Tag: licorice root

Categories
Hygge Recipes Tea

Happy Hobbit Weekend & Tea!

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings books by J.R.R. Tolkien have been my very favorite books since I first read them as a teenager, and I have always felt a very strong connection to hobbits: simple folk who prefer the comforts of home, well-stocked larders and bookshelves, and the joy of silly fun with family and friends, yet who can be prevailed upon to draw deeply from a well of courage and wit to save the world on occasion. If any fictional folk represents me, it’s the hobbit-folk. 

So the publication anniversary of The Hobbit (my birthday, 9/21) and the birthday of both Bilbo and Frodo Baggins (9/22) alongside the beginning of fall are all something I like to mark wrapped up into one special span of a couple days. I might read bits of The Hobbit to my own halflings, or we might watch the 1970s Rankin Bass animated film of The Hobbit (wonderfully nostalgic and kid friendly).

We may enjoy a hobbit-y teatime, too, with fresh baked goods and hobbit-inspired tea from the recipe I created. It combines smoky lapsang souchong tea for that famous pipe-leaf all hobbits love, hops to represent the tankards of ale they heartily imbibe, reishi mushrooms foraged right from the woods surrounding the shire, and other flavorful herbs and spices.

Ingredients:

1 part loose leaf lapsang souchong (or other black tea)

1 part mint

1⁄2 part reishi, broken into small pieces (substitute with licorice root if you are unable to find reishi)

1⁄2 part hops

1⁄4 part fennel

1⁄4 part nutmeg

1⁄4 part powdered vanilla bean or 1 vanilla bean per 4 cups of tea, split

Directions:

To make a single cup of tea, add 1 tablespoon to a tea strainer, eco- friendly tea bag, or French press. Pour 1 to 1 1⁄2 cups hot water over the tea and steep for 5 minutes. Add honey or other sweetener, if desired.

For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.

Categories
Botanical Anthology Recipes

Botanical Anthology: Licorice Root Fizz

This is an excerpt from the article Root Mocktails by Leah Jorgensen Jean featured in the Autumn Vol 3 | Issue 10 | 2024 edition of Botanical Anthology. To learn more about mocktails and for the accompanying S’mores mocktail recipe using marshmallow root, check out the entire article! 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. 

Licorice Root Fizz 

Licorice Root Fizz is a delightful drink for those who appreciate its distinctive flavor. Licorice root provides a sweet, herbal taste that is soothing and mildly spicy.  Combined with sparkling water, it transforms into a refreshing and unique beverage, delivering an unexpectedly intense, complex, and invigorating experience. It is an excellent alternative for those who enjoy sipping on licorice-flavored liquors such as Pastis, Sambuca, Ouzo, Pernod, or Absinthe.

Materials

¼ c water
¼ c granulated sugar

2 tbsp licorice root, dried

Ice cubes
Juice of ½ lemon

Sparkling water or club soda
Lemon slice or twist, for garnish

Method
In a small saucepan, combine the water, sugar, and licorice root. Heat over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved.  Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then remove from the heat. Let the licorice root syrup cool to room temperature, then strain it through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Transfer the syrup to a clean jar or bottle and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.

To make the Licorice Root Fizz, fill a glass with ice, and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of the licorice root syrup, depending on your sweetness preference. Squeeze the juice from the lemon into the glass and stir to combine. Top with sparkling water or club soda, stirring gently to mix. Garnish with a lemon slice or twist and serve immediately.


Notes

  • Licorice should not be used while pregnant or nursing and those who have high blood pressure.

Leah Jorgensen Jean is a professional winemaker, holistic nutritionist, and regenerative herbal medicine grower based in Newberg, Oregon. She received her certificate in herbalism from Ecoversity and grows and prepares medicinal plants for her small town herbalist community.  Visit her on Instagram @cosmicculturebotanicals 

These recipes are excerpts from her first book The Herbalist’s Guide for the Sober Curious: 65 Garden-To-Glass Recipes published by Chartwell Books available wherever books are sold in January 2025. Visit her on Instagram @cosmicculturebotanicals