With the rise of environmental toxins, many women are having increased problems during their period. I have been drinking this tea, with slight variations for a few years now and it really helps to balance and even out a wide variety of menstrual symptoms. There are a lot of other herbs that can be used and are especially useful for women, so please get to know which herbs work best for you by experimenting a little.

I use a large, plain white Chinese tea pot that holds about 6 cups of water. I have a tendency to use a lot of the various herbs and it varies depending on how much of the herb I have and how I am feeling that day. These amounts are therefore not set in stone.

• 2 T nettles
• 1 T sage
• 1 t fennel seeds, crushed
• 1 t camomile
• 1 pinch yarrow blossoms
• 6 c water, boiled

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As I started writing up this article on sima I realized my timing couldn’t be be better. Vappu is only a week away. Just enough time to brew up my first batch of the year. It brings back a flood of memories of my time in Finland.

Sima is a Finnish homemade mead, and is the traditional drink for their Vappu holiday, which falls on May 1st. The holiday itself is quite a mix match of different traditions. Originally there was a pagan celebration at this time, involving the lighting of bonfires and the welcoming of spring. With the coming of Christianity the same holiday was used instead to honour a Saint Walpurga, while still keeping some of the old traditions. Later on it became a day associated with political, religious, and student activism, including marches, demonstrations and speeches. Today it is a mix of all these things, and the holiday typically involves music and picnic feasts in the park by day, and bonfires, partying and drinking by night. And so with that bit of background here is my recipe.

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I have my email posted on the www.kombu.de letting folks know I have kombucha babies who want to be adopted. As a result I meet some really cool and interesting people from all walks of life coming to get a kombucha starter. They often like to give me something in exchange. One of my latest kombucha visitors passed on to me this old-fashioned home-made root beer recipe. I haven’t tried it yet myself so let me know how it goes if you do!

The following is from Scott, he also told me of a Finish honey-beer that originally set him down the road of fermentation:

My home brewed root beer turned out delicious. I highly recommend it if you can come by the ingredients. It does have a taste reminiscent of root beer soda, but you wouldn’t confuse the two. Earthier, stronger tasting but less sweet, and the fermentation adds its own flavor in there.

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Method: Beat yolks until light. Gradually add sugar. Continue to beat until thick and lemon colored. Add whiskey, rum and thin cream. Fold in the whipped cream and the stiffly beaten egg whites. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with a sprinkling of nutmeg.

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Method: Dissolve brown sugar in boiling water. Add cider and bring to a boil. Add rum, stir thoroughly. Add butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve hot.

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I often keep a little pot of simmering herbs on the back of the stove making a flavorful medicinal tea, the herbs and spices vary depending on the season and other conditions. Suggestions for basic simmering herbs and spices:

• pau d’arco (immune booster and anti-viral)
• rooibus red tea (anti-oxidants)
• cinnamon stick (blood-sugar regulator, circulation)
• cloves (circulation)
• cardamon
• ginger (circulation, anti-nausea, heating)
• 1 peppercorn (enhances the other spices actions)
• tiny pinch of chili (enhances the other spices actions)

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This is a really tasty way to make rice milk. This recipe is from Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. One of my many favorites from her cookbook.

Makes 2 quarts

• 1/2 c brown rice
• 8c filtered water

Cook rice in water for several hours until it is very mushy. Pass it through a mill or sieve.

Add to the mushed rice:

• 1/4 c whey
• 1 t sea salt

Place in 2 qt jug. Cover tightly and allow to stand at room temperature for 2-3 days.

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This is a great way to start your day. It is quick, nourishing and delectable. Most importantly is has a lot of easily absorbed calcium and potassium.

Serves 2-3

• 1 banana, the riper the sweeter
• 1 T tahini, or you can use freshly ground toasted sesame seeds
• 2 T peanut butter
• 1 t vanilla essence
• 1 T honey (or you can use a sweet apple)
• ½ c herbal iced tea (or water)
• 1 c yogurt or keffir or both
• 1 t cinnamon, ground
• 1 T flax seeds, freshly ground

Method: Blend ingredients together. It is also nice to add ice at the end to make it into more of a thicker colder smoothie.

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