This time of year is a fabulous time to treat yourself, or treat someone you love, to the beauty and pleasure available from the world of herbs. From aphrodisiac nervines (such as damiana and oatstraw) to aromatic treasures like rose, vanilla and sandlewood, the natural world has much to offer us to help us foster connection, sweetness, and delight.
Perhaps nothing is more romantic and enjoyable than giving and receiving something from that heart that you've made yourself. So, we asked some of our favorite herbalist to share their most treasured herbal romance secrets...
Atava's Edible Brown Sugar Body Scrub
courtesy of Ancestral Apothecary
1c. brown sugar
1/2c white sugar
1/2c + 2 Tbs. sunflower oil
1/2 tsp damiana cordial, vanilla extract, or flavoring of your choice
Mix ingredients together, bottle, and enjoy!
Spiced Rose Elixir
courtesy of North Rose Botanicals
Rose petals – fresh is best, but fragrant organic dried rose petals will do. Enough to fill a quart jar more then half full.
3 tbsp. damiana
1-2 tbsp. shatavari
1-2tbsp. ashwaganda
1 tsp. clove
1 tsp. allspice
2 pieces star anise
2 sticks cinnamon
Fill a quart jar with herbs, pour your alcohol of choice to fill the jar halfway to 3/4 full, then top off with local, unheated honey. Let sit for 4-6 weeks, give it an occasional shake to add the maceration process, strain to a new bottle, label and enjoy 1-2 tablespoons as needed. (Alcohol can be whatever you prefer- vodka, rum or brandy, even tequila make fine choices. Cheryl prefers a high-quality Brandy).
Damiana Cordial
Courtesy of Diana De Luca's Botanica Erotica
1oz. damiana leaves
2c vodka or brandy
1.5c spring water
1c honey
Vanilla extract, rose water, or spices of your choice
Soak damiana leaves in alcohol for 5 days (you can also soak a vanilla bean or two with the herb). Strain, and reserve liquid in a bottle. Now soak the alcohol drenched leaves in water for 3 days. Strain, save the water. Gently warm water and dissolve honey into it. Combine both the honey and water with the alcohol extracts and stir well. Optional: add vanilla extract, rose water, or other flavorings. Pour into a clean bottle and let sit for one month or longer. Gets better with age.
Celtic Love Tea
courtesy of Celtic Herbs
Equal parts dried borage, rose petals, damiana, and spearmint.
Mix and serve with rose-petal or clary-sage infused honey.
Wild Rose Honey
Courtesy of Bear Medicine Herbals
1c. local honey
1/2c. dry or 1c. fresh rosehips
1tsp. (or 1/2 tsp. dry) grated fresh ginger
1tsp. (or 1/2 tsp. dry) fresh orange peel
1/4 tsp. cardamom
Mix together in a jar, then let infuse for one month (or however long you can wait!).
Robin Rose’s Passion Honey
Courtesy of the Herbwife's Kitchen
1 quart of organic dark honey
1/2 cup orange blossoms*
3/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
2 tablespoons damiana
3-4 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon jasmine
2-3 tablespoons maca root powder
3/4 ounce rose glycerite or rose water
1 teaspoon crushed up cinnamon sticks or powder
*Orange blossoms can be hard to get. You could put in crumbled or powdered sweet orange or tangerine peels instead — it won’t be the same, but still delicious.
** all herbs are dried organic unless otherwise noted.
Mix, then cook on low for 30-45 minutes. If you can wait, let it steep for a week or so, then enjoy. If not, then just enjoy!
These don't just sound good (especially the flavored honey recipes) they don't look too difficult--meaning I might actually try them sometime! Wish I'd seen them before, but I've just gotten around to looking at this blog for the first time in months.
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting story to read and I enjoyed reading it as well. Keep up the good work. herbal incense
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