We are always watching out for your health and want to share with you some of the superfoods (nutrient packed simple foods that ward off disease and the destruction of cells) and herbs we carry necessary for a well balanced, healthy life.
ELDERBERRY – Commonly used throughout the eastern part of Europe to curb the onset of flu or a cold it is now considered one of the superfoods. This rich, dark berry is packed with a variant of different forms of antioxidants and vitamin C. Used as a cordial in Europe, it can be effectively incorporated in the diet brewed as an herbal tea, placed in a blender for a smoothie or merely eaten with yogurt.
MATCHA – Pulverized gyokuro used in Japan for centuries as their traditional ceremonial tea has become the new superfood in the West. The difference between matcha and drinking gyokuro is that even though gyokuro is a healthy green tea with chlorophyll, vitamin c and a high antioxidant count with matcha you are actually ingesting entire tea leaves as opposed to drinking steeped tea leaves. Matcha is often described as vegetal due to its high phytonutrient content. Much revered, it has an almost cult-like status for its abilities to build and maintain a healthy immune system, fights viruses and inflammations. This is our only superfood with caffeine and theanine (found in all teas - an essential amino acid). Matcha is enjoyed in many different forms: as a tea, green tea latte, smoothie, in yogurt, and is now a popular ingredient in baking and cooking.
YERBA MATE – Touted as a superfood healthier than tea (wow!), mate is packed with more antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals and obscure compounds rarely found in plant life. The Pasteur Institute and the Paris Scientific Society found mate contains “practically all of the vitamins necessary to sustain life.” Mate contains a significant amount of mateine, an effective stimulant for speeding up metabolism, increasing cognitive skills, and providing energy that does not affect the nervous system as caffeine does.
GINGER - Buy fresh ginger at the market or use organic ginger root for a litany of everyday ailments. Ginger root improves digestion, relieves nausea, menstrual pain, effectively fights colds and sore throats, and wards off the onset of flu symptoms.
Ginger can be incorporated into the daily diet through cooking, adding ginger to your favorite caffeinated tea or combine with coffee grinds in a coffee maker. For optimal benefits brew a strong cup of ginger or ice it with mint or hibiscus.
LICORICE ROOT - Overlooked here in the West, licorice root is an important factor in Chinese Medicine. Licorice root is now getting more attention as a simple elixir for common illnesses and conditions. It is used for many different conditions including asthma, ulcers, bronchitis, sore throats, as well as infections caused by viruses. It can be effectively blended with peppermint for a product we call our Singer’s Blend. When blended with tea and herbs, licorice root is a great natural sweetener.
CHAMOMILE – This simple flower from the sunflower family has a long history for curing a number of ailments and discomforts. It is a strong anti-inflammatory which prevents skin inflammation, various stomach ailments, and is highly sedative when consumed in large amounts. We like to drink it on its own, though we do have two popular chamomile blends, Serene and Purple Canary. Both are organic and contain other essential herbs needed for a balanced, healthy life.
