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~ Seniors save 10% every Tuesday ~ Receive a five cent credit for each bottle, jar or bag that you bring in to reuse ~ Join our Bulk Herb Club and save 10% on all bulk purchases, all the time!
December Special Sales Days
You could win these gifts from Humboldt Herbals in our Annual After-Holiday Raffle!
Gift Certificates
One year membership to our Bulk Herb Club ($40 value)
Humboldt Herbals hoodie
H2EO Ultrasonic Aromatherapy Room Diffuser ($85 value)
Clear Energy Aromavibrational Myst
Wyndmere Essential Oil Blends
Culinary Salt Sampler
Organic Tea Sampler
and MORE!
You'll receive one raffle ticket for each $25 that you spend between December 1st and December 24th, and we'll draw the winning tickets on Wednesday December 26th ~ Good luck!
Ladies of Second Street Holiday Fundraiser for Local NonProfits ~ December 1st through the 7th
The
Ladies of Second Street in Old Town Eureka invite
 you to shop at Humboldt Herbals, Going Places, The Linen Closet, Booklegger, Ciara's Irish Shop & Sassafras
from December 1st through the 7th, when 5% of all our sales from this first week of December will be donated to local non-profits like
Food for People
, The Raven Project,
Senior Resource Center
,
Domestic Violence Services
,
Hospice of Humboldt &
Betty's Blue Angel
. You get to select the organization that will receive your donation when you check out. Thanks in advance for your participation in helping us make this the biggest Ladies community fundraiser ever!
Saturday, December 5th - Arts Alive! Christmas Party
Join us from 6 to 9pm for the vibrant photography of Deborah Ketelsen featuring the Birds of Costa Rica, and toe tapping musical duo Blazz with Frank Anderson & Mark Jenny performing acoustic jazz and blues tunes with originals!
We'll be serving herbal teas, Spiked Spiced Cider made with our Fireside Mulling Blend, Wee Free Gingerbread Men, crisp fall apples and our Herb & Sea Veggie
cheese spread with crackers.
While you're enjoying the music and sipping your spiked cider, you can check out the unique gifts and herbal delights that we've added for the giving season. Beautiful and functional tea pots and tea accessories, the amazing Blue Love water bottles, handcrafted fair trade sculptures and jewelry, decadent body care, inspiring children's books, Therapy Teddy Bears, and our amazing selection of culinary herbs, bulk herbs and teas ~ there's something for everyone!
Saturday December 12th & Sunday December 13th - "DIY" Sale
A great time to get together with friends and make those last minute herbal holiday
 treats!
Show us your recipe, and save 10% on your bulk ingredients, bottles, jars & tins (if you're a member of our Bulk Herb Club, you'll save 20%!)
Tuesday December 22nd - Winter Solstice
We love the magic of the Winter Solstice! Save 15% on all our candles and incense today, and celebrate the return of the light!
Thursday December 24th - Christmas Eve
We're here for all your last minute shopping needs, with lots of interesting and unusual gift ideas for every budget.
Come in and let us help you make your holiday health-full and happy!
Friday December 25th - Merry Christmas!
(store is closed today)
Celebrate, Laugh and Be Well!
Thursday December 31st - New Year's Eve
2016 calendars and datebooks are 20% off, plus save 10% on all smudge sticks and smudging accessories (including the popular Smudge in Spray and Humboldt Herbals Clear Energy aromavibrational mist) to start the New Year clean & clear!
Great Gift Idea for the Travelers on Your List!
(Reviewed by Susan Hagemann)
 "
The Travelers Natural Medicine Kit: Easy and Effective Remedies for Staying Heathy on the Road," by Pamela Hirsch, is a book that everyone could benefit from reading prior to traveling. It provides simple, practical and easily-implemented suggestions on how to assemble a customized kit to increase well-being, and decrease illness/discomfort, when away from home. Stressing the importance of attitude and flexibility, Ms. Hirsch gives a short but concise review of the different categories of natural remedies that can support healing when on a journey, including herbal preparations, aromatherapy, homeopathy, and flower essences. She then alphabetically categorizes a list of common ailments that travelers may experience (from "abscesses" to "swollen ankles"), and suggests what combination of natural remedies can be used to effectively aid in their healing.
Whether mapping out a backpacking activity, or planning a trip across the country for the upcoming holidays, or simply wanting to have a holistic medicine kit in the house or car as part of earthquake preparedness, this book is an excellent resource to help plan and create a potent tool for health maintenance.
(This book, as well as most of the supplies necessary to make a natural medicine kit, can be purchased at Humboldt Herbals.)
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Herbal Gift Making Classes!
Handmade Herbal Holiday Gifts: A Workshop for Kids of all Ages
Saturday December 12
th from 10am-12pm
At Humboldt Herbals Community Classroom ~ 219 D Street in Old Town Eureka
Sliding Scale Starting at $25
(Minimum price includes 3 projects. Add $5 for each additional project/gift)
Bring your children and enhance the senses with this fun and hands-on workshop to make handmade gifts for those on your child's holiday gift list. Make as many gifts as you need and pay a sliding scale to accommodate all budgets. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Labels and ribbon will be provided to decorate for an extra handmade touch. All participants will receive a how-to guide which will include all the recipes for the workshop plus more to inspire you and the family at home. All ingredients will be high quality, organic, ethically and/or sustainably harvested. Pre-registration required as spaces will be limited. Call Humboldt Herbals for questions and to register at 707-442-3541.
Choose from any of the following handmade gifts. Three of the following are included in the workshop registration fee. Add $5 for any additional projects/gifts you'd like to make.
*Make your own Herbal Decorated Holiday Cards
Be creative with your child and decorate card stock paper with various dried herbs, adding glitter, stickers or drawings for one of a kind handmade holiday cards. ($5 includes up to 3 cards)
*Aroma Sachet Bags
Choose from 2 blends: A Relaxing Lavender and/or Winter Spiced Blend. Children can stimulate their senses with this fun project of adding herbs into silk sachet bags for a simple yet fun aromatic gift for anyone. ($5 includes 2 bags)
* Chocolate Lip Balm
Pour a delicious smelling and tasting edible chocolate lip balm mix into containers and watch them solidify for delicious gifts. ($5 includes 2 containers)
*Aromatic Salt Scrub and/or Herbal Bath Salt Blend
Chose one or both nourishing gifts for mom (or other women) to enjoy a handmade aromatic gift and encourage her to pamper and nourish herself through the season. ($5 for each option)
*Bay Rum After Shave or Cedar Beard Oil
Assist your child in making a natural gift for dad (or other men) for the holidays. Mix together ingredients for a refreshing Bay Rum After Shave or a moisturizing Cedar Beard Oil. ($5 for each option)
About the Instructor:
Candice Brunlinger has a passion for making herbal remedies and crafts and inspiring children to enjoy the sensory benefits and fun of making handmade gifts from the heart. Come join her and her son in this workshop and be inspired too!
DIY Easy Herbal Holiday Gifts
Sunday December 13, 11:00am - 12:30pm ($25)
In the Humboldt Herbals Community Classroom at 219 D Street in Old Town Eureka
Join Humboldt Herbals Staff Herbalists Sophia Steinwachs and Shellby House for a fun interactive Holiday Gift Workshop! Learn how to make a delicious rosehip jam to keep your immune system strong and healthy, a luscious body salve to soothe the skin and keep you calm in stressful times, and a Holiday Forrest aromatherapy spritzer to bring a bright, spicy holiday scent with each spray. Recipe handouts and samples of each gift are included in the workshop registration fee.
Upcoming Classes in January
"Introduction to Evolutionary Tarot"
with Carolyn Ayres
Wednesday, January 6th, 6:30 - 8:00 pm (FREE!)
In the Humboldt Herbals Community Classroom at 219 D Street in Old Town Eureka
Please bring a tarot deck and writing utensils. A practitioner of the tarot for over 20 years, Carolyn Ayres teaches tarot as an evolutionary path through her classes and private readings at The Tarot Studio in Eureka. A regular contributor to Isis Scrolls with her column, TarotWise, Carolyn uses the tarot as a guide for her own and your evolutionary leap. Check her out at
www.tarotofbecoming.com
Food Heals with Marcia Stroud, MA, Biochemist, Herbalist & Nutritionist
Wednesday, January 13th from 6:30 - 8:00pm ($25)
Thinking about changing the way you eat?
Good health depends on good nutrition - learn how you can eat your way to better health!
In this class, we'll discuss five key principles of healthy nutrition.
* How to determine your nutritional type
* Which saturated fats are healthy
* How the glycemic index relates to overall well-being
* How enzymes, pH, and raw foods relate to overall health
* When raw veggies may not be the best choice and which organic foods are not the healthiest
And, because what you don't put into your system is just as important as what you do, we'll examine ways to reduce your intake of toxins. This course also includes a look at some natural allies to support specific areas such as energy and sleep. And, finally, we'll discuss external body and skin health and their relationship to overall well-being.
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Favorite Things:
Each holiday season I embark on making a few new herbal gift creations--or I'll take a classic recipe and give it an upgrade. I
n the spirit of giving, I share with you here recipes for some of my "favorite things" that are sure to keep your skin skin glowing and your spirits bright!
Rose petal Bath Soak This recipe fills a 1 ounce sized glass corked vial.
1/2 ounce of Himalayan Pink Salt
1 teaspoon of Jojoba oil
First take the salts and grind them down to a finer consistency in a coffee grinder, or magic bullet. Then mix the jojoba oil and essential oil into the salt, mix well and then add in the rose petals, again mixing everything all together. Finally fill your vial and include a gift tag with instructions and ingredients. This is the perfect amount for one luxurious soak!
Rosemary Foot Soak
This recipe fills a 1 ounce sized glass corked vial
1 teaspoon of Jojoba oil
8 drops of Lavender essential oil
First take the salts and grind them down to a finer consistency in a coffee grinder, or magic bullet. Then mix the jojoba oil and essential oil into the salt, mix well and then add in the rosemary, again mixing everything all together. Finally fill your vial and include a gift tag with instructions and ingredients. This is the perfect amount for one rejuvenating foot soak!
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You can gift them individually--or you can gift all three together as a lovely "salt soak assortment" in a decorative gift bag!
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Calendula & Lavender Bath Salt
s
This recipe fills a 1 ounce sized glass corked vial:
1 TBSP. of dried Calendula petals (finely ground)
1 teaspoon of Jojoba oil
3 drops of Clary Sage essential oil
First take the salt and grind it down to a fine consistency in a coffee grinder, or magic bullet. Then mix in the jojoba oil and the essential oils into the salt, mix together well and then add in the ground herbs, again mixing everything all together. Finally fill your vial and include a gift tag with instructions and ingredients.
Makes t
he perfect amount for one relaxing soak!
Honey and Hemp Lemon Lip Balm
I have made many lip balms and this one is extra special!
This recipe will fill approx. 8--.25 ounce sized lip balm tubes or glass jars.
3 teaspoons of Coconut oil
2 teaspoons of Hemp oil
2 teaspoons of honey
12 drops of Lemon essential oil
Melt the beeswax, cocoa butter, coconut and hemp oil in a double boiler (or in a pyrex measuring cup submerged half way in a saucepan of simmering water).
Remove from heat once everything has melted together and pour the mixture into another pyrex measuring cup--this helps cool it down and makes adding the honey in very easy--submerge that pyrex in a small bowl of cold water, and then stir in the the honey, keep stirring constantly to incorporate the honey into the mixture almost until it cools.
You will notice the mixture getting thicker as the honey starts to blend in.
Once it is a thick but still pourable consistency pour into your lip balm tubes or jars to set--if it gets too cool making it too thick to pour simply submerge the pyrex back in hot water and stir constantly until it warms just enough to make it pourable.
*remember you can always do a "spoon test" before pouring the lip balm into tubes/jars by spooning up a tiny bit of the lip balm mixture and then set that spoon in the freezer for a few minutes--then check it to see your lip balm consistency and yoiu can make any adjustments to the lip balm mixture like adding in more hemp oil if it seems too solid, or by adding in more cooca butter if it seems to soft.
Rose Body Polish
This body polish is semi-solid at room temperatures, but the moment it hits the skin it melts and glides right on--moisturizing the skin while the salt gently exfoliates and removes impurities.
1/4 cup of Coconut oil (melted)
11/2 - 2 TBSP of Rose petals--ground fine, you can use powdered also
10 drops of Rose Geranium essential oil
2 teaspoons of shredded coconut (optional)
After grinding the salt to a very fine consistency, mix it together with the melted coconut oil, and rose petals--stir together well then add in your drops of essential oils and shredded coconut (if using), then stir everything well. You can mix this recipe right in the mason jar or if you are making bigger batches in a large bowl, then simply spoon ithe polish into your desired size jar, seal it and label it with a decorative gift tag.
This foot polish feels oh, so good on tired feet--it is also a wonderful scrub for hands after a long day in the garden!
This recipe fills one 1/2 pint sized mason jar or two 2 ounce sized salve jars.
1
/2-3/4 cup of Dead Sea Salt--ground fine
2 TBSP Peppermint leaf--ground fine
1 TBSP. of Spearmint leaf--ground fine
8 drops of Peppermint essential oil
6 drops of Lavender essential oil
1/4 teaspoon of Vanilla extract
After grinding the salt to a very fine consistency, mix it together with the melted coconut oil, and ground mint's--stir together well then add in your drops of essential oils and vanilla extract then stir again to mix well. You can mix this recipe right in the mason jar or if you are making bigger batches in a large bowl, then simply spoon ithe polish into your
desired sized jar, seal it and label it with a decorative gift tag.
Cocoa Bath Melt-Aways
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When wrapped individually in waxed paper these Cocoa Bath Melt-Aways make great gifts--or stack three to give as a gift set!
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T
hese smell so incredibly
delicious--you will have a euphoric bathing experience and afterwards your skin will feel as smooth as butta'!
This recipe yields 8 cocoa melt-aways, I used a mold that made 1.5" x 1.5" x 0.75" size squares.
You will need:
3 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of Jojoba oil (I used vanilla bean infused jojoba oil for this)
20 drops of Grapefruit essential oil
Choose a silicone mold of your choice--the smaller the better as your aiming to make these be the perfect size for one bath soak--small baking molds or small ice cube molds work really well. Place the mold on a cookie sheet for stability when pouring.
Submerge a puyrex measuring half way in a saucepan of simmering water, then add to the pyrex the cocoa butter and the jojoba oil--stir occasionally until melted.
Carefully remove the pyrex from the saucepan and let the mixture cool just for a few minutes, then stir in the organic Cocoa Perfume and Grapefruit essential oil--stir well, then begin to pour the blend into your molds--be sure to stir the mixture a bit each time in between pouring into the mold to help evenly disperse the scents. Keeping the mold on the cookie sheet transfer it to the refrigerator to cool and set the melt-aways. If you used the Cocoa Perfume it may leave a little chocolate colored "film" on top of the melt-away--this is totally fine and it looks pretty too.
The melt-aways will leave behind a slick film on your tub so be careful getting out--and don't worry the cocoa butter film is very easy to clean off of the tub.
Wrap each melt-away in waxed paper and tie with a decorative gift ribbon--if you make a large batch of these you can layer them on waxed paper and keep refrigerated in tupperware until you want to gift them as it will keep them nice and fresh.
These cocoa bath melt-aways will store fine at room temperature and do not require refrigeration.
*these smell heavenly of chocolate and citrus--very tempting to think they may be edible, so I suggest keeping these away from small children and pets!
Season's Greetings!
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You can make wonderful gifts without making anything at all!
~ Fill a pretty mug with sampler packages of your favorite herbal teas
~ Fill a mason jar with layers of chamomile, lavender, and roses ~ tie a muslin bag around the lid ~ and you have a lovely bathtub tea that's relaxing and healing
~ Fill a pretty bottle with rose or lavender hydrosol for use as a facial toner, linen spray or room freshener.
~ Fill little jars with honey and a drop or two of cinnamon and orange essential oils, with instructions to stir a spoonful into a cup of hot water for an "instant" spiced tea
Let your imagination inspire you!
You'll find most of the ingredients you need for the following recipes, plus lots of decorative jars, bottles and tins at Humboldt Herbals.
Please call ahead to order large quantities.
 Nectar Perfume
This fresh and lively fragrance is appropriate for both men and women
6 drops orange essential oil
8 drops lemon
8 drops tangerine
6 drops frankincense
4 drops neroli
For Perfume: Fill a sterilized 1/2-ounce glass bottle with 3/4 teaspoon vodka and add the scented oils in the order given.
For Perfume Oil: Fill a sterilized 1/2-ounce glass bottle with 3/4 teaspoon jojoba oil, apricot kernel oil, or sweet almond oil. Add the scented oils in the order given.
 Redwood Forest Detox Bath
1 cup sea salt
1 handful redwood needles (fresh or dried ~ pine and cedar are lovely, too)
5 drops fir essential oil
5 drops cedarwood essential oil
Combine all ingredients and mix well. Store in an airtight container. To use: tie a generous handful of this mixture into a muslin bag, cheesecloth, or an old thin washcloth. Draw a warm bath and add the herbal mixture. Soak for at least 20 minutes.
 Oatmeal Cookie Bath
We like to pair this gift with actual cookies!
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Blend all ingredients in a food processor or blender until they become powdery, and pour into a jar with a tight fitting lid. To use, pour all the mixture into a warm bath while the water is running. Soak and relax! (Note: if you're worried about the tub mess, you can put your Cookie Bath in a drawstring muslin bag and let it soak with you in the tub, squeezing it over you while you enjoy your bath.)
 Sweet Spice Milk Bath
Milk baths in the winter are soothing and moisturizing to dry, winter skin, and don't have the mess or slipperiness of a bath oil. This recipe works best when it relies heavily on cinnamon, with smaller amounts of the other herbs.
¼ cup dried spices such as cinnamon, allspice, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg and clove
2 cups dried milk powder
Combine all ingredients; stir well. Store in an airtight container. To use: Add ½ cup to tub full of warm water and soak.
Save Your Skin Salve
½ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons dried comfrey root, chopped
2 tablespoons dried calendula flowers
2 tablespoons chamomile
1 tablespoon hemp oil
1 tablespoon cocoa butter
3 tablespoons grated beeswax
Place olive oil and comfrey root in a double boiler on the stovetop and heat gently for one hour. Make sure the oil completely covers the comfrey. After an hour, add the calendula and chamomile. Cook for another hour, checking periodically to make sure that the oil covers all of the herbs and doesn't boil. Turn off the heat, let cool slightly, and strain the oil through cheesecloth.
Measure 1/3 cup of the infused oil (if you don't have enough, add a little olive oil), and put in the double boiler with the hemp oil, cocoa butter and beeswax. Heat until the wax melts, stirring thoroughly. Pour into jar(s), allow to cool completely, seal and date. Use as needed for bruises, scrapes, rashes and bug bites.
Spiced Stovetop Simmer
Make your whole home smell fresh and inviting with this recipe. Or, put a few scoops of the mixture in a Mason jar, tie with raffia, and include a card with directions for a gift.
1 large Mason jar for storing dry mix
2 cups dried orange peel
4 tablespoons whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
6 allspice berries
1 cup dried lemon peel
1 whole nutmeg, cracked
Mix together all ingredients and place in a Mason jar. To use: Place 2 tablespoons of the mix in a large pot and cover with 2 or 3 inches of water. Simmer the mix over low heat and the smell will permeate the house. Just keep adding water as it reduces.
 Lavender Vinegar
1 bottle rice wine vinegar
2 to 3 tablespoons dried lavender flowers (depending on the bottle size of the rice wine vinegar)
small glass bottles
thin lavender ribbon
Divide the lavender flowers evenly between jars and then fill the bottle with rice wine vinegar. After a few days, the vinegar will take on a pretty lavender hue. Tie lavender ribbon around the bottle. Use over salad or vegetables.
Herb & Spice Vinegar
2 whole nutmeg
7 juniper berries
1 tablespoon celery seed
1 tablespoon caraway seed
6 cardamom pods
1 tablespoon coriander seed
3 cloves garlic, peeled
1 jalapeno pepper, washed and halved
fresh sprigs of dill, tarragon, rosemary, savory and parsley
lemon peel
1 bottle rice wine vinegar
1 bottle cider vinegar
In a large, decorative jar, layer juniper berries, nutmeg, celery seed, caraway seed, cardamom pods, coriander seed, garlic, jalapeno pepper, sprigs of fresh herbs, and lemon peel. Cover with a combination of rice wine and cider vinegar.
Herbal Rice Trio
Bag up this trio for the cooks in your life in small sealable bags with a decorative label. Cook on the stovetop or in the rice cooker.
2 cups brown rice
1 bay leaf
1 tablespoon Herbes de Provence
1 veggie bouillon cube
2 cups wild rice mixture
1 tablespoon dried orange peel
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon dried lycii berries or cranberries
1 veggie cube
2 cups white rice
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried wild mushrooms, finely chopped
1 veggie cube
 Vanilla Sugar
Simply place a split vanilla bean in 2 cups of sugar. Cap well, shake often, and put in a pretty bottle.
Homemade Anisette
This licorice flavored liqueur hails from France and was traditionally used as a nightcap to ease digestion. (The Greeks call it Ouzo and the Italians, Sambuca). The name "Anisette" refers to its popular ingredient, anise seed, which also flavors cakes, cookies and coffee. You can use this elixir to do the same.
1 cup distilled water
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons anise seeds
1 tablespoon dried chopped licorice root
1 750ml bottle of vodka
Combine water and sugar in a saucepan and gently bring to a boil until sugar dissolves. Toss in anise seeds and licorice root and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring often. Allow to cool and strain. Blend syrup and vodka in a clean bottle, cap, and shake. Allow flavors to fuse for a few days.
 Mulled Vanilla Spiced Wine
1/2 cup cinnamon pieces
1/4 cup ginger
2 tablespoons cloves
1/4 cup dried orange peel
2 tablespoons allspice berries
1/4 cup vanilla extract
2 tablespoons star anise
2 tablespoons powdered ginseng
Add the above ingredients to 1 liter wine or juice and warm gently for 20 to 30 minutes. Strain before serving. This will warm the coldest of toes and other places.
Simple Rose Hips Conserve
Loaded with vitamin C and bioflavoniods, which aid in structural integrity and healing.
2 cups hot water
1 cup dried rose hips (seedless)
½ cup Honey
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
Pour the hot water over the rose hips in a bowl. Stir well, cover, and let sit for 1 hour. Scoop the rose hips into a blender, using about half of the soaking water. Reserve the rest of the soaking water separately. Add the rest of the ingredients to the blender, and blend well until thick and pudding like, adding more of the soaking water as needed. Strain by stirring a little at a time through a large strainer. Scrape the conserve off the bottom outside surface of the strainer as needed. (straining the conserve with catch any stray seeds - there always seem to be a few lurking in the dried rosehips, and are hard enough to break a tooth!). Refrigerate and use within one week, or can for later use. A delicious treat for the holiday table, and good by the spoonful for coughs, colds and sore throats.
 Kava Kava Truffles
We get rave reviews about this recipe year after year. Kava is a "peaceful euphoriant" that reduces anxiety and helps you relax. These make wonderful holiday treats for your stressed-out friends!
½ cup butter
½ ounce kava kava root
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons whipping cream
7 tablespoons confectioners sugar
2 tablespoons chopped nuts (optional)
cheesecloth
Melt butter and pour into a glass baking dish. Stir in kava. Allow the kava and butter to slowly infuse by placing the baking dish in the oven on the lowest possible heat for 12 to 24 hours (for gas stoves, the pilot light is sufficient). Strain the kava from the butter with cheesecloth. Pour the strained butter into a saucepan and add the chocolate. Melt together. Remove from heat. Add the cream, sugar, and nuts, and blend together well. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours. Remove from fridge, shape into balls, and roll in sweetened cocoa, cinnamon, cardamom, or whatever you like. Store in fridge. Remove from fridge 2 hours before serving
Ginger Syrup
recipe by Kate Maxey
(makes approximately 16 ounces)
1 quart water
2 ounces dried ginger
4 ounces fresh ginger
1/2 cup honey or more if desired
First, make a very strong ginger tea by gently simmering 2 ounces dried ginger with one quart of water. You want to keep it at a gentle simmer, uncovered, for 60 -90 minutes, depending on the desired strength.
While the tea is brewing, juice 4 ounces of fresh ginger ~ you'll need an actual juicer to extract the fresh juice.
When the tea liquid has reduced by half (approximately 2 cups instead of 4 cups), remove from heat and strain out the ginger pieces, reserving the liquid. I use a stainless steel strainer, but muslin cloth or a good ole fashion kitchen towel will work too (just be wary of how hot the tea will be).
Then, pour the strained tea back into the sauce pan and put the fire back on low. Add the 1/2 cup of honey (or more if you want a sweeter, thicker syrup) and stir until well blended. Take the mixture off the heat, pour into a large measuring cup, and add the fresh ginger juice. Voila! Allow to cool completely, and pour the syrup into the containers of your choice. I usually use two eight ounce amber bottles, but you can definitely get fancy with your glassware, especially if they will be gifts.
Enjoy drizzled over spiced breads and cakes, fruit, bitter greens, and any other dishes that could benefit from the sweet spicy zing of this syrup. To make your own fresh ginger ale, simply mix a few tablespoons of syrup with club soda or sparkling water, add a squeeze of fresh lime, and enjoy!
*Note: You can use this method of syrup making for virtually any herb or herbal combination.
Chocolate Honey Body Scrub
recipe by Kate Maxey
1 1/4 cup Sugar
3 oz. almond oil
2 Tbsp. Cocoa Butter
2 Tbsp. Honey or herbal infused honey of your choice
2 tsp. Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract
5 drops Balsam Peru Essential oil (opt.)
5 drops Ylang Ylang (opt.)
Melt down the Cocoa Butter and blend with honey, oil, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla. Stir well. Makes three 4 oz. jars.
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