The Chinese tallow trees are always the first to sport red leaves. It usually happens in early to mid-August around my house, the red leaves shining like a beacon for the season to come that will hopefully bring with it a reprieve from the heat. I used to see these leaves as a sort of false hope or even cruel joke. But now I’ve come to see that perhaps, like me, they are just longing for fall’s crisp air and dappled golden sunlight.
As much as I love fall I’m also a realist. I know that we won’t get pleasant temperatures here for a while so I have to make do and adapt. Enter this lovely autumnal beverage! It’s a super simple way to enjoy a fancy tea latte without having to leave the comfort of your home (and air conditioning). Plus, you can make it extra cozy with a blanket, your favorite crystal, and your journal or a book. While a fall picnic most certainly won’t be happening here for a while, there’s no reason I can’t recreate it indoors with a little imagination, eh?
Sage is one of my absolute favorite herbs with its grounding aromatic qualities and earthy, herbaceous flavor. The genus name salvia is a derivative of the Latin word salvus meaning “healthy”. Historically sage was used to promote increased wisdom, long life, protection, and prosperity in folk herbal traditions. Personally, I like sage for its anti-inflammatory, carminative, and nervine properties though it has a host of other benefits when used medicinally. Outside of the kitchen I use clary sage essential oil to provide a feeling of being grounded or to cleanse and protect my space.
…
