We all know life can get stressful. With busy work schedules, appointments, personal commitments, and finding time for leisurely activities, it can be hard to get through the day without feeling overwhelmed. There are many resources available to help one find balance in their bodies, minds, and agendas, but if you’re just searching for a light support, allow me to introduce you to our Stress Free Iced Tea recipe, using our customer-favorite, the Whoa Calm Down blend:

What you will need for the recipe:

• Whoa Calm Down blend (number of tins depends on quantity of servings)
• Raw honey (amount of honey depends on quantity of servings)

Whoa Calm Down was created by Sarah Acconcia for the purpose of her own self soothing. She wanted something to help with the stressors that can come up throughout an average day, without getting overly sleepy, so as to ensure she could still finish all her tasks efficiently. What makes this product different from other stress free teas is the fact that it doesn’t have as strong of a sleepy time effect. So you can still get through your to-do list, while having this yummy herbal blend to support you through the jitters that life brings. Whoa Calm Down consists of calming and healing herbs that build off of each other’s properties and flavor palettes. Inside this blend you’ll find:

• Chamomile buds
• Lavender
• Marshmallow leaf

Chances are, you’ve probably heard of chamomile and lavender before, but marshmallow root/leaf is an ingredient that can be less commonly heard of. Marshmallow leaf can aid in digestion and respiratory congestion, which makes this a great tea to have when you’re dealing with seasonal allergies or a mild cold as well. It has an “opening up” effect which complements the soothing effects of the other two herbs nicely, and turns this from a nighttime drink, to a drink perfect for anytime. It is delicious served hot, and also lovely as an iced blend. A perfect addition to any backyard get together or a cozy Monday morning brew when you jump back into the week.

Photography Credits: Emily Marie Schultz

For this recipe, we’ll be infusing raw honey with the Whoa Calm Down tea. There are essentially two ways to do this. For the first option, which is a non heated option, you will:

1. Fill a jar almost halfway with the loose leaf tea.
2. Add your honey to the jar until it makes its way to the bottom and fully submerges the loose leaf tea.
3. Put a lid on the jar and place it in a sunny spot and let it sit to allow the honey to infuse with the flavor and properties of the herbs in the tea.
4. When the honey is to your liking, you can strain out the loose leaf tea.

For the second option, which is the heated option, you will:

1. Pour loose leaf tea into a pan and add honey slowly while heating up the stove top, until it’s at medium heat.
2. Stir until you start to see bubbling happen.
3. Repeat this process multiple times, until you feel that the honey is where you want it.

You now have your herb infused honey with the Whoa Calm Down blend, and you can add this to any stress free iced tea or even use it in a zero proof cocktail!

We recommend using raw honey for this recipe because raw honey is unprocessed and unpasteurized, meaning it has not been heated or filtered like commercial honey. This means that raw honey retains all of its natural enzymes, antioxidants, and beneficial nutrients, which can provide numerous health benefits. These benefits include boosting the immune system, improving digestion, providing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and reducing allergy symptoms. In contrast, cooked honey has been heated, which can destroy many of these beneficial enzymes and nutrients. While both raw and cooked honey can be used as natural sweeteners, raw honey is generally considered to be the healthier option due to its higher nutrient content. However, it's important to note that raw honey should not be given to infants or young children due to the risk of botulism.

Give it a try and let us know your favorite way to enjoy the Whoa Calm Down blend!

Juniper Culinary Apothecary teas, spice blends and other food products are not and shall not be considered food supplements in any circumstances. They do not ensure or supplement the daily vitamin intake and do not substitute a healthy diet.