Creating a tea

I am not sure what each tea creator’s process is when creating teas. Mine is really a testament to my neurodivergent mind. However, I'd like to give you a peak into a tea that I am currently brewing up as a part of my Tarot series. 

First, the idea. 

I had not even thought about doing something like a series for teas. It was my amazing friend Rachael at Fiddlehead Forest who suggested it. Once she popped that idea in my head, the floodgates opened! 

Image of my workbook containing the tea name, idea and feeling I want the tea provide as well as a list of herbs and some of their magical properites.

The first that I created is called The Fool’s Journey, featuring of course the Fool card (0). This tea has taken a step back though as I wanted to focus on one that is more focused on the divine feminine and taking our power back. Though this isn’t a tea specifically for women, it is designed to help us embrace feminine strength and intuition. This energy is defined by the Empress card.

First, I looked at the meaning of the Empress and what it means and can symbolize when you draw this card. 

My personal keyword for this card is nourishment. There are several others that can be linked as well. Such as generosity, creativity, nurturing. I then took the keywords that I want to explore and bring into this tea. So I knew I wanted to create a tea that would support and nurture our feminine side as well as open us up to listening to ourselves more. 

I then write down a bunch of herbs that I connect with femininity and are known to be helpful specifically for women. Pictured are my first notes with the list of herbs. Some crossed out, some not. Some added later. 

I look up each herb and what it does for us in the nutritive sense. How does it help heal our mind and our body? I take notes. Then I look up each plant's magical qualities. What is this herb normally used for? Protection, sleep, energy, clairvoyance. There are a few books I use, but I need to shout out in particular Juliet Diaz’s Plant Witchery. This books has helped me gain so much knowledge and provides wonderful insight. 

After I have settled on the herbs I feel will balance and create this tea, I make it up and brew it here. I need to taste it, consume it, feel if I connect to it. First I brew it. For this tea I wanted to create an infusion, one that is allowed to brew for hours slowly to grow more powerful. Something that can be hot or cold. I brewed this infusion for 24 hours.

For this particular tea, because I used motherwort (even though it is such a small amount) it was bitter. To me, I love the bitter flavor of motherwort, but most people do not. So I added some orange peel to sweeten it. This helped balance it beautifully, there was still a little linger of bitter, but it is in the back and I feel gives body to the full tea. However, as I sat with it, something was missing. There was a piece I still felt was needed.

I went back to my notes, if you notice, there are things crossed off. However, I go back to review those. So I decided to add a bit of Black Cohosh to the new recipe. The reason? I connect very closely with this herb. It is a powerful herb for woman’s reproductive health. especially as I have entered perimenopause.

It hasn’t been made, but I am hoping this is the one. If not, I will reformulate. Once this is completed, I send samples to friends for their opinions. Our tastes are all so different, so I want each of my teas to be pleasing.

This has been the process for each and every tea as well as tincture or body care product that I have, it will always be the process. Everything is crafted to help heal the full self.

I hope you enjoy everything I make.