St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is in full bloom in New Brunswick right now. It is a beautiful plant, with cheerful yellow flowers.  It has quite a distinct smell, and some very unique characteristics.  It can grow several feet tall, and has a woody base. The flowers grow in clusters at the end of the branches. Each flower is bright yellow, has five petals, numerous stamen, and a single pistil.  The leaves and flowers have small black dots. The leaves, if held up to the light, are peppered with transparent 'holes' (actually oil glands), which makes sense when you consider the latin name of the plant, perforatum (perforation).  Possibly the coolest part of the plant, though, is that despite it's cheerful yellow colour, it 'bleeds' a dark purple.  Squeeze a plump flower bud between your fingers, and it will stain your fingertips dark purple.

St. John's wort has been extensively studied for its actions against mild and moderate depression. It has gained such a solid reputation as an antidepressant that it isn't strange anymore to have allopathic doctors recommend it to their patients who wish to avoid pharmaceutical antidepressants. It is not, however, a pharmaceutical and lacks the instant action that some people have come to expect from man-made drugs.  It needs to be taken over a period of time for its full effect to be felt, at least 2-3 weeks, and often months.  Used properly, it is very effective due to the herb's active constituents. These increase the serotonin levels in the body, and level out the 'feel-good' neurotransmitters of dopamine, serotonin, and noradenaline to make them last longer in the body.  

Topically, St. John's wort is wonderful for soothing and healing bruises, sore muscles, sprains, and burns.  It is best used as an oil in this case.  The oil and tincture must be made with fresh buds and flowers for it to be effective because the hypericin (active constituent) does not last as well in the dried plant matter.  So, the few weeks when St. John's wort is ready is a very busy time of oil and tincture making!  To know when the plant is ready, squeeze a bud between your fingers. If it is filled with purple 'juice', it's time.  

These flowers and buds are at their peak.  Most of the plant is at the bud stage, which is best. The buds are plump and juicy and ready to be made into remedies!

 
St John's Wort Tincture

St. John's wort flowers and buds
vodka
glass jar with lid
label

Method:

1. On a bright, warm day, pick enough St. John's wort buds and flowers to fill a glass jar 3/4 full. The plant matter should be fairly packed, but not too tightly.

2. Fill the jar with vodka (80 proof, or 40% alcohol) so there is very little headspace.  The alcohol must completely cover the plant matter. Use a spoon to smoosh down the herbs if they float.

3. Cap the jar, being sure to put a non metal barrier between the alcohol and the lid. Parchment paper or plastic wrap works well.

4. Label with the ingredients and date. Store in a dark, cool cupboard for 6 weeks, shaking daily. The tincture will be a deep red colour.

DOSE: Generally, 1/2 to 1 tsp twice daily.  Cycling is important. Take it for 3 weeks, discontinue for 1 week, and repeat. 

SAFETY: Some people experience photosensitivity when taking St. John's wort. Discontinue if you experience skin issues. St. John's wort should not be taken in conjunction with pharmaceutical antidepressants without the guidance of your doctor. If pregnant or breastfeeding, seek the guidance of a health-care practitioner.

​** This is fun, right?! And that's all it is for now.  Information on the traditional uses and properties of herbs in this website are for educational use only, and are not to be mistaken for medical advice. Every attempt has been made for accuracy, but none is guaranteed. Many traditional uses and properties of herbs have not been validated by the FDA or Health Canada. If you have health issues, concerns, or questions, consult your health care practitioner. **

More info:
Gladstar, Rosemary, Medicinal Herbs A Beginner's Guide, Story Publishing, North Adams, MA. 2012
​https://www.ediblewildfood.com/st-johns-wort.aspx

I don't think I have really given my rhubarb patch the full appreciation it deserves. Rhubarb was one of those infamous foods that, as children, we only ever ate on a dare, or as an excuse to dip something into sugar.  So tart it's sour, its not the type of thing you eat for fun.  

Or do you?  Hmmm?

This spring, I found myself into a rhubarb groove.  Rhubarb juice, rhubarb lemonade, rhubarb crisp, rhubarb muffins, oh, my.  It was only natural that a rhubarb shrub would follow.

A shrub is basically an oxymel, which is a blend of honey, vinegar, and herbs.  What makes an oxymel and a shrub different is the addition of fruit.  Shrubs are popular additions to cocktails and add a great tart-sweet flavour.  I like using a splash of shrub in water as my pre-breakfast drink.
​
​Making your own is easy! Below is everything you need to know....but first, the ingredients.

​Rhubarb Berry Shrub

1/2 cup of rhubarb, chopped
1/3 cup strawberries (frozen or fresh)
1/4 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
1 cinnamon stick
2 sprigs basil
1/2 tsp peppercorns
1 tbsp peppermint (dried or fresh)
2/3 cup honey
apple cider vinegar to fill

Place all the fruit and herbs into a clean, sterile quart jar.  Add the honey, being sure to appreciate how pretty raw, local honey looks flowing onto the fruit.  That will do nothing for improving the flavour, but it just might improve your day.  

Next, add in the apple cider vinegar.  Fill it right to the top.  Using a clean spoon, stir the mixture to make sure all the spaces are filled and all air floats to the top.  The fruit and herbs must be fully covered with the vinegar. Add more as needed.

That's a good looking shrub.  Very nice.  If you hold it up to the window, it's like jewels glittering in the sunlight.

Next, cap the jar. Be sure to put a barrier between the metal lid and the shrub.  A piece of parchment paper or plastic film will work fine.  The vinegar must not touch the metal as it will corrode.

Lastly, label the jar. I prefer to put the whole recipe on the label.  That way, I can always tweak it if I feel the next batch needs more basil, or less pepper, or whatever the case may be.  Be sure to include the date, too.

Place it in a dark cupboard for 1-2 weeks, shaking daily.  After one week, taste it daily to see when it is your desired strength.  When you like it, it's ready!  Strain it and keep it in the fridge in a glass, airtight container.

You can use it as a flavouring in cocktails, mixed with sparkling water, or even straight if you like a good strong shot of somethin' somethin'.  

​Enjoy!

.Stinging nettle is one of those plants that you love and hate all at the same time.  
Do you want the good news or bad news first?  Bad (you must be a maritimer!)? Stinging nettle stings.  It's true!  Rub up bare-skinned against one by accident, and you'll know immediately by the burning sensation that you've come across a patch of stinging nettle.

The good news? Stinging nettle stings!  What's this? How could a stinging stinging nettle be a good thing?  Well, the sting of the nettle has been used therapeutically for many generations as a counter irritant for painful conditions like arthritis.  It used to be that those suffering from back pain or aching joints would flagellate themselves with the stems of fresh nettle to induce painful stings, which would result in the body rushing blood to the affected area, thus helping it to heal and lessening pain.  In the same way, stinging nettle was used as a sort of homemade Viagra.  Men, if unable to achieve or keep an erection, would sting their genitals with the nettle.  The blood rush from the stings would result in the desired stiffness, and the evening was saved!  Whether the pain killed the mood is another question, but I suppose a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.  

More good news?

Nettle is anti-inflammatory.
Nettle is good for upper respiratory health.
Nettle root supports prostate function.
Nettle may help balance blood sugar.
Nettle helps with allergies.
Nettle supports the excretory system.
Nettle can be made into fabric.
Nettle is super nutritious.
Nettle is delicious.

Today, we'll focus on the nutritious and delicious.  Nettle is packed with nutrients. It is very high in protein, higher even than beans! It is high in vitamins A, C, D, trace minerals, potassium, sodium, magnesium, and histamine.  

Nettle is best eaten when it is very small, first thing in the spring.  The plant is tender then, and tastes best.  You can still eat nettle later in the year, but the plant gets quite large and tough.  The top couple inches are still tender enough to eat, but honestly, nothing beats a springtime nettle!  Just be sure to cook it, steam it, or dry it.  The little stingers are 'deactivated' when it is processed in this way.  Eating fresh nettle is going to be downright unpleasant, and possibly dangerous.  You can steam nettle, saute it with garlic and butter, or add it to any dish as you would spinach.  Garlic Nettle Pesto is my favourite recipe to date!

Gather your ingredients. Garlic mustard is an invasive plant that seems to be taking over New Brunswick. We pull it whenever we see it, since it is getting out of hand. Luckily, its mild garlic flavour is delicious!

First, wash all your wild edibles.  USE TONGS when handling the uncooked nettle. The stingers are very, very stingy.  Next, steam the nettle.  Some people feel that pulverising the nettle (as we will do later) is enough to deactivate the stingers.  I don't think so.  

Once you've steamed the nettle in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, drain the liquid. You can drink this liquid as a tea, use it as a soup base, or even water your plants with it.  Be sure to carefully dry the nettles using a clean dishtowel.  Hopefully you will have about a cup of nettle.

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend it up until it is the consistency you desire. I like a smooth sauce, but a little chunk is perfectly acceptable if that's what you like! If the blender isn't quite doing the job, add a little more olive oil or nettle water to help it out.  

Serve over pasta, or on fresh homemade bread, sprinkled with a little lemon juice and parmesan.....Yum!

Every year, around mid-May, my husband and I have our annual springtime fight.  My favourite day of the year is when the weather warms up enough that all grass finally grows, and the dandelions spring out of the ground, lifting their chipper yellow heads to greet the sun.  My husband's favourite day of the year, bless his heart, is the first day he gets to mow all my dandelions down.  Therefore, my favourite day of the year is also the day I try to beat him to the yard to save as many dandelions as I possibly can.

Why? What could I possibly want with those dandelions?  Well, other than being delicious, cheerful, and a very precise way of finding out if you like butter (What?! You don't know what I'm talking about? I'll tell you at the end.), dandelion heads are used to make dandelion herbal oil.  The herbal oil makes a wonderful massage oil for sore, aching muscles and joints. It can also serve as a base for making dandelion salves, lotions and soaps.

It starts with dandelions - pick them bright and beautiful, just the tops. Be sure to pick responsibly. Your herbs should be from an unsprayed area, away from roadsides and farms. Be aware that many parks and households spray their grass in hopes of getting rid of 'weeds', dandelions included.  Therefore, you need to be sure that the dandelions are clean and chemical free.  Remember - what you start with will end up in the finished product.  

Dandelions have some lookalikes if you aren't used to identifying them.  There are certain plants that have a very similar blossom.  There are certain traits to look for when identifying dandelions.  The name dandelion is thought to come from the French Dents de Lion (lion's teeth).  This is the first clue when it comes to correctly identifying dandelion.  The leaves are 'toothed', deeply lobed, and smooth. The leaves are basal, meaning they only grow at the bottom of the stem, and are arranged in a rosette pattern.  There will only be one stem holding one flowerhead. The stem is hollow, and produces a milky sap.  The flowerheads contain between 150-200 yellow ray florets and no disk florets.  The florets spread outward, like a sunshine.  Under the flowerhead are green bracts.  If you were to dig up a dandelion, you would find one long taproot.  The root, and all parts of the plant, are edible.

Now that you have correctly identified dandelion, ascertained that your patch is clean, and picked them, you'll want to bring them home and prep them.  Normally, an herbal oil is made only with dry herbs. Using fresh or 'damp' herbs can encourage mold growth and spoilage in your herbal oil.  There are a few exceptions to this, and dandelion is one of them.  If dandelion heads completely dry, they go to seed, which is not what we want.  That said, wet dandelions are not desirable, either! The solution is to wilt them to get as much of the moisture out of them as possible without having them turn to a white fluff.  

Spread the blossoms on a clean, dry surface to dry.  This can be a screen, sheet, basket, dehydrator, etc.  Using a screen or sheet outside is my preference as it allows any bugs in the blossoms to make a break for it!  Be sure the area is warm and dry, with good airflow.  Then, you wait! Depending on the temperature, you might want to give it a few hours or leave them overnight.  

Once they are good and wilted, it's go time.  Place the dandelion heads in a clean, dry, sterile jar.  If you're using the folk method, you'll want to aim for about three quarters of the jar filled.  The folk method is perfectly fine for this type of infusion.  

Next, fill the jar with your carrier oil, right to the top.  Try to fill the jar to within an inch of the rim. The less airspace, the less chance of spoilage.  If the plant matter is floating, poke it down with a chopstick or handle of a wooden spoon.  As for the oil choice, in my case, I used olive oil as it's a good, all purpose oil that has a long shelf life.  Some prefer to use coconut oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed or avocado.  It really is a matter of preference determined by what you plan to make with the oil later.  For a general salve, olive is fine. If you were making a face cream, grapeseed or apricot kernal would be nice! If the plan was to use it in a roller bottle, I'd probably go with grapeseed or fractionated coconut oil.

Finally slap a label on that bottle - name, ingredients, and date.  Put a piece of parchment paper over the rim, cap it, and shake, shake, shake.  You'll want to keep it in a warm, spot and shake it every day.  I keep mine in a kitchen cupboard, the warmest room in the house.  If you prefer to make a solar infusion, you can definitely do this! The benefit of this is that the warmth of the sun will accelerate the infusion, and make for a much 'sunnier' oil.  However, the warmth is good, the light is not.  So, put the jar into a paper bag before placing it on a sunny window sill. That will allow the benefit of the sun's heat without the damage of the sun's light.

After 3-4 weeks, you can expect that it is finished macerating (steeping).  At that point, strain out the plant matter with a cheesecloth or fine sieve.  The dandelions can be composted.  You'll want to keep the oil in a clean, dry, sterile bottle...labeled, of course!

What will you make with your dandelion oil?  Let me know in the comments!

Oh, and how do dandelions determine if you like butter? When we were kids on the playground, this was of great concern to us.  There was no way to simply *know* if we liked butter.  Of course not.  So, we would hold dandelion heads under our friends' chins, and ask, "Do you like butter?!" If the yellow of the dandelion was reflected on our friends' skin, then, yes, of course they liked butter!  If there was no yellow, then the answer was no.  Some of us had friends who would smash the flowerhead into our chins, leaving a semi-permanent (depending on how often you washed your face - not a big concern for a 7 year old) yellow stain on our skin.  That meant you were truly a butter fan!

If the red breasted robin is the bird symbol of spring's arrival, then coltsfoot is the plant world's version.  These tenacious little flowers bravely pop their buds out of the ground, of which they prefer disturbed, sandy soil like by roads and riverbeds, often before the snow has completely melted, and lift their yellow heads to the sun. Their cheerful presence after the long, barren (or so it seems) winter appears to communicate, "Hey! It's a fresh start! We're still here, and we're going to make it. Good things are coming!"

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) is one I've always thought a bit strange in that it seems to start with the end, and end with the beginning.  Most plants will send out their shoots, stems, leaves, and then blossom and seed.  Coltsfoot, on the other hand, begins with the flower, seed, and then develops the leaves.  In the past, coltsfoot was referred to as "son before the father" for this reason.  Although it does propagate by seed (and the seeds need hardly any time at all to germinate - just 2 days!), coltsfoot develops and spreads by rhizome as well.  The leaves do look like a colt's hoof print, and can get quite big as the summer goes on.  The top of the leaf is somewhat waxy, and the bottom of the leaf is covered with fine, white hairs.

The question of whether coltsfoot is edible is a tricky one. The roots contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids, a toxic substance that can damage the liver.  The leaves are thought to contain this, too, though in lesser amounts.  For this reason, it is best not to consume the root, and to consume the aerial parts in very small amounts.  Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or who have liver issues should keep away from coltsfoot.  It is said that the buds, stalks, and leaves can be added to salads. The stalks and leaves can be boiled and seasoned with salt and pepper just like a vegetable and added to potato dishes.   Traditionally, coltsfoot leaf ash was used as a salt substitute as it is quite high in sodium.

Traditionally, and even today, coltsfoot has been used as an herbal remedy for certain respiratory ailments.  It can be used as a tea, tincture, or even in a smoking blend to treat coughs, asthma, and congestion.  Often, it will be combined with licorice, mullein, or thyme.

Of course, as with any health concerns, it is best to seek the guidance of your healthcare practitioner and a trained herbalist to ascertain whether coltsfoot is right for you.

​** This is fun, right?! And that's all it is for now.  Information on the traditional uses and properties of herbs in this website are for educational use only, and are not to be mistaken for medical advice. Every attempt has been made for accuracy, but none is guaranteed. Many traditional uses and properties of herbs have not been validated by the FDA or Health Canada. If you have health issues, concerns, or questions, consult your health care practitioner. **

Here's more info:
https://www.ediblewildfood.com/coltsfoot.aspx
https://www.naturewatch.ca/plantwatch/coltsfoot/
https://www.live-native.com/coltsfoot/#:~:text=Propagation,the%20seeds%20begin%20to%20germinate.​

​It's always an emergency when I run out of Heart Sprinkles.  Ever since I discovered this recipe in Rosemary Gladstar's book, Medicinal Herbs, A Beginner's Guide, I've kept a constant supply in my spice drawer.  She calls it Sprinkles for the Heart, but I kind of like the idea of Heart Sprinkles. You really must try it. It's good for your heart, and so tasty!

Hawthorn (Craetagus laevigata) is a tree that grows quite freely here in New Brunswick. Its blossoms remind me of apple tree blossoms, and the berries do indeed look like tiny little apples. The hawthorn is one of the most respected cardiovascular tonics around. The berries, leaves, and blossoms are used (preferably in conjunction) to make tinctures and teas. They are rich in bioflavonoids, antioxidants, and procyanidins, all of which nourish and tone the heart. The result is that the heart muscle is strengthened, blood pressure is regulated, and the heart beat is normalized. Hawthorn is often used as a preventative, but is also used to treat heart problems.  It is one that must be used regularly, though, as hawthorn does not stay in the body for very long. It is thought that hawthorn helps the emotional heart, too, not just the physical heart.  You'll see it often in grief formulas, especially in combo with milky oats, St John's wort, and lemon balm.

Heart Sprinkles are used as a spice, however, and are not necessarily for preventing or treating heart problems.  Shouldn't our food and snacks be useful, healthy and delicious, though?  A trained herbalist can give more tips on how to use hawthorn for health.  For now, enjoy the Heart Sprinkles!

Heart Sprinkles - a recipe by Rosemary Gladstar 
​
2 parts hawthorn berry powder
1 part cinnamon powder
1/2 part ginger root powder
1/8 part cardamom powder

1. Measure out your ingredients. Mix them well.
2. Put them into a spice bottle, preferably one with a shaker top.
3. Put that stuff on everything! 

What's everything? Well, here's a few ideas:
*sprinkle on oatmeal
*sprinkle on cut fruit (berries, apples, etc)
*mixed into plain yogurt
*sprinkled on a latte
*added to smoothies
*as a truffle/cookie garnish

​

​Of course, don't forget to label your creation.  

Back in the spring of 2020 (Oh, my, remember that year?!) I posted an informational video on harvesting spruce tips.  I had a little tutorial on making spruce sugar which was so much fun, smelled amazing, and burst with possibilities!  But, what possibilities, exactly?  The spruce sugar has sat in my cupboard all these months simply because I wasn't really sure what to do with it.

Until today.

I present to you: Spruce Orange Shortbread Cookies!

I'm a huge fan of shortbread.  I'm not sure why I didn't think to do this earlier.  It's a rather dry dessert, but when it's made right, it's fantastic. The initial snap of the cookie when you bite into it, the melting in the mouth, and the flood of flavour....oh, my! Shortbread as a square is very simple, and usually requires minimal ingredients - butter, flour, and icing sugar.  Cookies are a bit more complicated, but still very simple.

The spruce and orange flavours in this recipe are rather mild, so don't be afraid. It's a delightful experience, and kind of a hoot to tell your dinner guests you're serving them tree parts.

Spruce Orange Shortbread Cookies

1 1/2 cups of butter
2/3 cups of spruce sugar 
1/4 cup icing sugar
zest of one orange
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt

Icing

icing sugar
orange juice
spruce syrup
meringue powder

1. Cream the butter, sugars, and zest.
2. Add the flour, cornstarch and salt.
3. Leave to chill in the refrigerator in an airtight container for at least an hour.
4. Preheat the oven to 350 deg F.
5. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, or on a piece of parchment paper to about a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes and place on a cookie sheet.  
6. Bake around 10 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. Do not overcook.
7. Cool completely before icing.
8. The icing is very much 'taste as you go'.  Start with around a cup of icing sugar and a teaspoon of meringue powder. Add orange juice and spruce syrup to obtain a very liquid, streamable icing (think white glue thickness). Adjust the taste to suit yourself by adding more or less of the juice and syrup.  Drizzle over the cooled cookies. Allow to dry completely before storing.

​Enjoy!

Such a pretty tea!  Hibiscus is one of my favourite herbs to infuse.  It's nice to look at, delicious to taste, and makes a super heart healthy drink, too.  Add in the rosehips, hawthorn berries, cloves, and orange peels, and we've got ourselves a winner! In need of some herbs? Find them in the shop!

Rosehip-Hip-Hip-Hibiscus tea is a healthful tea for several reasons.  Let's meet the cast:

Rosehips (Rosa spp.) are well known for their high vitamin C content.  Although this is true of fresh rosehips, it's unfortunate that much of the vitamin C is lost during the drying process.  However, some is better than none! A good quality vitamin C supplement or vitamin C rich foods would be a good addition to your health regimen if this is what you hope to achieve.  There is some information regarding rosehip benefits regarding heart health and seasonal sickness, but more research needs to be done.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) is what turns the tea into that gorgeous pink colour.  Its flavour is a bit tart, but it's a pleasant taste most people love!  Not only is it eye candy, hibiscus is thought to be heart healthy, helping to lower blood pressure and aid in weight loss.   

Hawthorn (Craetagus spp.) might just be one of the best known and widely celebrated heart tonics out there.  Though it's thought that a tincture of the berry, leaf and blossom are the absolute best way to get everything out of the hawthorn tree, berries tend to be used the most in formulas.  Hawthorn berries have a safe, general action on the cardiovascular system, opening up heart vessels, strengthening and regulating the heartbeat, and balancing out blood pressure and cholesterol.

Clove and orange peel, though they are wonderful and beneficial on their own, are in such minute quantities here that they are mostly for taste.

Rosehip-Hip-Hip-Hibiscus Tea

Ingredients:
1 tsp rosehips (cut and sifted, seedless if possible)
1 tsp hawthorn berries 
1 tsp hibiscus blossoms
2 whole cloves
1 tsp orange zest, or to taste
squeeze of orange juice (optional)

​Need any herbs? Visit the shop!
​
Method:
1. Put all the ingredients into a small saucepan over medium-high heat. 
2. Add 1.5 cups of water.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer. You'll simmer it for about 15-20 minutes.
4. Keep an eye on the water level.  After about 15-20 minutes, the water level should have dropped to around 1 cup.  At this point, filter the decoction into your mug.  Sweeten to taste (I suggest honey! Yum!).  

​Enjoy!

One final note...the title of this blog is Rosehip-Hip-Hip-Hibiscus Tea.  This is a LIE! The process of simmering herbs to reduce the water is not a tea or infusion at all.  It's a decoction.  A decoction is mainly used with tough herb parts such as bark, twigs, seeds or hard berries like hawthorn.  It gets the absolute most out of the herbs in a way that an infusion simply couldn't.

** This is fun, right?! And that's all it is for now.  Information on the traditional uses and properties of herbs in this website are for educational use only, and are not to be mistaken for medical advice. Every attempt has been made for accuracy, but none is guaranteed. Many traditional uses and properties of herbs have not been validated by the FDA or Health Canada. If you have health issues, concerns, or questions, consult your health care practitioner. **

Here's more info:

https://www.anniesremedy.com/crataegus-monogyna-hawthorn-berry.php
​https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-527/hawthorn
https://www.anniesremedy.com/hibiscus-sabdariffa.php
​https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-839/rose-hip

If I were to put all my loves in order of preference, chocolate truffles and herbal concoctions would be very, very high on the list.  Herbal infused chocolate truffles?!  I can't even count that high on the preference list! 

My husband is also a personal favourite of mine.  I'd put him right up there with the truffles...a solid third place, for sure!  I jest, of course, but all three together at once definitely calls for a celebration.  

These truffles are not just your basic, run of the mill chocolate delicacies.  The base of cream and quality chocolate, dipped in a shell of more chocolate is what makes truffles so sinfully delicious - the texture is out of this world.  There's the snap of chocolate shell, then the soft richness of the ganache that melts in your mouth and teases your taste buds.  Herbal infused...now there's the next level up.  I used damiana, rose, ginger, and juniper berries. You can find rose and damiana in my shop. 

Why these herbs?  My aim was a truffle perfect for Valentine's Day.  Damiana and rose rank quite high on the list for aphrodisiac herbs.  Historically, damiana was first used in Mexico by women, who drank it as a tea before lovemaking, and by the Mayans and Aztecs as a sexual stimulant. It has since been used as an aphrodisiac for men and women.   Rose is a well known romancing flower, of which bouquets are given between lovers at Valentine's Day, anniversaries, birthdays, and 'Please forgive me!' days. Therapeutically, though, it is not only thought to promote feelings of relaxation and desire, it is also used for male reproductive health by herbalists.  Its soft, subtle flavour complements the earthy, slightly bitter taste of damiana very well.  Ginger is added partly for taste, but also for its reputation as an aphrodisiac.  It is not as well known for this purpose as damiana and rose, but its scent and effect on the circulatory system place it on the 'must have' herb list.  Juniper, though not strictly an aphrodisiac, is beneficial to the urinary tract, and adds a pleasant taste to the mix.

Making the truffles will take very little actual work, but there is a certain amount of down time when you'll need to infuse, cool, freeze, etc.  A quiet evening at home is the perfect opportunity.

Lovers' Rose and Damiana Truffles

20 oz dark chocolate, chopped finely. I used 65%, but feel free to use darker/lighter as per taste
250 ml heavy cream
1 Tbsp grated ginger
.5 oz damiana herb
.5 oz  rose petals from a reputable source. Flowers from florists are usually sprayed.
1 Tbsp juniper berries 

Need an herb? Visit my shop! 

Method:
1. Place the herbs and cream in a small pot. It will seem like there is too much herb and too little cream, but trust the process!  Adjust the heat to medium-high.  As soon as the cream begins to boil, remove the pot from the heat, cover, and allow to infuse for 15 minutes.

2. While the herbs are infusing, finely chop the chocolate.  Place 8 oz of chocolate into a medium sized heat proof bowl. After the 15 minutes are up, strain the cream through a fine sieve, and pour it into the chocolate.  Press the herbs well to get every bit of cream out, but be quick about it...the cream needs to be hot when poured into the chocolate.  Compost the herbs.  

3. Mix the chocolate and cream well until the chocolate is completely melted.  Once smooth, put it into the freezer.  Check on it every 10 minutes, stirring to keep it evenly hard.  When the chocolate has hardened enough that you can roll it into little balls, its ready.

4.  For this step you may want to keep a bowl of ice water and a towel handy. Cold hands will make this process much easier as your body heat will melt the ganache very quickly.  Roll the chocolate into uniform 1 inch balls and place them on a cold plate or baking sheet.  Return them to the refrigerator to set (about 20 minutes).

5. While the balls are setting, prepare to melt the remaining chocolate in a double boiler.  If you don't have one, it's very easy to DIY.  Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a small pot of water in which you've added a couple inches of water.  Bring the water to a simmer.  The heat from the boiling water will warm the bowl enough to melt the chocolate without the risk of burning it. In the meantime, melt the remaining chocolate in a small double-boiler.  

6. Take the chocolate balls from the refrigerator and reshape them if needed.  With a toothpick or fork, dip the balls one by one into the melted chocolate.  Do so quickly so as not to let them melt.  Let the excess chocolate drip off and place the covered truffle onto a cold plate.  

7. While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle the truffle with crumpled rose petals or icing sugar.  Allow to set.

8. These are best kept in the fridge.  

Enjoy

This recipe was adapted from Urban Moonshine's webpage. 

As tasty and fun as these truffles are to make (and eat!), they are to be eaten as a treat.  Although tradition and herbal studies have labeled these herbs as 'romance' herbs, each situation is different and should be evaluated by a professional well educated in such matters.  It is possible to be allergic to any type of food.  Be mindful of your own tolerances.
It must be said that this recipe is not intended to diagnose, treat or otherwise be seen as a remedy.  Please consult your health care provider or herbalist for health issues and health advice.