Beeswax candles & Herbal Tea

Herbs With Barbara:  Beeswax Candles, Rosewater & Herbal Teas

There’s an ancient tradition to get candles blessed on the Feast of Purification – Candlemas day – which takes place on 2nd February each year.

The blessing of candles is deeply rooted in Church history and has been happening since the 7th Century.  However, it is said that pure beeswax candles are the only ones that should be blessed.

Candles made with beeswax are completely natural, chemical free and non-toxic.  They are said to cleanse the air and emit a natural light of the same light spectrum as the sun.

As the light of the Winter solstice is behind us, now is a good time to burn a beeswax candle and benefit from it’s wonderful glow and calming properties!

Time For Tea

Herbal teas are packed with all sorts of goodness and are said to be naturally beneficial to health and wellbeing.

Although Green tea is probably the most popular, there’s many other herbs, spices and fruits which can be used to make tea.

Today we tried tea made with Damask Rose petals.

Rose tea is packed with Vitamin C and has a pleasant floral aroma which is said to ease stress and anxiety.

It’s naturally caffeine-free, a good source of hydration and rich in antioxidants.  Refreshing too – so why not try some for yourself?

How to make herbal tea

To brew your perfect cup of herbal tea, bring the water to the boil and let it cool for a couple of minutes.  This ensures that your tea is not too hot and tastes bitter.

Then simply add your herbs to a teapot or infuser and steep for three to five minutes.

Rosewater

Highly prized for it’s powerful healing and hydrating benefits, rose water is a natural ingredient that is used as a base of many beauty products.

It can calm skin, has anti-aging properties and can even be used as a vegan make-up remover!

You can eaisly make your own – but just be aware that as a water based product, it only lasts a couple of days unless you use a preservative (or include it in a ready-made product).

For wonderful tips, advice, recipes and inspiration why not join the Herb Society?