Out of curiosity, my daughter and I picked up a bag of kankaliba tea leaves awhile back. We had never heard of this herbal tea so we had to look into it! The Plant Although the package specifies "kankaliba," the plant is also commonly spelled "kinkaliba" or "kinkeliba," and is seh-haw in the Wolof language. … Continue reading Kankaliba Herbal Tea from Western Africa
Sunflowers have new depths of meaning these days, a fact that seems startlingly at odds with the flower's straightforward boldness. After all, its perpetual cheeriness and habit of quite literally following the sun make this a fitting symbol for reveling in summer's warmth, simple happiness. But even the robust sunflower—that with a more subtle hue, … Continue reading Ukraine and Sunflowers
These days, the slightest sore throat necessitates Covid testing, but beyond that, what can you do to alleviate the scratchiness and discomfort? At TeaHaus, we generally suggest a hot cup of ayurvedic Vata—a caffeine-free herbal blend of licorice, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, anise, and mallow blossoms. The thick, creamy body of this tea coats your throat, … Continue reading Is Licorice Tea Really Good for a Sore Throat?
Selling a house is stressful. Selling a beloved house filled with joyful moments is even more difficult. Selling such a house due to circumstances and not desire is harder still. Yet here we are, in such a position within my family. And as the house lingers on the market, stress levels are, well, you can … Continue reading Greek Mountain (Shepherd’s) Tea
We are bombarded with health claims about various herbal teas but, unfortunately, few of these claims have been conclusively substantiated by comprehensive research studies. However, what about fireweed? It's a fascinating plant. The Plant Native to much of North America (with related plants native to Europe), fireweed is well adapted for survival. As its name … Continue reading Fireweed Tea
A Brief Look at Goldenrod Beautiful plumes of goldenrod now adorn our fields, signaling summer's ebb. Long blamed for allergies, this vibrant flower has been falsely maligned. The concurrently blooming ragweed—with unassuming green flowers—is most likely the actual culprit. Meanwhile, goldenrod's showy flowers provide nectar to butterflies (including monarchs) and both nectar and pollen to bees, … Continue reading Goldenrod Tea
For mint lovers, a potent mint tea is a delight! That blast of coolness is like nothing else—so much so that it's even hard to describe the experience of mint without using the word "mint"! Native to many regions of the world, this herb has been valued for centuries for its heady scent and invigorating … Continue reading All About Mint Teas!
My late mother-in-law chided me for being skeptical, a trait I attributed to: –my science background (must be data-driven and reproducible!) –the fact that my mother was an auditor (look for misrepresentations or falsified info!) –my years as an editor (identify all errors and weak arguments!) but my MIL was correct: I tend to start … Continue reading Reviewing “The Wellness Tea” (with an objective look at health claims)
The Issue I know the season of thanks–giving probably isn't the best time to rant, but I was recently asked yet again to send someone a sample of tea with "medicinal qualities." So here goes: All tea as well as most herbals provide health benefits (unless, of course, they contain high levels of contaminants, which is why … Continue reading Can Tea Relieve Migraine? A Look at Herbal Tea
Despite the fact that summer stretches a full three weeks into the month, September has long signified the start of autumn, the school year, harvest time, warmer clothing. It’s the end of vacations and the beginning of study. It’s also the perfect time to think about bolstering our health, what with both coronavirus and this … Continue reading Find Your Balance with Ayurvedic Herbal Teas
It's More Than Tea 