Custom Blending herbs, teas and spices is one of the many cool and creative things I get to do for The Herbal Sage Tea company. 

This week we began to harvest Spicebush Berry for a new custom blend. Spicebush   Lindera benzoin  also called wild allspice is an abundant understory plant in SE Ohio.

 

Years ago one of the old timers showed me how he and his family would harvest the twigs and soft branches during the fall season to  make a tea. He also would pick a few twigs and chew on them. Though I like the gentle spice from the branches of this plant, I prefer to harvest the berries, dry them, then add then to herb blends.
My current custom blend request is from Denison University located an hour or so north of The Herbal Sage Farms. They wanted a BIG RED blend, we'll also be adding our native Elderberry fruit to their blend , more on amazing elderberry next time!

I think these berries qualify for a BIG RED theme, don't you?