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MORTAR & KETTLE
APOTHECARY OF FLAVOR
HERBAL TEA · №001

Lavender, Star Anise & Jujube

a slow floral wind-down

A hushed, honeyed infusion where lavender's cool florals lean into the sweet-licorice warmth of star anise and the dried-date depth of jujube. It is built for the last hour of the day, a gentle nudge toward sleep rather than a sedative shove.

Easy6 minForgiving
FloralSweetCalmingSleep
Lavender, Star Anise & Jujube · finished

Method

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Slice the jujube to open its sweetness and add it to the pot with the lavender and broken star anise.
2 piecesjujube0.1 gdried lavender0.3 gstar anise
Pour over water just off the boil and cover.
300 mlfiltered water
Steep, covered, then strain into a warmed cup.
6 min
A good steep is chemistry with the kettle on. Mind the minutes.
THE MORTAR & KETTLE METHOD

The chemistry

SKELETAL STRUCTURES

4 compounds carry this recipe. Here is what each one does and, where we have it, what it actually looks like.

C₁₀H₁₈O
linalool
C₁₀H₁₈O

The soft floral heart of lavender; it quiets the nervous system and carries most of this tea's calming, sleep-leaning scent.

FloralCalming
C₁₂H₂₀O₂
linalyl acetate
C₁₂H₂₀O₂

Lavender's fruity-floral ester that rounds off linalool's edge, adding a sweet softness and deepening the tea's relaxing, drowsy character.

SweetSleep
C₁₀H₁₂O
anethole
C₁₀H₁₂O

The dominant aromatic of star anise; it lends a warm licorice sweetness that bridges the lavender and jujube and lingers on the finish.

SweetCalming
C₃₀H₄₈O₄
jujubosides
C₃₀H₄₈O₄

The saponin-and-polysaccharide complex of jujube fruit, long used to settle the mind; it adds body and a mellow sweetness that eases the tea toward sleep.

SweetSleep