If you're wondering what to get an herb-lover as a gift this year -- or you'd like to gift yourself -- here are some of my favorites...
Depending on your budget, you could find a lovely harvesting basket from a local artisan and then fill it with a handmade mug, tea infuser, herb book, and a tea blend or seeds, for example.
In this blog, I share my favorites...
- The Best Herbal Books to Gift
- Tea Mugs, Infusers & Pots
- Favorite Farm-Fresh Loose Herbs & Artisan Tea Blends
- Additional Gift Ideas
The Best Herbal Books to Gift
This one is easy! I already have a web page loaded with my favorite herb books and authors. But to call out a few of my top choices (in order of preference but it will also depend on what the person you're buying for has already and is interested in):
Body into Balance, by Maria Noel Groves (of course!) $24.95 SRP This is a fantastic book for the beginning to intermediate herbalist. Organized by body system, easy to read yet dense with information, useful charts, full color photography, and favorite recipes. I'm not just saying this 'cuz I wrote it -- this is a go-to book to get. Preview here and order signed copies through me (which supports me best) or get it (for less money - I can't complete!) on Amazon.
Wild Remedies by Rosalee de la Foret and Emily Han $29.99 SRP Rosalee and Emily do such a lovely job covering common "weedy" herbal medicines in depth as you would expect from Rosalee, but they also do encompass the deeper meaning and approach to herbalism including the greater ecology of working with plants thanks to the work of Emily. They cover big picture stuff you often learn in a hands-on herb school but is missing in most books while also giving you those plant profiles and recipes everyone loves.
Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee de La Foret $24.99 SRP is also fantastic, covering more of our common herbs of commerce and the garden.
Grow Your Own Herbal Remedies by Maria Noel Groves $24.95 SRP Okay, this is another shameless plug, but this is a fabulous and gorgeous herb book for new medicinal herbal backyard gardeners. Get signed copies (and better support my work) here or save money with you-know-who.
Some additional gift-worthy books include...
Christopher Hobbs's Medicinal Mushrooms: The Essential Guide $24.95 SRP (newly released this year!) is my favorite of all the medicinal mushroom books because it's so beautifully laid out and includes all the practical information (and then some) in an easily digestible format including charts, step by step recipes, and detailed information on the most common medicinal mushrooms.
Herbal Revolution by Kathi Langelier $21.99 SRP released last December and is a stunningly gorgeous book of herbal recipes including DIY tea blends and food-based herbal yumminess. Kathi is a fabulous formulator; and this book will inspire new and seasoned herbalists alike.
The Essential Guide to Western Botanical Medicine by Christa Sinadonos $179.95 released (earlier this year and is a fantastic, hefty book for the academic, serious, or advanced herb student or clinician. Her multi-paged detailed plant profiles are better than anything I've ever seen and encompass traditional use, modern herbal use, science and much more Plus it includes medicine making, therapeutic formulas, and appendices and indexes including a referenced compendium for more than 200 conditions. The book's pricey (but worth it, weighing more than 7 pounds with more than 700 full-color pages) and self-published, available primarily through the author (sorry, no e-book and not on Amazon). But for those looking to spend a bit more on a book that's a lot more, this book will make that special someone really happy.
Click here for additional recommended starter books.There are so many!!
Teaware
Handcrafted Pottery Tea Mugs: Nothing says cozy herbal gift quite like a handmade pottery mug. We herbalists tend to acquire quite a few of our favorites and each has a story. Some of my favorite handmade mugs are from Zoe Gardener of Flora Pottery (herbs imprinted into the mugs - currently on hiatus), Kathy Patten Hansen (functional sea green pottery mugs - many with a handle twist - plates, and bowls), Teresa Taylor of Salty Dog Pottery(which have such a lovely shape to hold, I adore my pinkish blue tone mug), and my bold, large mug by Ahman Gazelle of Rainmaker Pottery/Rainmaker Ceramic Arts (who sometimes sells in Concord, NH as well as on Facebook). Other local potters I like include Rock Pond Pottery, Mountain Road Designs, Studio 550 Art Center, and Earth Cut Pottery
Pottery availability is VERY hit or miss (especially during the pandemic) -- many potters make a bunch for a specific set of events and sell out quickly or only have certainly colors or styles available for a limited time. So the ones you see in the picture that I got years ago probably aren't specifically available now; some of those potters may not even be selling any pottery mugs at all at the moment.
Feel free to seek out the potters I mentioned to ask (or look in their online shops to see) what they currently have available or check in your local potter community via League of Craftsman shops, herb shops, "local/made" shops, and artisan fairs. Consider including a tea infuser gadget so folks can brew loose tea easily in their mugs...
In-Mug Tea Infuser: I use this every day! Make loose tea in any mug with the For Life Tea Gadget, my personal favorite. Stainless steel, dishwasher safe and works great! The extra-fine tea infuser comes with a ceramic dish (handle is stationary) OR a travel infuser with folding handles that snap down ($15.60 SRP for either style). Those are amazon links (which might be priced above SRP but may or may not also arrive more quickly); you can also see these and other gadgets (sometimes for less money) via the ForLife online store, which also offers colorful mugs, pots with stainless steel infuser inserts, and French press pots.
Teapots: My favorite teapots are dishwasher-safe ceramic or glass with stainless steel infuser inserts, including traditional teapots as well as French Press pots (typically sold for coffee but excellent for loose tea). The ones I own and love the most (like the burgundy one above) are not available commercially anymore, so I can't link you directly to them. 🙁 But some good designs can be found via ForLife, Bodum, Bee House, or check your local kitchenware store, tea shop (like The Cozy Tea Cart in Brookline NH), etc. You can usually find French press pots in big box stores like Target, too, maybe even the thrift store.
Tea Cozies for a teapot and other goodies like tea wallets are cute little extras for those who like a little whimsy. I enjoy the ones by Thistledown Cozies(a NH company), but you'll find other artisans out and about. If you're craftsy, you can even knit or crochet little sweaters for your specific tea mug or pot.
Herbal Goodness
Amazing Quality Herbs & Loose Teas: Seek out fresh-from-the-farm herbal teas and loose herbs. Don't know where to start? Nettle, tulsi/holy basil, lemon balm, mint, and blends are always popular if the farm specializes in loose herbs. Usually 1-4 ounces of a dried herb is plenty to start with. Foster Farm Botanicals has been one of my go-to farms this year for individual loose herbs and some blends. Oshala Farm also sells stellar quality dried herbs grown on their farm. Bee Fields Farms has some of the most delightful tea blends and infused herbal products (honey, salves) made with their own herbs -- some teas to try include Nana mint, Lion's Heart Tea, and Tulsi tea. Contact Heartwood Forest Farm to see if they have hard-to-find, absolutely delicious dried Korean licorice mint (grown from my seeds) or anise hyssop available for sale. Misty Meadows herb shop has an amazing selection of all things herbal including many dried loose herbs they grow organically on site. Also check out Four Elements Herbals, Terra Basics. For what I can't find direct from the farm, I often buy at Mountain Rose Herbs (they have just about everything!), but with COVID-related shipping delays, you might not get your order promptly..
Seeds: Planning for the future? Great herbs to grow from seed easily include Calendula (alpha or resina), California poppy, and holy basil kapoor (a.k.a. "temperate tulsi and sacred basil). Lovely seed sources include Strictly Medicinal Seeds and High Mowing Organic Seeds.
Miscellaneous: Amazing turmeric super ghee, curry in a hurry, mango, and other goods from Pure Indian Foods. Creative digestive bitters by Linden Tree Herbals. DandyBlend instant herbal coffee alternative. Amazing aromatic hydrosols from Sovereignty Herbals, various herbal goodies by Herbal Revolution, Avena Botanicals... EcoJarz makes well-made, dishwasher safe stainless steel lids to and other items to turn mason jars into drink containers and more (I recommend getting not only the pop top lid but also the rust-free stainless steel jar band) - but note that they're not safe for hot liquids because the pressure can build and pop the top.
Gift Certificate for your favorite herb or tea shop such as Misty Meadows in Lee/online, Alchemy & Herbs in Exeter/online, so many other great NH herb shops, online farms, artisans, etc. Or consider gifting someone an herbal study program (like one of these - just make sure the person is actually interested before registering them!).
Are you shopping in a hurry at a big box store? That's ok! Consider these easy-to-find items: a pretty mug, French press pot, bagged teas by Traditional Medicinals, Numi, Equal Exchange, Organic India Tulsi tea, Pukkah, Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice tea, etc.
Full disclosure: Many of these links are affiliate links, so I will make a small amount of money if you purchase via these links. But I am recommending only items and books I actually love!
Did you come across a broken link? Please email me at office@wintergreenbotanicals.com to let me know.