot and that fact sets the tone for your tea-drinking experience. One goes in, thinks about what you’re in the mood for (perhaps you need a boost in energy or you’re dealing with a small ailment), discusses it with Sarah and then waits while the tea is prepared. I have waited as long as fifteen minutes while my cup is being made but I have grown to really love it. For me it is a practice in kind patience and a treasured, not often found in the course of the day, chance to slow down and breathe. It is just like Sarah told me once: everyone should give themselves the time to take tea daily. Give themselves the time…. I really liked that phrase and have muttered it to myself many times since Sarah told me. Time certainly is a small pleasure and a gift.
When I told Sarah that I was writing up a few pieces about my simple pleasures here in Portland she jumped right in and whipped up something seasonal, delicious and restorative that you can try at home.
A SPRING TONIC
Use equal parts of each of these herbs or around 1/4 teaspoon each.
- Dried Oat Tops or Oat Straw
- Nettle
- Dandelion
- Echinacea
- Sarsaparilla
- Marshmallow
- Milk thistle
- Hibiscus
- Dried orange peel (or you can sub a nice slice of orange)
Mix herbs and drop them into a tea sack. Add a small touch of local raw honey if you so desire. Pour in hot water. Cover and let the tea steep for 3–5 minutes. Enjoy!
Sarah says the intentions of this tea are to gently tonify the body cleansing the blood and liver particularly during this delicate change of the season. She also says that the energy in this Spring Tonic is overall quite cooling and balancing for those who might have allergies.
One note: If this long list of herbs seems daunting, don’t let it. At any natural food store these herbs should cost about $2-$3 per ounce and you can get something like 25 cups of tea from all that herb. That comes out to much less than $1 per cup!
I have become a huge supporter of not only Sarah’s tea and how it tastes but also of the way that she feels about her work and how she runs her business. In this day and age it’s a very unique way of doing things. Homegrown is not huge or trying to be. It’s not mass produced or trying to be. It’s not one-size-fits-all or trying to be. Instead it’s simple, humble and full of love and for that I am very grateful.
All of Sarah’s special tea tonics are available on her new website so check it out!
