by Abby Morrison
August 18, 2020
We've all been there, right? We've got our perfect routine: our favorite mug, our favorite tisane, and maybe even our favorite sunspot to lounge in while we sip.
But what happens when that little itch for adventure starts to scratch? What happens when we dream of that little extra something that could bring our favorite cup to the next level? Well, if you've been looking for that little extra something to step out of your comfort zone, look no further. Here are seven herbal options you can use to shake up your routine.
A hallmark of sleepy-time teas the world over, chamomile is known most for its calming properties. The plant itself is composed of tall, thin stems; thin, spiky leaves; and small, daisy-like flowers, and the name 'chamomile' means 'earth apple'. The name translates over to the tea as well, which is known for floral and apple tones, a smooth feel, and the sense of calm it brings. Made from the dried flowers of the plant, it is naturally caffeine-free.
If you want to give it a try, we carry
Chamomile tea by itself and as part of our
Herbal Garden Sampler. It's also featured in
40 Winks,
Foxtrot, and
Cha Cha, or, if you are
making your own blend, you can also include chamomile as an ingredient there.
Lemongrass is an herb that is often used in Asian cuisine, particularly in Thai food. As the name might suggest, it looks very similar to grass, though it can grow to be a couple of feet high. As the name also suggests, it is known most for its lemony flavor, which is prized both in tea and for cooking. As a tea, it offers a gentle, lemon flavor and is naturally caffeine-free.
As with the Chamomile tea, we offer our
Lemongrass both on its own and within our
Herbal Garden Sampler. It is also one of our most featured accents, and is available in our
Lemongrass Ginger,
Kona Pineapple,
Passionfruit Tango,
Cha Cha,
Bella Luna Blue,
Elderberry Wine, Thai Chai,
Papaya Pouchong,
White Strawberry Basil,
Citrus Mint Green,
Chili Lime Green, and more. You can also try it in a
blend of your own.
Following up on lemongrass, we also have lemon balm, another herb known for its lemony flavor. From our site, lemon balm is a member of the mint family that has been known for its health benefits relating to digestive health and is currently under study for its beneficial mental health effects as well.
We offer
Lemon Balm on its own , but it is also featured in some of our wellness teas, such as our
Tea-Tox and
40 Winks. It can also be used as an accent if you're making your own blend.
Lemon Verbena
If you've heard of lemon verbena, you might recognize it from your favorite soap or lotion. Because of its powerful scent, which can rival fresh lemon itself, it is often used for fragrances, as well as in cooking to provide a light lemon flavor. The plant is characterized by tall, thin stems with narrow, faintly rough leaves, that make as fine of an addition to a garden as they do to your tea.
While we do not offer Lemon Verbena on its own, it is featured in our
Citrus Mint Green and you can use it as an accent flavor if you're
making your own blend.
Lavender is most known for its strong smell, purple color, and its use in night time products such as sachets, lotions, and of course, teas. Plants grow in bush-like clusters, varying in height depending on the variety, and produce tall, thin clusters of purple flowers. As a bonus, they are also great plants for attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
In tea form, lavender can be used on its own, but given its strength, it is almost always paired with other flavors to help bring balance. It is also used often in night-time teas because of its soothing properties.
If you'd like to give lavender a try, we have it in
Lavender Lemon,
Earl Grey Lavender, and in
40 Winks.
Mint
Mint is another one we are all probably familiar with, used in anything from ice creams to gum, to drinks, cookies, and toothpaste. It can even be added directly to tea fresh off the stem, either as individual leaves or as a whole stem in a pitcher.
What you might not realize, however, is how many varieties of mint there are. A quick perusal of your local greenhouse will get you anything from classic
peppermint and
spearmint to more specific flavors like mojito or chocolate mint or even fruity varieties like lime or apple. No matter which you choose however, each can be a fine addition to your tea. The flavor will, of course, vary with the type of mint you are using, though it is typically characterized by its cool freshness, regardless of variety.
At Adagio, we offer both
Spearmint, which is a gentler cousin to the ultra-cool
Peppermint. If you want to try both, you can get them with Chamomile and Lemongrass tea in the Herbal Garden Sampler, or in a variety of other blends.
Spearmint tea is featured in our
40 Winks and our
Citrus Mint Green. Peppermint tea is featured in our
Cha Cha,
Foxtrot,
Speedy Recovery,
Tea-Tox, and
Candy Cane.
Find more of what you love
Adagio offers three easy ways to find blends that include ingredients (and not just herbs) you love quickly!
First, there's the
Flavor Preferences in your Account page. You can thumbs up or down ingredients, so while you're browsing pages or running searches you'll see a little icon lettings you know you're more or less likely to enjoy that blend.
Second, the beloved
advanced search feature, that allows you to select country of origin, tea variety, added flavor, caffeine, and/or ingredients.
Finally, the
advanced search feature for Signature Blends. There, you can search by inclusion or exclusion of different blends as well as by caffeine level.
Happy hunting!