Loose Leaf Herbal Teas

There is nothing more satisfying and enjoyable than the fresh taste of a hand crafted, loose-leaf herbal tea. These delicious and nourishing beverages make a lovely compliment to your morning, a revered companion in the afternoon and they faithfully represent the required relaxation we all deserve in the evenings.
Unlike finely cut conventional tea found in mass manufactured tea bags, our loose-leaf herbal tea is fresh, fragrant, tasty, longer lasting and far more economical.
Our passion for freshness provides us with the groundwork that all of the herbal teas we blend are made fresh prior to your order and exclusively with aromatic organic materials. It is this simple recipe that enables us to provide a tea which is unrivaled in taste, color, depth and aroma, and in fact we firmly believe nobody can deliver a better cup!
The loose-leaf herbal teas offered by Mountain Rose Herbs are made with certified organic ingredients, and when organic materials are not available, we will opt for carefully wildharvested herbs. We never have, nor will we ever use conventionally grown materials in our teas which may contain pesticide residues and other harmful chemicals.
Each loose tea is packaged in a re-sealable kraft bag with a paper glassine liner and comes with complete brewing instructions. Our 3 oz size brews 8-12 cups of tea, and our 1 lb size brews 40-60 cups of tea. All herbal teas are caffeine free.
All of our herbal supplement teas are Certified Kosher through Earth Kosher and those marked certified organic are 100% organic blends certified by OTCO.



Infusion = Tea made from leaves, flowers and light material. Put 1-2 teaspoons of herbal tea material into a brewing utensil of your choice and place in a 6-8 oz size cup. Add lightly boiled water and allow it to steep for 3-5 minutes. For a more "medicinal" effect steep 15-30 minutes. Will keep refrigerated for 24 hours.

Decoction = Tea made from bark, roots, seeds, twigs and berries. Put 1-3 tablespoons of cut herb, seed, root, bark, etc into a pot of 16-32 oz of water and allow to sit in non-boiled water for at least 5-10 minutes. Set on stove and bring to a slow boil then turn down to a simmer for 10-30 minutes. Strain and drink. Will keep about 72 hours if kept refrigerated. Most decoctions can also be brewed via single cup through a regular infusion process as noted above but without the strength.

Turkish Bath (Hamam)

Here are the ‘must have's for any Turkish Bath bundle:

Wide, round bowls in silver, copper or bronze for pouring water over the head and body. These were intricately decorated by hand with reliefs and inlays.

Thin bath towels called peshtemal were wrapped around the body and the head. These were woven from cotton or silk, either embroidered or with modern-looking plaid designs. The largest peshtemal was wrapped around the waist, the middle size around the shoulders and the smallest around the head. Bath bundles also included various other fabrics and cloths for keeping the head warm, for spreading on the floor to sit on or special ceremonial robes like a silk robe for the bride in a bridal bath, etc.

The soap dish was a lidded container with a handle on top and holes underneath like a sieve. Soaps, combs and various rubbing, exfoliating and lathering mitts like kese , a silk mitt or loofah pieces and cloths, were placed inside it.

Other items typically found in the bundles were, henna, kohl, eyeliners called surme, mirrors, metal containers for keeping jewellery and raised sandals or clogs made of wood, ivory and silver to keep the feet out of water. Rosewater in a bottle, carried in a special wooden case was also very important as no other perfume was considered proper for the newly washed body.

Depending on the wealth and social status of the bathing lady, these items could be simple or very ornate and valuable, adorned with jewels and made of valuable metals. It was also customary to take refreshments to the bath to eat together during and after the bath like fruit, lemonade, sherbet and sweets.

Despite the declining importance of the Turkish Bath in the daily life of many of Turkey's inhabitants, the traditions of bathing - using natural oils and soaps, exfoliation, scrubbing and bathing as ritual for body and mind - has persisted. Now, the benefits are once again being appreciated by those in search of simpler, more natural and time-tested methods in their bath to complement or replace the synthetically manufactured products that are commonly found today.

Milk Bath Recipe

Cleopatra, Queen Of The Nile was known for her charm and beauty secrets. She would have approved of our version of the milk bath. Leaves your skin gently scented and feeling like silk.

Ingredients:

3 cups powdered milk
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup dried orris root (has a soft violet scent)
1/3 cup almond meal*
1 capsule vitamin E (break open into dry ingredients)
1/3 cup cornstarch


Directions:

Makes enough for a few baths. Combine ingredients make sure its completely mixed. Store in a container. When you are ready to add it to your bath, scoop the desired amount of the mixture and tie securely in a muslin bag or even a facecloth will do. Tie to the faucet allowing the warm water to run over the bag.

* To make almond meal:

Using a blender, grind up blanched or slivered almonds to a powdered consistency.

Uncooked Icing

Uncooked Icing No. 1
Take four tablespoonfuls water and beat into it enough XXXX sugar
to make it thick enough to spread. To beat this icing well improves
the texture. Add flavoring desired.
Uncooked Icing No. 2
Take four tablespoonfuls of milk and beat into it enough XXXX
sugar to make it thick enough to spread. Flavor and color as desired.
Uncooked Icing No. 3
Take four tablespoonfuls of cream and beat into it enough XXXX
sugar to make it thick enough to spread. Flavor as desired.
Chocolate Icing
Make over any of the uncooked icing recipes, and add to it enough
melted chocolate or cocoa to give it the desired color and flavor.
Nut Icing
Take four tablespoonfuls of water, and beat into it enough XXXX
sugar to make it the consistency of thick cream. Add to it one cupful
of broken nut meats and spread on the cake. If the icing is too thin
and runs off, add a little more sugar, and if too stiff to spread well,
add a little more water. The coated nuts have a better effect when
the icing is made with water than with milk or cream.
Fruit Icing
Make over the Nut Icing recipe, substituting candied fruits for the
nuts.
Confectioners' Icing
This icing is used with metal tubes for decorating cakes. The art can
be quickly and easily mastered.
Take the whites of two eggs, and beat into them enough XXXX
confectionery sugar to make it stiff enough to hold its shape. The
only difficult part about making this icing is the beating. It should
be beaten until light and creamy. The amount of sugar needed will
vary greatly, according to the size of the eggs used.
The icing is not desirable for covering cakes, as it becomes very
hard. It is good only for decorating.
Metal icing tubes can be purchased at any good hardware store.
Mocha Icing
One-thirds cupful butter
Two tablespoonfuls cocoa
One and one-half cupfuls confectioners’ sugar
Cold coffee

Cream the butter, add the sugar and cocoa, then cold coffee until of
consistency to spread

Beauty tips for men

Think about it. What is the first thing people notice about you? It's your face. Healthy skin is the most important element of a great looking face. It is not only easy to achieve; it is a critical thing you can do for yourself. Put your best face forward. As a professional make-up artist and founder of the first skin care and cosmetics line created especially for men, I'd like to share some basic tips and guidelines to encourage healthier skin. It's simple

#1 Keep it clean.
Men have approximately 15% oilier skin and significantly larger pores than women do. Basically, this means you get dirtier. It is very important; no matter what skin type you have, to clean your face every day. Deep cleansing is important. It keeps pores clear, skin healthy and you looking good.


Cleansing products should be as chemical-free as possible. Deodorant soaps shouldn't be used on your face. They cleanse with harsh ingredients and leave a detergent film behind. This may irritate your skin and will clog your pores. Go natural.

A good scrub is essential for healthy clean skin. It will remove dead cells and smooth the surface of your face. The scrub should be strong without being damaging. Stay away from scrubs that contain rough elements like ground bits of nut or seed extracts. They will tear and damage the skin. A good scrub will invigorate you, not hurt you.

Moisturizing is a necessity. Again, the product with the least amount of chemical additives is the best. Always use a light moisturizer on your face after cleansing and shaving and don't forget your neck!
For an intensive moisture treatment use pure vitamin E, or aloe vera oil. It is available in liquid form, or just break open a capsule and apply the oil directly to the skin. This is a great under eye treatment. Remember it is very important to moisturize this sensitive area of the face. It is one of the first places to show age because the under eye skin secretes no necessary oils on its own.

#2 Keep it toned.
Because men are outside more than women are, environmental debris and pollutants are more a factor to their skin's health. Toning helps keep the skin clear and firm.
As skin ages, it needs to work harder to maintain its elasticity. Astringents and toners with glycolic or alpha hydroxy acids work the best for toning the face. These acids actually can reduce the pore size, and help avoid ingrown hairs. They are aggressive and have quick results. Remember to look for a product that is not photosensitive (sensitive to light).

#3 Treat your skin.
Depending on your skin type (oily, dry or combination) and the time of year, there are different products that treat and enhance your skin. Different treatments will have very different results. It is important to know your skin's needs.
All types of skin need to be exfoliated. This is the removal of dead skin cells that form daily. This is an essential part of skin treatment.
After shaving, you need to moisturize with a product that has absolutely no alcohol in it. Avoid heavy fragrant after-shave products too, as they can irritate the skin.
Skin that is too shiny doesn't look healthy, just greasy. Blot the excess oils away. Blotting papers or a light powder that will give you a more nat...