Herbs & Herbal Teas to Support Mood During Darker Days
We've gotten better at embracing the slower pace & cozy comfort that the comes with change of season. But as the darker days drag into late winter, it can still bring lower energy, mood shifts, and that heavy, hard-to-shake fatigue. This is the time of year when we intentionally lean into a few specific herbs and herbal teas to help support our nervous systems, our energy, and our emotional well-being.
While we love these herbs year-round, here are a few reasons we especially gravitate toward them through the winter months.
Ashwagandha: A Grounding Adaptogen for Stress & Vitality
Ashwagandha is one of our most trusted winter companions. Traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine, this earthy root is best known as a powerful adaptogen—meaning it helps the body adapt to physical and emotional stress. We grow it right here on the farm as an annual crop, ensuring we have a fresh, high-quality supply. The first time we harvested it we knew it must be powerful, just from the intense aroma!
This is one herb that needs to be taken consistently (2-3 months) for it to work best — it’s not a quick fix. If you want more detail on the uses of Ashwagandha, check out our full herb profile.
Ashwagandha at a Glance:
Flavour: Earthy, slightly bitter, grounding
Key Benefits: Daily stress support, helps with anxiety, low mood & seasonal depression, supports steady energy over time
How to Use: Best taken consistently as a herbal decoction (simmered in a pot) or as a tincture
Discover our own farm-grown Ashwagandha root tincture
Consult with your health care team if pregnant or breastfeeding. Some people may experience drowsiness.
Tulsi (Holy Basil): An Uplifting Adaptogen for Emotional Balance
Also known as Holy Basil or Sacred Basil, tulsi is a staff favourite on the farm. The aroma while we harvest is spectacular! As an adaptogen, tulsi helps increase resilience to stress while gently supporting mood, mental clarity, and energy.
One of tulsi’s lesser-known winter gifts is its role in respiratory and immune support, making it a beautiful ally for the colder months. It's unique flavour offers a deeply comforting cup of herbal tea when the skies turn grey.
Tulsi at a Glance:
Flavour: Sweet, peppery, gently spiced
Key Benefits: Uplifting support for stress, anxiety, emotional balance & immune health
How to Use: Enjoy daily as a warming herbal tea, morning or midday
Try our Balance Tea with Tulsi for mood support
Consult with your health care team if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, heart condition or diabetes.
Lemon Balm: A Citrusy Nervine for Calm, Mood & Gentle Joy
Lemon balm has always felt like our little dose of summer on a cold winter’s day. Its bright, citrusy scent seems to signal the mind to soften the moment it hits the nose. We actually first discovered its magic back in our corporate-job days, when a friend—picking up on the spiralling stress and looming sense of doom—handed over a hot cup of lemon balm tea. That simple cup felt like a mental reset, a small but profound moment of calm. We’ve held a deep appreciation for this plant ever since.
Lemon Balm at a Glance:
Flavour: Bright, citrusy, earthy
Key Benefits: Calms the nervous system, eases anxiety, supports low mood & digestion, gently restorative for the mind
How to Use: Drink as a soothing herbal tea anytime—perfect for moment of heightened stress or evening wind-down
Browse our Lemon Balm-based calming tea blends
Consult your health care team if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Some people may experience drowsiness.
Bringing Herbal Comfort Into the Winter Months
You may be surprised by the comfort and change it brings to weave simple rituals like a cup of herbal tea into your daily rhythms. Winter can be a beautiful time when you embrace it fully.
If you ever have questions about which herbs might be right for you, or you’d like help choosing a blend, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d love to hear from you.
If you’d like to learn more about our full range of herbs, take a scroll through our Herb Glossary of all the plants we grow.
