I love all of the festive foods in December, and this year I’m adding a new favorite tea to my writing routine. This rooibos and vanilla tea is perfect for cozy mornings by the fire while watching the snow fall (and maybe reading a holiday romance novel anthology like Snowed In With You!) This tea also includes elderberry flowers which can help strengthen the immune system while the rooibos leaves and honey are loaded with antioxidants and can help lower inflammation. If you can’t find the dried tea leaves listed below, you can try buying them from Mountain Rose Herbs.
For those of you new to this series, Sarah Munro, the heroine in ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the Deadly Force series, is an 18th century historian who inherited a collection of colonial-era herbal and homeopathic remedies. And in this blog space, I’ve been sharing her recipes with you all. I’m adding this recipe to her collection because the ingredients in this tea have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and immune strengthening qualities. If you choose to add a dash of honey for sweetness, it is rich in antioxidants that can help aid digestion, soothe coughs, and lower inflammation.
Note: I am not an affiliate of Mountain Rose Herbs. I just love their website and buy most of my herbs and other special ingredients from them.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon red rooibos leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon dried elder flowers
- 1 teaspoon toasted shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- 1 cup water
- Honey, to taste
Directions for Christmas Vanilla Tea
- This recipe makes on cup of tea for one serving.
- In a small bowl, stir together the rooibos leaves, vanilla extract, dried elder flowers, and coconut.
- Put the tea into a tea ball and place in a mug.
- Boil the water and pour over the tea ball in the mug.
- Steep for at least 8 minutes (or longer if that’s your preference) and remove the tea ball.
- Sweeten with honey, if you want it a bit sweeter.
- Enjoy!
Important Disclaimer: Herbal Remedies, Wild Plants, and Foraging
The information shared in my Romance Herbalist posts is intended for educational, historical, and entertainment purposes only. I am not a physician, licensed herbalist, or other medical professional. Nothing on this website should be considered medical advice or a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare provider.
Herbs, flowers, spices, and other plants have been used for centuries in cooking, traditional remedies, and folk medicine. However, natural does not always mean safe. Some plants can be toxic, cause allergic reactions, interact with medications, or be unsuitable for certain medical conditions.
Before preparing, consuming, or using any herbal product, please keep the following precautions in mind:
- Medications and medical conditions: Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using herbs medicinally, particularly if you take prescription or over-the-counter medications, have an existing medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are preparing something for children.
- Allergies: Research potential allergic reactions and cross-reactivity, especially if you have known allergies to plants, herbs, or spices.
- Plant identification: Never harvest or consume a wild plant unless you can positively identify it and confirm that it is safe for its intended use. Some poisonous plants closely resemble edible or medicinal varieties.
- Harvesting and foraging: Avoid collecting plants from roadsides, chemically treated areas, contaminated soil, or locations where pesticides, herbicides, or other pollutants may be present. Always follow local foraging laws and respect private property.
- Preparation and consumption: Research appropriate preparation methods, potential side effects, and safe quantities before using any plant. Certain plants may be safe in food but dangerous when concentrated or prepared incorrectly.
- Food safety: Use clean equipment, properly stored ingredients, and appropriate food-handling practices when preparing herbal teas, infusions, syrups, or other homemade products.
A note about traditional remedies: References to historical or folkloric uses of plants do not establish that those uses are medically effective or safe. Any discussion of potential health benefits is provided for general information and should not be interpreted as a recommendation to treat, cure, or prevent disease.
By choosing to forage, prepare, or consume any plant or herbal product discussed on this website, you accept responsibility for your own research, decisions, and safety. The author makes no guarantees regarding the safety, effectiveness, or suitability of any plant, recipe, or preparation described.
When in doubt, consult a qualified professional before using any herb or wild plant.
