Wintergreen
Gaultheria procumbens
Leaf, a flavoring pinch · cooling · salicylate
The aspirin cousin that smells of a candy shop — a pinch, not a pot.
In the mouth
How it tastes
Strong wintergreen — methyl-salicylate, minty-sweet, intensely aromatic.
Traditional use
A flavoring leaf of the woods. Folk kitchens used a little for the methyl-salicylate mint. This is not a therapeutic self-dose.
In the cup
A small pinch in a blend, if at all. Do not make a strong solo tea. Keep it away from children as a ‘medicine.’
Blood
Sour blood · sour
Sour is cooling and astringent. It draws and binds, thickens thin blood, starts saliva, and hydrates even as it tightens. Sour plants carry the antioxidants of fruit. They move mucous and support the lungs — large doses irritate. Lemon-family plants show up again and again in sinus cups.
Read sour bloodReached for
The promise
A careful hand
Some people, or a long pot, need extra care.
An aspirin cousin. Excess can poison, especially children, or if you already take aspirin or an NSAID. Skip large amounts if you are aspirin-sensitive, bleeding, or on blood thinners. A flavoring pinch is the old use — not a therapeutic self-dose.
Read the whole promiseSits well with
Peppermint
Mentha × piperita
The lift in the cupboard — head, belly, and a closed room.
Bloating · Indigestion · Headache
Brighten, circulate, and clear
Lemon
Citrus limon
The bright slice that finishes almost every stillroom cup.
Chill & congestion · Indigestion · Sore throat
Brighten, circulate, and clear
Lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
A lemon-leaf for a circling mind and a mild viral season.
Frayed nerves · Restless sleep · Feverish & flushed
Brighten, circulate, and clear
Rosehip
Rosa canina
The autumn fruit of the rose — a sour pantry vitamin.
Chill & congestion · Hollow energy · Irritable skin
Brighten, circulate, and clear
Traditional kitchen and folk use only. This is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are pregnant, nursing, on medicine, or unwell, ask a clinician before drinking anything as a remedy.