Revered Berries Tea

The Story

This berry-focused tea was inspired by Ava's research into adaptogenic herbs (such as the schisandra berry in this tea) that enhance immunity against colds, flu, bronchial infections, and sinus congestion. She set out to create a tea that would be fruity and delicious, effective, and safe for long-term use by children and adults alike. Elderberries were the first ingredient chosen for this tea, because while many people find elderberry syrups or tinctures effective for preventing colds and flu, we found that a number of them would prefer elderberry supplements without sugar or alcohol. We boil our recently harvested, dried, carefully stored elderberries for 15 to 20 minutes to fully extract their medicinal properties, and then add other immunity-supporting berries including schisandra berries, goji berries, and rosehips to make the tea even tastier and more effective.

Read on for a bit more detail about each of the berries in this tea blend:

Elderberries: Both elderflowers and elderberries have a long history of use in European, Native American, and Western herbalism. Modern research has suggested that elderberries have strong antiviral properties, and in contemporary times we are more aware of elderberries for their use in immunity-building syrups. But traditional herbalists use elderberries for many other interesting indications as well, such for spasmodic cough and for overall balancing of dry and inflammation-prone constitutions. Elderberries are classified as relaxing, soothing, cooling, diaphoretic, blood-building, and immunity-building in herbalism.

Schisandra berries: This herb is officially classified as an adaptogen according to stringent standards set out by scientists in Russia. (Thousands of researchers at the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute of the Physiology and Pharmacology of Adaptation conducted more than three thousand studies on over four thousand plants to identify those with adaptogenic properties.) Adaptogens enable an organism to raise resistance to physical, chemical, and biological stressors. Schisandra is an adaptogen with a calming bent (some other adaptogens are stimulating), and it has myriad other curative properties: it helps with asthma and wet coughs, and it counters an overactive immune response to increase resistance to environmental allergens. It is also one of the premium herbs for increasing low immunity caused by stress or depletion.

Goji berries: Classified as a tonic herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, goji berries nurture the liver and kidneys and build blood. They are also recommended for coughs and for increasing longevity, sexual prowess and stamina, physical strength and vigor, and eye and liver health. We included goji berries in this tea for their general tonic (strengthening to the physical body, energizing) properties.

Rosehips: We chose rosehips for this tea blend because they not only contain vitamin C, but are also gaining recognition of late for their ability to ease depression and light-deficiency winter blues.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, schisandra berry (as well as most other tonic herbs) should not be drunk during the acute stage of flu or cold, especially if there are heat symptoms, such as sore throat, sweating, and fever. We recommend drinking the Revered Berries tea to build immunity during all other times, but not while actively suffering from cold or flu symptoms.

Properties

This four-berry tea is an immunity-building, strengthening, and slightly warming tea for the winter season, for recovery from illness, and for frail or weak constitutions prone to catching cold and flu. The tea contains elderberries, known for their anti-infectious and antiviral properties; adaptogenic schisandra berries, which promote physical stamina, stress resistance, and a calm demeanor; goji berries, which protect the liver and promote longevity, and flavonoid-rich rosehips, which counter winter blues.

Flavor

Fruity, jammy, and slightly tart; a sweet and sour full-berry flavor.

Ingredients

Sambucus nigra (black elder) berries (Croatia)* or †, Schisandra chinensis berries (China)*, Lycium chinenis (goji) berries (China)*, and Rosa canina (rosehips; Chile)* or †. Gluten free. Caffeine free.

*Certified organic. †Responsibly wildcrafted.

Directions

Measure out 2 tablespoons of the berry tea blend, add 2 cups filtered water, cover, and bring to a boil. Simmer on very low heat, covered, for 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy throughout the day, 2 cups per day per person. Reserve the berries for a second brew. On the same or the next day, add 2 cups filtered water, bring to a boil, and simmer, covered, a second time for 20 minutes for a second batch of tea from the same berries. Drink hot or warm.

Sustainable Packaging

Our teas are packaged in eco-friendly clear bags made from cellulose, which is a naturally abundant organic material, then in cardboard boxes for shipping. The cellulose used in the bags is derived from renewable wood pulp that is sustainably harvested from FSC-managed plantations. The bags are certified 100% compostable, meaning they can be composted both by individuals at home and in industrial composting facilities, and are marine degradable, which means that, unlike many other "biodegradable" products, these bags can break down not only in landfills, but also in marine environments.

And perhaps even more important than the materials we have chosen are the materials that we have opted not to use. Our teas are never packaged in individual tea bags or pouches, which produce an enormous quantity of waste that typically ends up in landfill sites. Most tea bags are made from wood pulp or vegetable fiber that is bleached using potentially toxic chemicals, and contain noncompostable metal staples, and many are lined with heat-resistant polypropylene plastic in order to prevent them from bursting open when in transit or in the cup. This means that even tea bags labeled “biodegradable” or “compostable” will, for the most part, not completely break down in a compost heap. We also avoid aluminum tea pouches, which are not compostable, and metal tea tins, which in many cases are not accepted for recycling.

Full size 5.6 ounces (160 grams).

Due to the very high cost of our ingredients and the labor-intensive (highly time consuming) small-batch production process, we are unable to accept returns of opened or unopened products at this time.