Friend of the Devil (herbal tea)
Friend of the Devil (herbal tea)
Ingredients: Hibiscus flowers, skullcap herb, lemon balm leaf, astragalus root, damiana leaf, sage leaf, rose buds & petals, licorice root, blue cornflower petals
Good for: Joy and journeys of the mind
Tastes like: Fruity spice; Tart and smoky
Makes you feel like: A sunshine daydream!
Art by: Michael O'Brien
69 grams / 36 servings (1.5 tsp per 8 oz water)
All ingredients organic and caffeine-free.
Recommended brewing: 200° for 20 minutes
Fruity, earthy tea based off the Grateful Dead
Friend of the Devil is a blend based off of the Grateful Dead. I wanted to make a Dead blend simply to say, “Friend of the Devil is a blend of mine.”
This tea debuted at a Dead-themed Funky Brunch at Ardmore Music Hall in April 2019. Like the Dead, it is jammy and earthy, courtesy of hibiscus mixing with herbs like sage, and damiana. It was designed to make you feel like the stealie (the split skull cover of “Steal Your Face”), which is accomplished through a hefty dose of skullcap. The easy-going nature of the band and fans is represented with lemon balm, which is good for joy, while blue cornflower and rose imitate tie dye when viewing the loose leaf. Lastly, a sprinkle of licorice root is added as a nod to Jerry’s comparison of the Dead to licorice.
Vinyl Pairing: Grateful Dead - Blues for Allah (Grateful Dead Records, 1975)
It’s no Workingman’s Dead (arguably the Dead’s finest LP), but Blues for Allah is a fun, jammy record that fits the vibe of this tea. The first three songs flow wonderfully into each other in smooth, transcendental fashion. Very groovy, Jerry.
Further Listening: Jerry Garcia – Garcia (1972); Lonesome Prison Blues (1982)
Try it as a cold brew!
For a fruity, sweeter version with less earthiness, try it as a cold brew. Good for really hot days!
