Homemade Gifts for the Holidays
Homemade gifts are gifts from the heart—especially when they promote good health and a sense of calm. This season, try making some of these blends out of herbs and spices from the Bulk Herbs Department.
Ginger Cinnamon Honey
This honey turns toast, oatmeal, pancakes and most warm breakfasts into a delicious treat all while stimulating digestion.
Ingredients:
1 c. honey
2 T. powdered cinnamon
1 tsp. powdered ginger
Method:
1. Place honey into a sterilized jar and warm the jar in a double boiler over low heat until honey is warm enough to mix the herbs into it.
2. Stir in herbs and allow to cool. Store in a cabinet for about two weeks, stirring occasionally.
Elderberry Syrup
This delicious immune boosting syrup is great stirred into oatmeal, poured on pancakes, into hot tea, used in cocktails or made into a soda by adding to bubbly water.
Ingredients:
1 cup elderberries
3 cups water
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cloves
1 cup honey or agave syrup
Method:
1. Bring all ingredients except sweetener to a boil in a medium saucepan.
2. Reduce to a simmer, partially covered. Simmer until liquid is reduced by half, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat, let cool enough to handle and pour through strainer (discarding berries and cloves).
4. Whisk in honey or agave syrup and allow to cool to room temperature.
5. Pour into a jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Relaxing Bath Tea
Ingredients:
1 cup calendula flowers
½ cup chamomile flowers
¼ cup lavender buds
¼ cup rose petals
Optional additions:
Essential oils
Epsom salt
Oats
This recipe makes one bath. You can make this as big of a batch as you like.
Method: Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and package for gifts in clear jars to showcase the beauty of them. Include a large muslin bag to stuff the tea into. Include instructions to pop it into the bath while filling up or make it into a strong tea beforehand to add to the bath.
Butterfly Pea Flower Tea
This tea turns a beautiful rich blue color, it is quite magical. Mixed with other botanicals, and sweetened with honey, it is a delight to the senses!
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butterfly pea flowers
1 teaspoon chamomile flowers, lavender buds or rose petals, or a combination of them
This recipe makes 1 cup of tea and can be made as big of a batch as you like.
Method: Mix all of the flowers together in a bowl and store in an airtight container. If giving as a gift, give with a tea ball, muslin bag or tea pot and instructions for brewing: Use a heaping tablespoon of tea per 8-12 oz of hot water. Allow to steep for 5 minutes, sweeten with honey and enjoy!
Check out these links for more bulk herbs inspiration!
Adaptogenic Chai Tea
Tips for Using Spices
3 Easy Everyday Uses for Turmeric
Juniper Rejuvenating Bath Vinegar
DIY World Spice Blend
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