Healthy jam recommendations?

x-type said:Man, that stuff is just brutal! I have this buddy who drinks it all the time—sometimes when he offers me some, I blank out and say sure, and then I feel like an idiot having to backtrack and say "actually, no thanks"... honestly, they should probably ban that stuff by law! And then they have the nerve to label it "exotic"🙄

You aren't kidding. About two years back, I tried (literally just once) an Apple chamomile tea—that Polish variety—to help with some hemorrhoid issues. Let me tell you, if I hadn't made it through, I wouldn't have! It felt like pouring acid directly onto the wound. The Reagan was absolutely horrific. Since then, Apple teas are off the table for me.

So, has anyone actually tried lavender tea? What’s the deal with it—does it actually do anything?

placidsurfer86 said:I checked everywhere from Walmart to Target and couldn't find a single thing, but I guess that makes sense since I live way out in the sticks near Savannah.😬

I'm really not sure
but here in the city, everyone is constantly shouting about it

My girls and I are huge tea lovers!
I usually keep about 40 different varieties on hand.

My little one isn't a fan of black tea, and I'm not too crazy about some of the green or white ones.
I much prefer herbal blends.

The Twinings spearmint and chamomile are lovely, and I especially love their chamomile with honey and vanilla.
Teekanne is great too—my absolute favorite is the elderflower and raspberry mix, plus that classic grandma-style plum tea.
I also think Milford’s pear and lemon balm, along with their snowy white blend, are wonderful.
The Biofarm cranberry one is fantastic, honestly much better than the Enziya version, and it's quite a bit cheaper, too!😁

I drink my tea plain, without any additives.
The only exception is during the winter when I love that cozy, rustic vibe.
Just some cornbread, homemade butter, and a pot of linden tea paired with some local moonshine.😵

And Megan Peterson87, you have to remember that herbal tea plants must be dried first!
Plus, where on earth were you picking all those herbs this time of year? Most of them, except for rosehips, are harvested much earlier in the season.
Unless, of course, you're growing them right inside your house!
Once the heavy fog rolls in, you can pretty much forget about finding tea plants out in the wild.

@ placidsurfer86 - check the inventory at Walmart

placidsurfer86 said:Has anyone actually tried lavender tea? Like, what’s the deal with it and does it actually do anything?

I don't really do the whole tea thing, but honestly, I just sniff essential oils whenever I've got a killer headache or I'm feeling super stressed out.😁

jadesailor14 I can't even begin to deal with this. Seriously. I was just sitting there, minding my own business, and then I see this absolute nonsense being pushed. It’s like people just stop thinking the second they open their mouths! Honestly, it makes me want to throw my phone across the room. I’m not kidding. My blood pressure is actually spiking right now. How does anyone look at this and think, "Yeah, this is a solid take"? It’s ridiculous. Pure, unadulterated nonsense. I've had enough.
Megan Peterson87, get the tea bags ready first! I have to. Dry out. Just dry out already! Everything is constantly soaked, bogged down, or just plain damp, and I am sick of it. It’s like the whole damn world is stuck in a permanent state of humidity. You try to get things moving, try to get some momentum going, and—bam—everything just turns to mush. We need to dry this mess out and finally see what we're working with. Seriously. Enough with the dampness.
And where on earth are you even looking for herbs at this time of year? Seriously? Everything else would have been picked way earlier, except maybe some rosehips, but still—you're way behind the curve!
Only if you aren't letting him run wild inside the house!
Once that fog starts rolling in, you can kiss your tea herbs goodbye. Seriously.

Look, you don't even need to let it dry. Seriously. If you're using it while it's still fresh, just go easy on the amount. Less is more here.

I was just sitting there by the ocean, soaking up the sun, when it hit me—it’s actually kind of wild that there's still St. John's wort in full bloom right now.

Does ginger tea actually help with weight loss?😕 😕

Karen Watson60 said:So, I keep hearing people buzzing about ginger tea for weight loss, and honestly? It’s driving me up the wall. Everyone acts like it’s some kind of magic potion that’s just gonna melt the fat off overnight while you sit on your couch. Give me a break! Look, I’ve tried every "miracle" drink under the sun—from those overpriced green juices from Whole Foods to those weird detox teas that basically just turn your bathroom into a disaster zone. Nothing works if you're still eating junk. Is ginger good for you? Sure. Does it help with digestion? Yeah, maybe a little. But thinking a cup of spicy water is going to fix a bad diet is just delusional. It’s not a magic wand. You want to lose weight? Eat better and move more. It's not rocket science, even if everyone wants it to be!😕 😕

It’s not exactly direct, but it definitely kicks your metabolism into high gear.
It breaks down grease and all that crap.

Ginger is basically nature’s little miracle worker, but honestly, most people treat it like some boring garnish you only see sitting in a jar at a sushi joint. They couldn't be more wrong. If you actually bother to look into what this stuff can do, it’s pretty wild. First off, let's talk about the stomach situation. You ever get that nauseous, "everything is spinning" feeling? Maybe after a long flight or just a bad bout of food poisoning? Forget those chemical-filled pills for a second. Ginger is a beast at settling the stomach. It works on the digestive tract in a way that actually makes sense. I remember one time I was traveling through Chicago and ate something that definitely wasn't up to code—my stomach was doing backflips. A little ginger tea worked wonders while the drugstore meds were still sitting in the packaging. And don't even get me started on inflammation. If your joints are aching or you’re dealing with that constant muscle soreness after a heavy workout, ginger is your best friend. It’s got these compounds that act like a natural buffer against swelling. It’s not an overnight fix like popping an Advil, but if you stay consistent, it actually helps quiet down that systemic noise in your body. It’s also great for your immune system. When you feel that scratchy, "I'm definitely getting sick" sensation in your throat, throwing some fresh ginger into hot water with lemon isn't just some hippie nonsense—it actually helps fight off the bad stuff. Bottom line? Stop ignoring it. It's cheap, it's accessible, and it actually works. Just stop treating it like an afterthought and start using it like the powerhouse it is.
Look, I was scrolling through this health site earlier and honestly? It’s just more of the same nonsense we hear all the time. They’re preaching about "healthy eating" like they just discovered vegetables exist. It’s always the same lecture: eat more whole grains, grab some lean protein, load up on the greens. Yeah, thanks, Captain Obvious. I know I shouldn't be living off frozen pizza and gas station snacks, but when you're rushing from work to errands in a city like Chicago, "balanced nutrition" feels like a luxury for people with way too much free time. The article keeps pushing these superfoods like they’re some kind of magic cure-all. Listen, I tried that whole kale smoothie craze last month—my kitchen smelled like a lawnmower for three days and I still felt like garbage. There's no magic pill. You just have to eat better, which sounds great on paper, but try explaining that to someone stuck in an hour of traffic on the I-95 while their stomach is growling. Don't get me wrong, I want to be healthy. I really do. But these guides make it sound so easy, like you can just snap your fingers and suddenly you're a marathon runner eating nothing but organic quinoa. It's exhausting just reading it. Just give me a decent salad that doesn't cost twenty bucks and call it a day.
I just stumbled onto this page about medicinal herbs—specifically Rosemary—and honestly, it’s enough to make my blood boil. You see these kinds of lists everywhere, acting like they've discovered some ancient secret, when really it's just basic stuff you can find at any local Whole Foods or even a decent pharmacy in Chicago. They go on and on about how "medicinal" everything is. Look, I get it. Plants are great. Rosemary smells amazing when you're cooking a steak, and sure, maybe it helps with focus or digestion if you believe that kind of thing. But seeing it presented with this much self-importance? It’s exhausting. It feels like one of those wellness influencers on Instagram trying to sell you a $50 candle infused with "healing essences." Give me a break. It reminds me of that time I tried to follow one of those extreme detox diets back in Seattle. Spent half my paycheck on organic weeds and felt like death for a week. Total waste of money. We need to stop treating every leaf and stem like it's some miracle cure from a Hollywood script. Some things are just plants. Let's call a spade a spade.

placidsurfer86 said:Anyone tried lavender tea? What’s the deal with it and what does it actually do?

Lavender flowers. That's it.
Lavender blossoms. Simple. Done.

Action:
Helps calm cramps from bloating, migraines, passing out, or dizziness. Good for hair loss, nausea, heart palpitations, and even panic attacks. Smells strong enough to repel bugs, so it works great around the house for moths, mosquitoes, and stuff like that.

How to use it:
Either brew it as a tea or just take five drops of lavender essential oil on a little sugar once a day. Simple enough.

Izvor:
Check this out—it’s just a list of where to find stuff. Pretty basic.

What do you guys think about this shop in Vlach territory? Anyone actually been there?

hana said:@ placidsurfer86 - check out ExxonMobil

We haven't even heard of ExxonMobil over here in Des Moines...

Megan Peterson87 said:I’m not really a tea drinker myself—but honestly, I love sniffing essential oils whenever I’ve got a headache or just feeling super stressed out.😁

Thanks.
There's actually another site that breaks down how different herbs work if you want to check it out:

Could someone please tell me where that shop on Fifth Avenue is located?

Megan Diaz76 said:Does anyone know where that shop on Fifth Avenue is located?

The Green Tea House—14 Fifth Avenue, Hunting Horn

Lavender tea is seriously so soothing and helps you drift right off. I actually had a little stash of it at my office once, though we didn't really realize how much it worked until later on. 😬

So, I finally grabbed some Biofarm ginger tea yesterday, and let me tell you—it is absolutely killer 👍

I’ll be the first to admit it—fall is basically my excuse to live on tea... I just went out and grabbed a few different blends; orange and cinnamon, some green, marshmallow root, and that pink açai one—or whatever it’s called, honestly I can't even be bothered to look at the box right now...
That sounds amazing! Personally, though, chamomile is always my go-to number one...

Oh, and by the way, I am definitely going to try that lavender blend to see if it actually helps me pass out easier🙂

Drunken Judge said:acinehea

echinacea 🤣

Natch said:echinacea 🤣

so I just scrolled back up to where you mentioned it earlier
echinacea 😍
it's pink 😍

nimblenomad41 said:So I just scrolled back up and saw where you mentioned it
echinacea 😍
it’s pink 😍

yeah 😁 and it smells great 😁😍