the rose latte of my dreams

Happy full moon & blessed Imbolc, everyone!

We’ve been going through quite a long period of dark and gloomy days, often accompanied by heavy rain and wind (which has been causing quite a lot of damage and wreaking havoc in some regions!). However, on the rare dawns where rain isn’t lashing against the window and weighing down on tree branches, it’s been the most pleasant of surprises to wake up to the chirping of birds. Of course, they sing of one thing: springtime is near.

Not only that, but yesterday our daughter and a friend rushed into the forest with backpacks and came back later with the news they had spotted the very first five wild daffodils (Narcissus triandrus), a sure herald of spring in our bioregion.

So even though the hills are covered in mist all day long, the creek runs wild with the heavy winter rains, and the morning cold is bone-chilling, there are sure signs around that winter is coming to an end, and sunny days of green folly are near.

Even with this knowledge tucked away in our collective minds, getting through these last weeks of winter can feel challenging. So much time spent indoors, bundled up by the woodstove, doesn’t sound as fun anymore. Not only that, but current events, both near and far, can exacerbate our very human need for joy and lightheartedness.

If you find yourself needing a joyful, spirit-soothing herbal recipe to get you through these last few weeks of damp darkness, I’ve got just the thing for you.

Rose (Rosa spp.) is one of my favorite heart-supportive herbs. It’s gentle and delicate, and a beautiful presence in our garden. Looking at and smelling roses themselves fills my spirit with easy joy, and working with rose petals in foods and drinks brings just the same type of simple happiness. This is due to rose’s action as a nervine herb, soothing to the nervous system. Historically, rose has been used in this exact way, to provide comfort in times of grief, heartbreak, mild depression, and irritability.

There are many different ways you can bring rose into your life, from adding it to tea blends to crafting elixirs, incorporating it into baked goods, and even concocting rose syrup, sugar, or herbal honeys, just to name a few. You can learn more about rose here, as a starter.

On this cold Imbolc, I’m sharing with you one of my favorite comforts in the early mornings lately: rose latte!

This recipe is the result of a couple of years of experimentation, and this winter I found just the right method to match what I had been daydreaming about. I’m a little ashamed to admit that I’ve been playing around with this recipe for so long, when in reality it is really quite simple… But alas, I can’t lie.

So here I present you with the rose latte of my dreams.

Rose latte

You can make this drink using regular coffee, decaf or a coffee alternative such as barley or acorn. I’ve been opting for caffeine-free versions during pregnancy. It could also be quite tasty using black tea instead!
Because I brew my coffee (or coffee alternative) using a French press and don’t make it too strong, I use a 1:1 ratio of milk to coffee when making lattes. However, if you’re using stronger coffee or espresso, you may want to increase it to 3:1 for a smooth, creamy drink.
Makes 1

ingredients

• 1 cup milk (or vegan alternative)

• 1 tsp rose (Rosa spp.) powder. Mine is from Anima Mundi! If you don’t have access to rose powder, you can use 1 tbsp dried rose petals, crushed, instead. Keep in mind that the result won’t be as highly aromatic, but it’s still quite lovely.

• a dash of vanilla extract

• 1 tsp honey (or vegan alternative)

• 1/2 cup freshly-brewed coffee (or coffee alternative)

directions

• Pour the milk into a saucepan and warm it in low flame, careful not to let it boil.

• Add the vanilla extract and rose powder, and whisk vigorously until it’s bubbly all over. Turn off the heat and add honey.
  If you’re using rose petals, add them to the hot milk, cover, and turn off the heat. Let it infuse for 5 minutes before straining the milk, reheating, and whisking until frothy. Turn off the heat and add honey.

• Pour 1/2 cup of this fragrant rose milk into a mug and froth using a milk frother (optional, but I do love a good frothy drink!) and save the rest for later or to share with a little one. Top with 1/2 cup of coffee and enjoy!

If you try this drink, I hope it brings you as much joy and comfort as it does me. I love starting my mornings with it, and sharing that remaining half cup of rose milk with our daughter, who is a fan of rose herself and loves crafting and creating in the kitchen and beyond.

In this spirit, I’m so delighted to share that I am returning as a speaker to the free 2026 Virtual Herbalism Conference! Not me gushing all over the fact that I’m speaking at the same conference as Rosemary Gladstar… *wipes tears *
I’ll be part of a panel discussion titled Getting Crafty with Herbs: Inspiring Makers, Crafters, and Creators, together with my wonderful colleague Hannah Lasorsa and the creative Robyn Chubey!

This free gathering is happening February 15-20 and is rooted in this year’s guiding theme: wholeness. In herbalism, wholeness is more than a concept. It’s a way of seeing the world. 

This conference is a celebration of that integrative wisdom: where body, mind, spirit, plants, and people all meet in harmony. 

And it’s an extraordinary lineup that brings together 35+ herbalists, teachers, healers, and wisdom keepers whose work embodies this fullness of practice and perspective! The best part is that it’s completely free… And you can join us from the comfort of your couch with your cat on your lap (or any other furry or feathery friend, of course).

Whether you’re new to herbalism or a seasoned herbalist, there’s a breadth of plant knowledge being shared at the conference for everyone. You’ll learn practical skills like building an herbal apothecary, dive into advanced topics like plant energetics, and explore ways to weave herbalism into your daily life.

As the Herbalism Conference team shares, wholeness thrives in connection.

And if you joined this event last year, you’ll know how impactful the connections were… This is your invitation to return to that connection — with the plants, with each other, and with the deep-rooted traditions that have always guided our herbal pathway.

I hope you take part in this gathering! And there will be a live chat feature during each session, so if you tune in to ours, please say hi!

With Imbolc blessings and a rose latte by my side as I type out this transmission,
Cat 🤎