Herbalism: Black tea as a base for edible potions.

 Dear Reader,

Tea has a long standing history of being a drink with curative properties. It is a staple in almost every pantry and is equally popular as coffee for bringing a bit of energy to perk one up in the morning. Black tea is the most popular form of tea on the market. There are a lot of different varieties you can purchase. If you are engaging in blending your own teas, I recommend purchasing a tea strainer and using loose leaf tea. 

Black tea has excellent magical properties. It works to help ground us when we are agitated. It works to give us energy when we are feeling depleted. It also has the capacity to act as a good carrier substance for other herbs used in magic. A pinch of mugwort plus a few pinches of black tea, for example, can give you a nice, gentle potion that will help you develop your psychic gifts. 

Taste wise, black tea can be brewed quite strong. The tannins in the tea can cover up the less than savory elements of your potion. It is also something that brings out the floral flavor components when you add herbs such as lavender or chamomile when it is brewed to a mild degree. Strong black tea is very grounding. Weaker black tea is not as intense in its flavor profile, thus it lends itself to herbal blends that can work to lift you up out of your mundane state of consciousness.

A good general purpose tea blend that works to balance one's energy levels is one part black tea, one part mint, and one part chamomile. This can be sweetened if you desire or have milk added to it. The three herbs in this tea blend work together to ground your energy, clear your mind, and settle your body into a more relaxed state. (Chamomile has a long history of being good for digestive upset and settling the mind.)

As always, when using teas as potions or herbal medicine, consult with your doctor or pharmacist. You do not want to have any interactions between your concoction and medications you are on. You also want to measure your ingredients precisely to make sure that your 'dosage' is healthy for your build and conditions. Some herbal teas/medications can have adverse effects on the body despite their flavorful qualities. Raspberry tea, for example, can gently induce labor for a person in late stages of pregnancy even as it eases the severity of menstrual cramps for non-pregnant people.