Latest Posts

  • Body Care - Botanical Anthology

    Lilac Toner

    For all its sweet presence and floral aroma, lilac is actually gently astringent and slightly bitter. The scent is fleeting, but its medicinal properties make it valued in facial care to aid in toning and tightening skin.

  • Recipes

    Dill Mustard

    Handcrafted condiments are a serious level up from store-bought renditions that are far less tasty, and are full of highly-processed ingredients like preservatives, food dyes, artificial flavors, and high fructose corn syrup. When I first started making my own mustards many years ago, I was delighted by how simple and truly delicious it was to whip this flavorful condiment at home. I haven’t bought mustard since! Dill (Anethum graveolens) adds…

  • Recipes

    Bone Broth Hot Cocoa

    The Aztecs and Mayans revered cacao as sacred long before 18th century Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, named the cacao tree Theobroma cacao, which means “food of the gods” in Latin.  In modern times, cacao is well-known as a flavoring in sugary desserts and chocolate candies. However, this herb actually has numerous health benefits when not heavily adulterated by processed sugars and other additives.  Cacao (Theobroma cacao) is rich in minerals and anti-inflammatory flavonoids.…

  • Recipes

    Lacto-Fermented Cacao Hot Sauce

    This hot sauce is reminiscent of mole poblano, a savory Mexican sauce made with cacao, chiles, and other spices. Authentic versions of this tasty sauce include 20+ ingredients and can take hours to put together. This rendition is much simpler. Lacto-fermenting the peppers adds depth of flavor without a lot of effort and after the initial wait for the peppers to ferment, the whole thing comes together in just a…

  • Body Care

    Hibiscus & Peppermint Herbal Hair Rinse

    There are more than 300 species of Hibiscus that grow throughout the world, ranging from tropical to temperate regions. These Malvaceae family plants almost all have showy flowers and are appreciated for their ornamental value, as well as a number of culinary and medicinal uses. Flor de Jamaica (Hibiscus sabdariffa), also commonly known as roselle, is a type of hibiscus that produces large, deep red calyces. They are rich in…

  • Botanical Anthology - Recipes

    Orange Sage Butter Board

    This recipe is an excerpt from the article “Butter Boards” by Brittany Peterson featured in the Winter Vol 1 | Issue 3 | 2022 edition of Botanical Anthology. Our herbal magazine, featuring remedies, recipes and projects with plants for the autumn season, can be purchased as a digital version here and as a printed version here. Do you know someone dairy free or would you rather find a healthy afternoon snack for the family? …

  • Recipes

    Vanilla Sugar & Extract

    Both can be used to enhance the flavor of baked goods, beverages, ice cream, and more. A bottle of vanilla extract or a jar of vanilla sugar would make a lovely gift, as well.