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Loving Cup: Our Favorite Winter Blend!

Four years ago, when we started B. Fuller's Mortar & Pestle, it was winter time and we designed our first blends to suit the season. Of those first four herbal blends, I think we have consensus that our favorite is Loving Cup. As winter rolls into Spring, now is a great time to try this amazing tisane- if you like you can visit your local Caffe Ladro where it is the featured Herbal Infusion for the end of winter. This sweet, aromatic and relaxing herbal infusion creates a light golden liquor, and has a heady flavor of vanilla, honey and orange, with a light aftertaste of cacao. The therapeutic goal of the tisane is to both relax and inspire feelings of love and passion. One of many active ingredients is Damiana, a botanical native to the Americas. Damiana has been used for centuries to promote relaxation, and has also been linked to increased libido in recent studies. Together with Milky Oat Tops, a nervine botanical, Loving Cup creates a soothing sensation with calming properties- a great way to enjoy long winter nights. When we first offered this lovely tisane at our booth in February that year, we used it as a base for a lovely Herbal Infusion Cocktail called Loving Chai. Here is the recipe if you want to re-create it at home:
Loving Chai
  1. Make an herbal infusion using Loving Cup: 1 tablespoon of Loving Cup tisane steeped for 5 minutes in 8 oz. of water just off the boil.
  2. As the infusion steeps, heat 1/2 a cup of your favorite milk, adding a pinch of cinnamon and a drop of honey or agave syrup. Do not let the milk boil, just bring it to a simmer for a few minutes.
  3. When the tisane is brewed, remove the herbs and add the liquor to the simmering milk,; allow this mixture of tisane and spiced milk to simmer together for a minute.
  4. Transfer the tisane and milk blend to a cocktail shaker or blender to agitate- Blend or shake for 10 seconds.
  5. Transfer to a large mug and enjoy!