Monthly Archives: March 2011

As a child, I remember my grandmother picking rosehips from her garden, steeping them in boiling water, and adding just a touch of honey. At the time I had no idea what she was doing, but she was, in fact, creating her own herbal teas. Last summer The New York Times ran a story in which writer Michael Tortello set out to grow his own herbal tea garden. Included in this backyard experiment were lemon balm, lemon grass, lemon verbena, calendula, catnip and chamomile, as well as marshmallow, echinacea and sweet cicely. Mulling this story over in the Two Leaves and Bud offices, it got us to thinking – “Just what are the benefits of growing herbs for tea at home?” First: Herbs can be easily grown, whether you have a spacious back yard or not. Potted plants are a … Continue reading →

I am on the constant search for home remedies for skin, hair and eyes. What I learned is that enhanced beauty is as easy as enjoying a cuppa tea! According to ehow.com, black tea contains tannin and caffeine which constricts blood vessels and encourages extra liquids to flush out of your skin. Additionally, chamomile has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce puffy eyes. Here’s how tea can help you look great: Eyes After enjoying any of Two Leaves’ black or chamomile teas, save the sachets after steeping them. Remove the tea sachets from the refrigerator when you have puffy eyes and/or dark circles. Squeeze them slightly to remove excess liquid. Place one cold tea bag over each closed eye. The chill from the tea sachets helps reduce puffiness. Leave the tea sachets on your eyes for 5 to 20 minutes. The longer … Continue reading →

My husband and I were planning a trip with friends recently, when I was charged with an important task: Bring something “fun” to drink. Always one eager for a challenge, I made it my mission to make the cocktails I was to prepare on this trip more intriguing, better tasting and more attractive than ever before. Looking at my pantry, inspiration struck: Two Leaves and a Bud Tea. With more robust flavors, and profound hues than other teas, I knew Two Leaves would do the trick. My plan involved infusing two vodkas, one with Alpine Berry Herbal Tea and the other Organic Assam Breakfast Black Tea. After a few hours of letting three tea sachets steep in two small bottles of vodka, the tea’s colors and flavors had made their mark. I began by mixing a classic cocktail of soda … Continue reading →