Hygge, pronounced "hoo-guh," is a Scandinavian lifestyle approach that promotes happiness through sensory experiences. Think soft lighting, heaps of pillows, comfort food and hot drinks. This word is derived from an Old Norse term, hygga, which means "to comfort." Hunkering down during the dark and cold winter months provides families an opportunity to connect at a slower pace and enjoy simple, cozy moments.
Incorporating tisanes, or herbal "teas," into your family's routine is one way to embrace the hygge lifestyle. Tisanes, pronounced "ti-zans," have been an integral part of the tea world for some 5,000 years but are not technically considered teas. True teas, which contain caffeine, are infusions from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and result in varieties like black, green, white and oolong teas. Tisanes, though, are made from steeping plant-based ingredients — like herbs, leaves, roots, fruit, berries, flowers, bark and even sticks — in hot water.
In December, instructors from Common Roots, a farm-to-school food education program, visited Chamberlin School in South Burlington to teach students in all grades about hygge and making herbal blends. Common Roots visits every elementary school class in the South Burlington School District each month and provides lessons, cooking experiences and taste tests for the students.
"The goal is that through yearlong curriculum, students are developing deep curiosity and connection to their food that will be foundational for making educated food choices throughout their lives," explained Common Roots farm-to-school coordinator Kayli O'Donnell.
One class at Chamberlin chose to use ginger for upset bellies, lemon balm for energy and anise hyssop for stuffy noses. As the students waited for their "medicine" to steep, they discussed how they already practiced hygge in their homes. Second grader Aidan Giles noted that his snake, Viper, "literally hygges every day under her heat lamp." Students cozied up on the carpet together and enjoyed listening to a classic winter read-aloud, The Mitten, by Jan Brett. They took part in a mindfulness exercise, repeating "Breathe in, breathe out" as they inhaled the aromas, then cooled off the tisane with their breath.
As the students experienced, just this simple practice can result in feeling fully present: watching the steam swirl, feeling the heat emanating from the mug, breathing the steam in and out, and, finally, focusing on the taste of the gently mingled flavors. Said one student, "I just feel so warm inside my heart."
These ingredients have the following benefits:
Fresh ginger: eases nausea, improves blood circulation, soothes inflammation
Lemon balm: incrases alertness/cognition, reduces stress/anxiety
Anise hyssop: clears congestion, heals burns
Hawthorn berries: regulates blood pressure, eases digestion
Apple peel: contains vitamins A and C, helps improve vision and build a strong immune system
Leaf: mint, lemongrass, lemon balm, rooibos, yerba maté, French verbena
Bark: Slippery elm, cinnamon, black cherry bark
Seed/Spice: Cardamom, caraway, fennel
Root: Ginger, echinacea, chicory, turmeric, kava, licorice
Flower: Lavender, rose, hibiscus, chamomile, chrysanthemum
Fruit: Raspberry, blueberry, apple, peach, lemon
Vergennes, VT
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