Honor your sacred heart with this tulsi, rose, and hawthorn chai. This warming, relaxing blend of herbs and traditional chai spices will soothe and protect.
Some days it’s just hard to be hopeful. Maybe it’s the weather, maybe it’s the bills, maybe it’s the news, maybe it’s social media, MAYBE it’s everything. Sometimes life in general can be stressful, over wrought, and downright disheartening. Perhaps it is my role as an herbalist, but I find myself serving as the sounding board for a lot of people’s gripes and troubles. I don’t know a lot of things, but I do know that people feel tore down, chewed up, and spit out these days. I also know that there are some herbs that can help soothe and nourish a world weary heart. How about some tulsi, rose, and hawthorn chai to lift the heavy veil and let your sacred heart shine?!
The Healing Ritual of Tea
Tea is powerful medicine, my friends. Not just in that tea delivers the gentle healing action of your chosen herbs, but in its ritual too. Preparing tea with intention can itself be an act of self care and indulgence. I encourage you to embrace the rituals of preparing yourself a cup of tea – choose a favorite mug, inhale the aromatic steam, and quietly reflect while sipping your tea. Taking just a few moment to disengage from work, social media, or whatever else consumes you to simply just “be” with your tea is itself an act of healing. I don’t mean this in a hippy-dippy, esoteric way – tea, in this case, is both the tool of healing and the excuse to take care of you.
Tulsi, Rose and Hawthorn Benefits
I formulated this tulsi, rose and hawthorn chai with the notion that I wanted this tea to act on the heart. Tulsi, also known as holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), is a beloved nervine herb which promotes a sense of greater well being and reduces the perception of stress. Rose (Rosa spp) is a gentle hypotensive herb, helping the lower elevated blood pressure and strip away that sense of overwhelm. Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) is a much heralded cardiovascular tonic – strengthening, toning and nourishing the heart muscle while improving circulatory function. I have use hawthorn leaf, flower, berries (wildcrafted at different times of year) here to employ all its heart loving benefits. Traditional chai spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, star anise, and fennel bring warmth and wonderful aromatics, as well as their own unique herbal actions. I even added some not-so-traditional coriander to elevate and brighten the blend.
FDA Disclosure
I am a trained herbalist with a degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, I am not, however, a doctor. Posts in this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Before using any herbs, check for appropriate dosage, drug interactions, and contraindications. Information contained herein is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prescribe. Please consult your primary care physician regarding your specific health concerns.
I encourage you to engage in these small rituals of self care on a daily basis, and especially when times are trying. This tulsi, rose, and hawthorn chai is a perfect way to honor your sacred heart.
Interested in learning more about wild rose and 49 other common wild medicinal plants? Check out my new book The Backyard Herbal Apothecary!
Tulsi, Rose and Hawthorn Chai
Sacred Heart Tulsi, Rose and Hawthorn Chai
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried hawthorn leaf and flower
- 1 cup dried hawthorn berries'
- 1 cup dried tulsi holy basil
- 1 cup rose petals
- ¼ cup cinnamon chips
- ¼ cup dried ginger granules
- ¼ cup fennel seed
- ¼ cup lightly crushed cardamom pods
- ¼ cup lightly crushed star anise pods
- 1 tablespoon dried coriander
Instructions
- Mix all herbs and spice together and store in tightly sealed container in a cool dry place.
- To make tea, use a tablespoon of chai blend to 8-10oz of water. Bring water to a rapid simmer and remove from heat. Add herbs and steep for about 10 minutes. Strain into your favorite mug and enjoy.
6 Comments
My CSA farmer knew I was in an herbalist class and threw some tulsi into my box with some lemongrass. This was during a heat wave, and it was so nice to sip on iced! It’s the base for a lot of loose teas I make. If you have some leftover, try tulsi, lemongrass, hibiscus and a little licorice root. That’s my jam lately.
That tea blend sounds so yummy! Those are some really great cooling herbs too — very similar to a blend we drink during the summer around here!
I love your teapot! Love dragonflies. Where did you find it? This tea sounds great. I just picked up some dried hawthorn berries and was looking for a recipe. Thank you!
Hi Liz! To be honest I don’t really remember where I got the teapot — but I know that I didn’t pay a lot (I am notoriously stingy with my $$$). Enjoy your tea!
Hi there. Would you be able to tell me about how many oz for the various ingredients in this yummy recipe.
I imagine each cup may have a different weight in oz depending on the herb.
Thank you!
I’ll have to try this out.