herb homework

Tasting notes: floral

Rose doesn't get enough credit for being a working ingredient rather than just a pretty one. It's traditionally used to ease digestion and calm inflammation in the gut, which is why it shows up in both blends, morning and night, doing the same quiet job either way. It's also rich in antioxidants, and if your skin happens to thank you too, we won't argue.

Tasting notes: light, woody, floral · contains caffeine

Pu'erh is fermented tea, which is a fancy way of saying it's had a head start on breaking itself down before it even gets to you, that's part of why it's gentler on digestion than a strong coffee, while still giving you a genuine lift. It's been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to support circulation and ease digestion after eating, and it brings a solid hit of antioxidants and vitamin C along for the ride. Basically: the caffeine wakes you up, the fermentation means your gut isn't fighting it.

Tasting notes: sweet · contains vitamin A, C and E

Not the lolly, the root. Licorice root has a long history of use for soothing the gut lining and easing indigestion, and it works as a mild bowel stimulator, which is a polite way of saying it helps things move without any drama. It's also naturally sweet, so it's doing double duty: winding your gut down for the night while making the blend taste like dessert, not medicine.

Tasting notes: earthy

Nettle's the workhorse of this list. Mineral-dense (think iron, calcium, magnesium), rich in polyphenols, and traditionally used to support healthy digestion and gentle, regular bowel movements. It's also a well-known anti-inflammatory, which is doing a lot of quiet, unglamorous heavy lifting in every cup. Not exciting. Extremely effective.

Tasting notes: sweet and sour

Schisandra is one of those "adaptogen" herbs. Traditionally used to help the body handle stress rather than target one specific organ. In TCM it's also associated with supporting liver function. Tastes like it can't decide if it's a lolly or a lemon, which, honestly, is the point.

Tasting notes: earthy

Dandelion root has centuries of traditional use for supporting healthy liver and kidney function, largely by encouraging bile flow...which is the digestive system's way of breaking down fat properly. It's also anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich. Yes, it's the same dandelion from your lawn. No, we didn't just pick it from there.

Tasting notes: earthy and bitter

Where the root works on liver and bile, the leaf leans more directly into digestion itself. Traditionally used to stimulate digestive function, alongside a solid antioxidant and vitamin A, C and K profile. Bitter on purpose: bitter flavours are what traditionally cue your digestive system to get moving.

Tasting notes: bitter and sweet

In TCM, mandarin peel (chen pi) is specifically used to strengthen digestion and ease bloating. It's one of the most direct anti-bloat ingredients in the blend, not just a flavour note. It also supports nutrient absorption, so your gut isn't just moving things along, it's actually getting more out of what you eat.

Tasting notes: tart

Hibiscus brings the tart hit to the PM blend and comes with genuine research behind it. Studies link it to supporting healthy lipid and glucose metabolism, alongside traditional use for liver and digestive support. Also just very good iced, if you're planning that far ahead.