Throughout Southern Europe a tea culture exists which predates the import of teas from India and China by the British. In fact, if you happen to have an Italian, Greek, or Croatian Grandmother, chances are she’s got a tea recipe for your wintertime sniffles or upset stomach. While true tea (Camelia sinensis) didn’t root in Southern Europe until recently, herbal teas and tisanes have been an integral part to both folk medicine and culinary creations since time immemorial.
We’ve created three herbal tea blends that are inspired and empowered by the folk herbal traditions of Southern Europe and we’re excited to share them with you!
If there is one herbal tea that sums up the flavors of Italy it must be Lemon Verbena! Growing across meadow-lands and in many a terracotta pot, Verbena offers the aroma and flavor of Italian countryside- lemons, bergamot, and grass. We’ve made the simple pairing of Lemon Verbena and Lemon Peel to create a deep citrus tea that’s perfect for waking up or winding down.
Lemon Verbena has been traditionally used to help with the common cold, mood, and digestive complaints. It’s the perfect aperitif tea and blends beautifully with sparkling water paired with craft chocolate.
In ancient Greek, the name Chamomile means ‘ground apple’- a nod at how this lovely plant grows and how it smells. Chamomile is actually an ancient ground cover plant that smells like dried apples when pinched or stepped on. Greece is famous for it’s varietals of Chamomile, and we’ve paired it with the flowers of Greek Linden Trees (Tila) and Wild Lavender flowers for the perfect calming sip.
Chamomile is one of the world’s most celebrated relaxing herbs. Calming to both mind and body, our Greece blend is a fantastic night-cap or a great way to shake off the stresses of the day. Pair with fruits like apples, dates, and figs or Hazelnuts and Cheese.
For this tea blend we took inspiration from a city in northern Croatia- Koprivnica. Named after the wild Nettles which grow throughout the region, this area has a history of both eating Nettles as a cooked green and enjoying them as a mineral-rich, vegetal herbal tea. We’ve combined our Croatian Nettles with Lemon Balm and Country Mint to create a bright, uplifting blend.
Nettles are a powerhouse of minerals and vitamins and can be incredibly nourishing to the whole body. Enjoy this tea as a feel-good brew anytime. Pair with grounding soulful foods like bread, butter, honey, and cheese.
