How to Make Your Own Rose Herbal Coffee

I am motivated by tea.

Yes, I’m motivated by justice and kindness and those I love and the work I do, but I’m also living in an earthy body that craves earthly pleasures. One of those pleasures is hot drinks - whether herbal tisanes, black teas or matcha lattes. So my Rose Herbal Coffee is a recipe that I love to make to help motivate and nourish my body and supports the work that I do.

Rose (Rosa spp), like Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica) is a much-needed herb to help our ancient bodies deal with modern demands. I think Rose is a great herbal ally if you’re an activist and organizer because they remind us that we need to know how to be gentle as much as we need to be fierce. Equipped with thorn magick, my Rose Herbal Coffee recipe supports our emotional wellbeing along with our physical wellbeing. It also includes some lovely gut and liver nourishing herbs to support our bodies inherent ability to release and renew. I add in Cacao Nibs (Theobroma cacao) because I love a bit of a cocoa taste but if you’re not inclined to chocolate or find it too stimulating you can easily remove the nibs and still be left with a delicious tea.

My Rose Herbal Coffee is grounding and helps to draw energy down and out of the body. So, if you’re someone who wakes up feeling agitated and a bit anxious you might find this brew really helpful. Because it’s caffeine-free you can enjoy a cup of Rose Herbal Coffee in the evenings, too, and it’ll help with post-meal digestion.

Rose Herbal Coffee

• 4 parts Roasted Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)

• 2 part Roasted Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)

• 2 part Cacao Nibs (Theobroma cacao)

• 1/4 part Rose (Rosa spp.)

• 1/4 part Anise (Pimpinella anisum)

• 1/8 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

I prepare my herbal coffee in two parts. First, I add the Dandelion and Roasted Carob into my pot of water (about 1 tablespoon of herb to 1 cup of water), bring to a boil, then simmer for about 5 minutes, and then strain. Into that strained brew I add the rest of the herbs to steep for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then I add it some milk of choice and a bit of sweet, but it’s also delightful all on its own. 

Enjoy! Looking for more recipes? You can find all of my recipes and tutorials here. 

How to Use Herbal Powders (with Free Recipes!)

I began using herbal powders early on in my practice as an easy and alcohol-free alternative to tinctures.

Herbal powders can be added to juices, smoothies, honey or your milk of choice for internal use or quickly mixed with oil, water or honey for external application. My two favorite ways to use herbal powders are either in smoothies where I just add them in and blend or as herbal milks (recipe below). One of the things I love about herbal powders is that they are a form of whole plant medicine! When I have been traveling or have limited supplies on hand, I'll just mix an herbal powder with an ounce of water and down it like the magickal tonic that it is!

Topically, herbal powders can be used to quickly create a compress. Mix the powdered herbs with a little bit of water, oil or honey to form a paste. Rub it on the affected body part and cover with a cloth. For example, you might use Ashwagandha (Withania somniferum) for lower back pain whether from strain or menstruation.

General Guidelines for Using Herbal Powders

• Make sure that your herbal powders are medicinally potent by using them within six to nine months of when they were ground up. Some herbal powders degrade much quicker and all will last better when stored in an air-tight container in a cold and dark place (like a refrigerator).
• Start with single powders before moving onto blends. I recommend this all the time, not just for herbal powders. If you really want to track and understand how an herb is affecting you, using them one at a time is one of the clearest ways of achieving this. 
• Dosage varies widely depending on a person constitution as well as condition. 1/4 teaspoon - 1 teaspoon (or roughly 1 to 4 grams) 1 to 3 times a day is a relatively standard dose. It’s always best to consult your materia medica and/or herbal practitioner for dosage guidelines as well as listening to your body. 

Nearly any herb can be powdered, so the possibilities for using herbal powders in your practice are practically endless. Below I’ve listed three of my favorite herbal powders of the moment with brief descriptions of their healing benefits.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

Let’s start with a spice that is easy to find! Cinnamon has been in use since at least ancient Egypt (where it’s use was first recorded) and probably much longer than that. It’s a warming herb which stimulates digestion, helps regulate blood sugar, and increases vitality. Cinnamon improves memory while uplifting the spirits (which makes it a great herb for students). It protects against and clears up colds and ‘flus as well as being stimulating to the circulatory system. If you’re struggling with low energy, mental fatigue, and anxiousness, especially when mixed with sugar cravings, Cinnamon might be a great ally for you. The herb can be added to a variety of dishes to enhance flavor which makes itsuch an easy herb to incorporate into your herbal practice. 

Ashwagandha (Withania somniferum)

Ashwagandha is known as a rasayana or a rejuvenative herb in Ayurveda and it’s classified as an adaptogen in western herbalism. It is the adaptogen that I reach for most regularly and my absolute favorite way to prepare it is as a milky evening drink (recipe below). Ashwagandha nourishes the brain and neural pathways of the body while restoring strength after a period of stress or illness. Use for cases of auto-immune disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, brain fog, as well as insomnia, anxiety, nervous exhaustion, and stress. It’s a wonderful addition to your diet if you’re an athlete or work out regularly - you can use it as part of your pre-work-out snack. Topically, it also assists with alleviating muscle pain. Ashwaghanda has a mild, slightly bittersweet taste which is one reason that it’s so easy to add to beverages and food. 

Moringa (Moringa oleifera)

I met Moringa a few years back when I received some tea as part of an herbal swap. The leaves of the Moringa tree are nutrient dense and a great source of protein. It’s a brain and liver tonic, anti-arsenic, antioxidant-rich, and a source of stress-reducing magnesium. Moringa helps to lower cholesterol, manage blood sugar levels, and there have been hopeful studies done regarding it’s anti-cancer capabilities. The herb also helps to increase milk-supply for breastfeeding folks and because it is so nutrient dense and stress-alleviating I like to recommend it as a postpartum herb. Moringa is mild in flavor and I usually add it to my morning smoothie. 

Other herbs that I often use in powdered form include: Nettles (Urtica dioica), Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum), Spirulina, Chlorella, Astragalus, Chicory (Cichorium intybus), and Eleuthero.

Herbal Powder Milk Tea

I like to prepare this in the evening about an hour before bed as a sweet treat to end my day and begin to prepare myself for the next.

Add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of powdered herb to 1 cup of your milk of choice. Bring the milk to almost boiling, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and add sweetener of choice (honey is traditional, but coconut sugar is another good option). If you use brown rice milk, which is naturally sweet, you don’t need to add any extra sweetener.  If I’m making this with Ashwagandha, I’ll add a dash of Cinnamon at the end. Drink and enjoy!

Golden Herbal Powder

Golden Powder Blend is a wonderful daily remedy for those wanting to help rebuild adrenal strength. You can read all about it here.

To make your own Golden Herbal Powder mix together the following powdered herbs:

• 2 parts Mesquite (Prosopis pallida) 
• 1 part Maca (Lepidium meyenii) 
• 1/4 part Pine Pollen (Pinus massoniana)

Recommended dosage is 1/2 - 1 teaspoon up to three times daily. You can mix Golden into water, juice, smoothie or your food of choice.

Yum! Pow! Herbal Cacao

Yup, Cacao powder is medicinal. (You're welcome.) For those who need a bit of pep in the morning, which usually requires us to release tension in order to use our energy more wisely, I like creating a brew with adaptogen herbs. I really like adaptogens and Cacao working together and when you add in a spice or two, clever one, you're on a roll to kickstarting your morning! Yum! Pow! contains Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus) which works with Cacao's heart enhancing gifts as well as improve the function of the immune system as an immunostimulating herb. Read more about the benefits of Cacao here.

To create Yum! Pow! combine the following powdered herbs:

• 4 parts Raw Cacao (Theobroma cacao)
• 4 parts Roasted Chicory Root (Cichorium intybus)
• 1 part Astragalus (Astragalus propinquus)
• 1/4 part Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)
• Optional: 1 part Carob (Ceratonia siliqua) for natural sweetness, but it does have a slightly grainier texture.

To brew, add 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon to your milk of choice and gently warm. Add sweetener (or not!) to taste. You can also add Yum! Pow! to your smoothies, yogurt, oatmeal, and more! 

Super!Rainbows!Love!Go! Herbal Green Powder

The original Worts + Cunning Apothecary green powder was one of my best sellers when I ran my remedy shop. If you want the recipe, it's yours! Just sign-up for my free Magick Mail newsletter and you'll not only get Super!Rainbows!Love!Go! Herbal Green Powder recipe but other exclusive content. But it's only available until the end of May 2017 (so sign-up to get it quick!).

Go forth and make your herbal powders! And make sure to let me know what your favorite herbal powders are in the comments below. 

Spiced Blood : Premiere Vampyre Tonic Recipe

We are headed as fast as the furious horde into the season of Hallows, clever ones, I can't wait!

I have always loved Halloween and when I was called to my Pagan path, Samhain became one of my most beloved of holy days. Maybe it is my Leo Moon that believes that we are all performing, some of us are just less aware than others, and Halloween is a time to try on different roles or better yet, be a bit more like we really are for all to see. While I celebrate Halloween as a cultural holiday, I look forward to the sacred sojourn of Samhain each year. I make sure to take time off around Samhain every year because it is such an important holy day and opportunity to connect with loved ones both living and of blessed memory as I start the new year (Samhain is, in part, a celebration of the New Year). 

The fall and early winter are also times of great creativity for me. I dream up more of my remedies during this time of the year than any other time, including all of the recipes found in The Haunted Apothecary. I am looking forward to an extra-special Hallows celebration this year with a bunch of friends and family gathering together - so my Halloween decorating dreams are in full swing. I love giving away little gifts, so I decided to make a tea for everyone to take home with them. In the spirit of gift-giving I'm sharing the recipe with you!

I wanted to make a warming, spicy blend that was caffeine-free and a delicious red color. Hence, Spiced Blood: Premiere Vampyre Tonic for all of my night-kin, fancy Hallows tea drinkers, and midnight dancers. 

If you're purchasing the herbs needed for this tea, I recommend checking out your local tea or herb shop if you are lucky enough to have one in your town. Otherwise, I recommend online sellers like Mountain Rose Herbs for your herbal needs. 

Blend together the following herbs in your cauldron pot:

• 4 parts of Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis)

• 1 part of Roasted Carob (Ceratonia siliqua)

• 1 part of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

• 1/2 part of Clove (Syzygium aromaticum)

• 1/4 part of Rose (Rosa damascena)

The tea blend can be brewed immediately, but it is better bottled in a tight sealing jar and left to mingle and awaken in the dark for at least one weeks time. Brew 1 teaspoon per cup of hot water.

I hope you enjoy your Spiced Blood either on a solitary night under the moonlit sky or with a gathering of wild-hearted kindred. Happy start of the Hallows season, clever ones! 

Beautiful Sustenance : A Taurus Inspired Chaga Chai

Enjoy the following recipe from the Lunar Apothecary! In addition to the full year of material already posted, I also update the Lunar Apothecary with new material every single month! Ready to join our starry circle? Come this way!

Click here to learn more about the special powers of the Taurus Full Moon and additional Taurus herbs to use in your remedies and charms. You'll notice in the recipe below that I left space for you to further explore the healing powers of Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) and it's connection to the Moon! Enjoy your explorations - preferably while sipping on a cup of chai!