Announcing Clover and Timothy tea! A Recipe for Nettle Pesto & New Offerings

Clover and Timothy Tea! Nettle Pesto and new offerings by Herbalist Alicia Allison. View this email in your browser ANNOUNCING CLOVER AND TIMOTHY TEA! HANDCRAFTED & ORGANIC HERBAL TEA MADE IN BROOKLYN ~ NETTLE PESTO! A LOCAL SPRING SUPERFOOD   It is with great pleasure that I announce the launch of my handcrafted herbal tea line.  Whether it's my uplifting Lemon-Aid or rich Sweet Roy, I trust you will find each of my teas a pleasure to drink.  Every leaf, berry, root and spice I use is organic and each blend has been formulated to include herbs that grow locally.  You can enjoy each tea hot or iced, sweetened with honey or served neat.   In celebration of this launch I am sharing some of the reasons I felt inspired to create my own line of herbal tea.  I hope you enjoy the article I've written.  I've included some essential information about the current tea industry as well as some inspiration for you to make the switch to brewing loose tea.    Spring has been glorious in Brooklyn; the return of all things green is a delight and a relief.  I was so excited to find fresh young nettles at my local farmers' market this past weekend I biked home with a pound strapped to my back and created a my own nettle pesto.  A link to the recipe is included below.   Many more exciting things are in the works for the summer!   Until then, be well, Alicia Allison   VISIT THE TEA SHOP! WHY TEA? Motivations & Inspirations of an Herbal Teaologist   Drinking a cup a herbal tea is one of the simplest forms of self-care.  Water, high quality herbs and some form of fire is pretty much all you need to make a cup of tea.  It takes just a few minutes to do and is enjoyable and nourishing.  Herbs such as Nettles and Oats are incredibly mineral and vitamin rich.  Many herbs have calming and digestive effects, some are mood-lifting and some support and build our immunity.  All that said if you are drinking herbs for their nourishing qualities or even simply for their taste, the quality of the herbs is key.  Most commercial teas, spices and herbs are grown with high levels of pesticides that counter the positive effects of the plants.  The quality of the soil in which each plant was grown is also important.  If the soil has been stripped of nutrients, the plants will not be vital.    I am spice lover, a lover of rich aromatic plants, fragrant blooms and grassy leaves.  As I evolved as an herbalist and began crafting my own blends I began to feel disappointed in the herbal teas served at my favorite restaurants and cafes.  Most tea companies focus on green and black teas and don't quite understand how to blend herbs to bring out the subtle flavors of each plant.  Many commercial herbal blends are overly fruity or flowery.  Herbs are my passion.  I have been studying them and working with them for ten years.  In each of my blends I use leaves, flower, spices, roots and berries in a delicate balance so you can experience the flavor of each plant.  In doing so I've created a line that redefines the herbal tea experience.   Drinking hot herbal beverages stimulates our digestive fire and metabolism.  In Ayurveda, our gut is the seat of our health.  Want to live a long, happy, healthy life?  Keep your "Agni" up.  Agni is the biological fire governing metabolism, the creative inner flame at the core of our existence.  Drinking hot herbal beverages kindles Agni.  When Agni is strong food is digested, toxins are removed from our gut and we grow stronger.  Our body is able to extract nutrition from the foods we eat and turn it into fuel for our cells.  The commercial herbal tea industry is a mess.  We are drinking teas that are "antioxidant" and "calming" in bags that are made out of plastics, treated with pesticides and filled with "natural flavors."...To continue reading this article please head on over to my blog.   NETTLE PESTO! A LOCAL SPRING SUPERFOOD When I saw a heaping pile of young, dark green nettles at the farmers market this past weekend, I filled up my bag to the tippity top and biked home happy.  Nettles can be eaten in the spring when they first start to come up.  They are super high in vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, D and K, calcium, potassium and iron.  They are covered with stingers so I would not suggest eating them raw (though some brave souls do).  Blanching them in hot water for one minute removes the stingers and turns them to a hyper-color green that shows the high levels of chlorophyll contained in the plant.    I've had nettle pesto out in the world but never one that fully satisfied both the foodie and the herbalist in me so I decided to give it a whirl on my own this year.  I created a vegan version using toasted sunflower seeds and raw hemp seeds for both their richness and their super-food properties.  The nuttiness of these seeds compliments the earthy green flavor of the nettles and made for a creamy but firm consistency.  I added a little Meyer lemon for a splash of citrus and a dash of cayenne for some heat.    FOR THE RECIPE, HEAD OVER TO THE BLOG!     YOGA UPDATES AND NEW OFFERINGS: I have created a home studio for private and semi-private yoga classes.  I also offer prenatal, post-natal and couples classes in this peaceful space.  If you are interested in semi-private classes but don't have a friend or partner to take class with I pair people up with other students at similar levels.  Email me at alicia@cloverandtimothy.com or visit this link for more information. I also teach several drop-in studio classes every week in Brooklyn.  You can always find my studio class schedule on my website.    CONNECT WITH ME! Facebook Instagram Website Twitter HEALTH CONSULTATIONS, HERBAL FOCUS WITH ALICIA ALLISON   Are you interested in working with herbs and whole foods to improve your overall health or address a specific health concern?  In my herbal counseling sessions I combine practices from Western Herbalism and Ayurveda.  During these dynamic sessions I will teach you simple ways to improve your health.  Our first meeting will consist of a one-hour holistic health intake during which we will discuss your health concerns as well as your diet, lifestyle, healthcare history and self-care routine.  After the initial intake I will offer you suggestions on nutritive herbs, whole foods and practices that can assist you in rebuilding your vitality.   For more information and rates, please visit my website by clicking here or email me at alicia@cloverandtimothy.com THANK YOU FOR READING MY NEWSLETTER! IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EMAIL PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR CONTACT LIST TO MAKE SURE MY FUTURE EMAILS DON'T GO TO YOUR SPAM FOLDER. INTERESTED IN COLLABORATING?  I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.  PLEASE BE IN TOUCH! alicia@cloverandtimothy.com www.cloverandtimothy.com @2015 Clover and Timothy All Rights Reserved   Share Tweet Forward Consult with a doctor or an experienced herbalist before consuming herbs if you have a health condition, allergies or are taking prescription drugs.  For those who are sensitive or new drinking herbal tea, Clover and Timothy suggests to start by drinking just a quarter cup to of tea to make sure you do not have any adverse reaction to the plants.  Clover and Timothy's products are not recommend for those with nut allergies or for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.  Consult with a care provider before giving herbs to children.  All information provided is for educational purposes only.  This information has not been evaluated by the FDA and Clover and Timothy's products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Copyright © 2015 Clover and Timothy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website, attended a class or connected with me at some point over the years. I respect your privacy and will not share your information with others. You can unsubscribe anytime. Our mailing address is: Clover and Timothy Brooklyn Brooklyn, NY 11218 Add us to your address book unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences