A beginner's guide to five of my favorite herbs, essential tools, and building a more plant-filled everyday life.
You don't need a cabinet full of herbs, expensive equipment, or years of experience to begin exploring herbalism. Sometimes, all it takes is a few plants, a kettle, and a little curiosity.
Building a home apothecary is one of my favorite ways to bring plants into everyday life. It's a space to experiment with flavors, explore traditional plant uses, create your own blends, and develop a deeper relationship with the natural world.
If you're just getting started, my advice is simple: start with one herb, or if you're like me and love a little variety ;), choose three to five.
Here are five herbs I'd choose for my own apothecary and why I love working with them:
tulsi / holy basil
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Tulsi, also known as holy basil, is one of my favorite herbs to keep in my apothecary.
Native to tropical and subtropical Asia, tulsi holds deep spiritual and cultural significance in Hindu traditions and has been used for centuries in Ayurveda.
It's often described as an adaptogen, a term used in herbalism for plants traditionally associated with supporting the body's response to stress.
I love tulsi for its distinct aromatic, slightly spicy flavor and how beautifully it pairs with other herbs and teas. It’s my go-too when I need to clear my mind and feel re-balanced.
How I use it: I love pairing tulsi with orange peel, rose, or some honey!
chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
One of the most recognizable herbal teas around the world, and for good reason.
Chamomile has a long history in European and so many other global traditional herbal practices, particularly for relaxation and digestive comfort.
Its delicate flowers have a naturally sweet, apple-like aroma, making it a wonderful herb to enjoy alone or blend with others.
Chamomile is one of those plants that reminds me how meaningful a simple daily ritual can be. I grew up picking wild Chamomile in the mountains of Venezuela and the smell always brings me back to comforting childhood memories. You can never go wrong with a cup of Chamomile tea!
How I use it: Steeped on its own in the evening or blended with lemon balm for a calming cup of tea. I also loveee making chamomile honey lattes: 1 cup milk & 1 tbsp chamomile simmered on the stove for 10-15 mins. Add 1 tbsp of honey/ to taste. So simple & delicious.
rose buds
Rosa spp.
Roses are so much more than beautiful flowers.
Across Persian, Middle Eastern, South Asian, and other cultural traditions, roses have been treasured in food, perfumery, celebrations, and traditional herbal preparations for centuries.
Rose buds bring a delicate floral aroma and gentle flavor to tea blends. Depending on the species and preparation, they can also contain various plant compounds, including polyphenols.
I especially love working with rose because of its cultural history and the way it brings beauty and sensory pleasure into everyday rituals. I personally love floral flavors, and rose always brings me back to beautiful Persian flavors I grew up with and love to share.
How I use it: Blended with black tea and cardamom for a Persian inspired tea or add to any tea blend to make it extra soft, flora, special.
skullcap
Scutellaria lateriflora
Skullcap is a lesser-known herb that I love introducing to people curious about herbalism.
American skullcap is native to North America and has a history of use in Western herbal traditions as a nervine, a term herbalists use for plants traditionally associated with the nervous system.
It's commonly used in traditional herbal practice for relaxation and periods of nervous tension. I reach for this herb when I need to quiet my mind, find myself spiraling or anxious.
It’s mild, earthy, grassy flavor. A lot of my friends reach for this herb when they come over and my male friends really love it!
How I use it: I love mixing skullcap with cinnamon, lemon balm, and sometimes some rose for the perfect evening wind down.
peppermint
Mentha × piperita
Refreshing, cooling, and incredibly versatile, peppermint is one of the easiest herbs to incorporate into everyday life.
Peppermint has a long history of culinary use and traditional use for digestive discomfort.
Its cooling sensation comes largely from menthol, one of its characteristic aromatic compounds. I drink a lot of peppermint tea and add it into my food during the summer, since it helps cool you down from the inside out.
It's an easy herb to experiment with in the kitchen, whether you're making tea, iced drinks, or simple herbal recipes.
How I use it: Steeped on its own after a meal, blended with green tea, or brewed and chilled for a refreshing iced tea.
gather your essentials
One of my favorite things about building a home apothecary is that you really don't need much to get started.
Here's what I recommend:
A kettle: Any kettle you already own works. You don't need expensive equipment to make a good cup of herbal tea.
A tea strainer: A stainless steel basket strainer is one of my most-used tools. It allows loose herbs plenty of room to expand as they steep. (I have my favorites available on my website under “Shop”!)
A bowl and spoon: Perfect for experimenting with your own loose-leaf blends. I love using ceramic bowls and wooden spoons, but anything clean and food-safe works.
Storage jars: Glass jars are a beautiful way to organize your collection, but reused airtight containers work just as well. Keep dried herbs properly labeled and away from moisture, heat, and direct sunlight.
A notebook: Something I always recommend! Record your favorite blends, recipes, botanical names, observations, and everything you're learning along the way.
You can start with what you have and slowly add tools as you discover what you enjoy using.
a growing practice
Your first home apothecary might be five herbs in a kitchen cabinet. Over time, it will become a collection your favorite herbs to keep stocked and become a beautiful way to share plants with friends and family.
There's no one right way to begin.
For me, herbalism is a way to slow down, connect with the natural world, explore global traditions, and connect with so many others through plants and culture. I’m so grateful for everything my herbalism has brought into my life and I hope to inspire people around the world to begin or deepen their relationship with plants and their stories.
I hope your apothecary brings you many warm, delicious cups of tea, loving conversations and beautiful memories you will cherish for the rest of your life.
xx
Grace
in herbs we trust 🌿
