7 Tips for Healthy Holiday Eating from an Herbalist
Healthy holiday eating tips from herbalist Juliet Blankespoor, with simple practices to support digestion, peaceful mealtimes, and a nourishing relationship with food throughout the season.
Herbal Recipes
Juneteenth Hibiscus Ginger Iced Tea Recipe: A Drink of Remembrance
June 19th is a day to honor the legacy of freedom hard-won and long-delayed—a celebration of resilience, remembrance, and the unyielding spirit of those who endured. Over time, red foods became central to Juneteenth celebrations, representing the bloodshed of ancestors and the tenacious spirit of a people who refused to be erased. Hibiscus tea served warm or cold, with its deep crimson hue, remains a staple drink at Juneteenth gatherings, a reminder of connections to African roots.
Herbal Aphrodisiac Shortbread Cookies
Aphrodisiac herbs are plants that elevate, nourish, or sustain our sexual or sensual desires. This Herbal Aphrodisiac Shortbread Cookie recipe is delightfully decadent and not too sweet. The cacao nibs, which are small pieces of the cacao bean, provide a rich and nutty crunch, while the rose water adds the lightest floral note. The rose petals contribute a splash of alluring color to entice the eyes along with the nose. These cookies are tasty as a stand-alone treat, but we also love them biscotti-style, served with coffee or tea.
Winter Spiced Herbal Bitters for Digestive Health
Paradoxically, herbal bitters make life sweet, as they have a profound effect on our enjoyment of food—one of life’s great pleasures. You might also say they improve our relationship with food, as many digestive woes can be corrected simply by adding bitters to the diet.
Herbal Compound Butters for Festive Feasting
Rich and sultry, compound butters generously lend a delectable flavor and silky texture to almost any dish. They can be slathered onto baked roots, fresh bread, and crackers or used to roast veggies or meat. Fruity, sour, and sweet butters are delicious with pancakes, muffins, or waffles. When you set the table with buttery herbal spreads, every occasion instantly feels special—from Sunday brunch to your best friend’s birthday dinner.
Calendula Tulsi Chai Recipe
Astragalus, calendula, and tulsi are herbal tonics for the lymphatic, nervous, and immune systems. This Calendula Tulsi Chai Recipe will help ward off colds and flu during winter months. The aromatic botanicals in this chai—cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns, and ginger—keep the blood and lymph moving and are especially helpful for those who feel cold or sluggish. During warmer weather, dilute the concentrate with ice and your choice of milk for a refreshing summertime beverage.
Hibiscus Chutney Recipe
This Flavonoid-Rich Hibiscus Chutney recipe is a favorite at my house any time of year, but it makes an especially nice stand-in for cranberry sauce on the holiday table. You can find this recipe and more in the upcoming Chestnut School Herbal Holiday Guide. Enjoy!
Isis Hibiscus Sun Tea Recipe
The following is an excerpt from Felicia Cocotzin Ruiz’s book, Earth Medicines: Ancestral Wisdom, Healing Recipes, and Wellness Rituals from a Curandera, taken from the “Fire” chapter. It’s an easy recipe for iced hibiscus tea using fresh mint (Mentha spp.) and dried rose petals (Rosa spp.), harnessing the power of the Sun. She calls it Isis Sun Tea. The main ingredient in Isis Sun Tea are the calyces of the Hibiscus sabdariffa shrub, also known as roselle or by its common name, hibiscus.
Hibiscus Pomegranate Fire Cider Recipe
One of my favorite ways to use hibiscus (oh, count the ways!) is in fire cider. Fire cider is basically a spicy herbal vinegar, often sweetened with a little honey. It’s taken by the dropperful or spoonful, depending on the cider’s strength and imbiber’s palette. Fire cider helps to clear out the sinuses and wake up the immune and circulatory systems. It can be taken to ward off a cold or other respiratory infection.
Lemon Balm Pesto Recipe
Back in the day, when I ran an in-person herbal school, my students would pick one herb and give a presentation on its medicinal qualities along with a sample: a spot of tea, a taste of tincture, or sometimes a nibble of the plant. When a student told me she’d be preparing lemon balm pesto, I gave an encouraging smile, belying my apprehension. I am a decidedly adventurous eater, but this pesto felt wrong. Never have I been so happy to eat crow.