Iced Tea, Ya'll!

iced tea time, ya'll, in the apothecary!

I was raised on family stories of not-so-law-abiding ancestors who lived fast, and in some cases, died young.  Having now lived for a short while in Austin, I’ve come to appreciate one of my ancestors, the wild west train robber and outlaw, Sam Bass.  My Uncle Sam’s death is re-enacted annually just a half-hour from our home on the 4^th of July which is a strange experience for me, but an altogether Texas way of celebrating the 4^th.  He was an interesting character, whose appearance was said to be gentler than the typical rough-and-tumble outlaw.  I imagine that if Sam were alive today we’d sit in the Apothecary’s backyard drinking iced tea and planning our next direct-action protest (I figure that I could direct his wild west energies into more social justice oriented activities and less train robbing).  So in honor of my outlaw ancestry and in an attempt to love the heat, our newest creation in the Apothecary is an iced tea.

Our Watering Hole Iced Tea Blend is lightly caffeinated and bursting with red color but promising coolness.  Our Iced Tea is slightly sweet, slightly sour and completely delicious.  A great post-workout drink and for when you’re feeling overheated, heat-cranky or wanting to lure friends and family away from their busy schedules for some sweet and easy conversation, Watering Hole Iced Tea Blend is here for you.

ROOIBOS Aspalanthus linearis: Righteous, red bush Rooibos (pronounced roy-bus) comes to us from the western region of South Africa’s Cape Region.  Rooibos is an herb rich in antioxidants and restorative properties used in the treatment of such conditions such as allergies, eczema, indigestion, headache and tension.  Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and cooling to the body.

HIBISCUS Hibiscus sabdariffa: Another name for the beautiful red Hibiscus flower is sour-sour which aptly describes its cooling flavor.  Hibiscus is especially rehydrating with its electrolyte content and is also rich in vitamins A and C as well as beta-carotene.

YERBA MATE Ilex paraguariensis: Blood cleansing, lightly caffeinated, and stimulating to the mind, Yerba Mate helps us to tolerate the hot weather that brings us to drinking iced tea in the first place!  Improve your memory, cleanse your body and stress less all while keeping it cool – nice.

JASMINE Jasminum officinale: We included fragrant white Jasmine flowers in our blend because of their harmonizing effect on the mind, body and spirit.  Dream-inducing, Jasmine helps us dwell more deeply in beauty, transforming the heat of exhaustion into the fires of passion.

Visit our S H O P to enjoy our Watering Hole Iced Tea Blend and many other fine herbal concoctions!

Isn't tea lovely?

We all have people in our lives that we can, with all sincerity, call lovely.  They embody the qualities of compassion partnered with the generous concern that you are having a good day and that they are somehow contributing towards such a goal.  Lovely is a tea blend to celebrate the loveliness in our lives and preferably with the ones we’ve dubbed “lovely” to share a cup with us.

Read more about Lovely's antioxidant powers...

Lovely is our first red tea blend with a base of beautiful and naturally caffeine-free Rooibos.  Super high in antioxidants, Rooibos is a fantastic herb to enjoy daily.  Along with Goji Berries, Lovely is a gentle but effective adaptogenic blend that helps the body deal with stress while nourishing the kidneys and liver.

Lovely includes the following herbs:

ROOIBOS Aspalathus linearis: High in antioxidants (higher even than green tea!) with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, rejuvenative, and  adaptogenic properties, Rooibos is wonderful.  Rooibos is also useful in treating allergies, indigestion, insomnia, general nervousness, and skin complaints.  Rooibos definitely keeps it lovely.

GOJI BERRIES Lycium barbarum: Also known as Wolfberry, Goji Berries have a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine.  Nourishing to the kidneys and liver, Goji berries stregthen the blood.  They are full of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, iron, zinc, and selenium.

ANISE SEED Pimpinella anisum: A great herb for indigestion and bloating, Anise seed is also useful for treating coughs and colds.

COCONUT FLAKES Cocos nucifera: A sweet addition to our blend to round out the flavors, Coconuts are full of vital, delicious energy.

Purchase Lovely and our many other teas at our S H O P.