Elderberry Echinacea Wellness Tea
Seven herbs in one cup, built around elderberry and echinacea: this is the tea people reach for when the season turns cold and everyone around them starts sniffling.
What It Is
This blend pulls together some of the most traditionally relied-upon herbs in folk wellness: elderberry and two forms of echinacea (the herb and the root), peppermint for brightness, yarrow and chamomile for gentleness, and ginger for warmth. Each one has a long history of use during cold and flu season, which is exactly why they ended up together.
The flavor is earthy and a little sweet, with a cool peppermint finish and a quiet ginger heat underneath. It is caffeine-free, which means you can drink it morning or evening without thinking twice about it.
What To Do
Steep one heaping teaspoon in eight ounces of water just off the boil, covered, for seven to ten minutes. Covering the cup matters: it keeps the volatile oils from escaping with the steam. Strain and drink as-is, or stir in honey, which softens the earthiness nicely.
A little ginger or a slice of lemon squeezed in at the end fits the flavor profile well. Store the dry blend somewhere cool and dark, away from light and moisture, and it will hold its character for at least a year.
