Bake Like Arleta: The Magic of Herbal Baking
Using herbs doesn’t have to be complicated but it can be magical. After all, the joy of adding a sprinkle of beautifully fragrant blossoms to a bath, a cup of tea, or a baked good is a wonderful way to experiment with herbs and bask in the magic of the moment. The aroma, the color, the taste of the botanical brings a richness to life, a kind of magic.
Baking & Herbalism Come Together
In the book A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic by J. Penner, protagonist Arleta Starstone earns a place as a contestant in the esteemed elven The Langheim Baking Battle. However, unlike every other contestant, Arleta is a magicless human. Yet she has embraced her love of baking and is successful in experimenting with special botanicals in her bakes to invoke her own kind of magic in her tasty baked goods.
Inspired by her father’s knowledge as an herbal apothecary and her mother’s enthusiasm for baking, Arleta found her own passion of bringing herbs into her baked goods. The flavor and the herbal benefits imparted by the herbs make her creations one of a kind.
“It was Arleta’s own ‘little dash of magic,’ the way the ingredients came together and created something new and delicious. It was a kind of alchemy that she loved.”
What Herbs Does Arleta Use In A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic?
Arleta deftly brings herbs into her everyday life through experimenting with them in her baking and can share this with others with each delicious bite. The kicker is that many of the culinary herbs she uses are traditionally used in savory dishes. Not having had the pleasure of enjoying any of her creations directly, I cannot speak from experience. However, I would guess that her whimsical use of herbs adds unexpected tastiness that is delightful!
Basil
(Ocimum basilicum L.)
Such tastiness exists in the lush green leaves of this plant. Well-known for the distinctive flavor of pesto, basil is a beloved herb in many savory dishes. As a member of the mint family, it is filled with aromatic oils that help to stimulate digestion and reduce inflammation while providing calm.
Bay
(Laurus nobilis)|
Bay leaves are a welcome addition to the soup pot. It is no wonder, as this herb is used to help support digestion and assimilation from the digestive system into the body. It is helpful beyond adding the leaves to your cook pot. Bay makes a lovely addition to infused vinegars and oils.
Bergamot tea aka Earl Grey
This is really a tea blend of two plants: the standard black tea (Camellia sinensis) along with essential oils from the rind of a citrus fruit: bergamot (Citrus bergami). Tea derived from the Camellia sinensis is known for its caffeine and antioxidant properties. The addition of bergamot brings an uplifting flavor and fragrance that this blend is known for. For people who do not have issues with caffeine, this tea can be a lovely addition to daily life.
Cardamom
(Elettaria cardamomum)
If you have ever had chai tea, chances are you will recognize the distinctive fragrance and taste of this delicious plant. Like many warming spices, cardamom acts as a carminative which helps to support digestion and can even assist with alleviating gas. Use it in baked goods like Arleta, teas, and syrups, yum!
Cinnamon
(Cinnamomum verum, C. cassia)
The inner bark of the cinnamon tree makes a beautiful gift to us in the form of curls of cinnamon. So ubiquitous in its use, cinnamon has made its way into our lives and onto our plate in so many ways—lucky us! It has antiviral, antispasmodic, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help to support the body during the cold of winter. We love to make a simple cinnamon milk by mixing a small spoonful of cinnamon powder, honey, and warm milk together for a night cap.
Lavender
(Lavandula angustifolia)
Tiny little purplish blue flowers pack a punch of aroma and herbal goodness. As a nervine lavender is soothing yet stimulating all at once. This beautiful flower makes a lovely addition to herbal teas and tinctures that have been formulated to help support a calm spirit and ease a troubled mind. Just like Arleta, you could try lavender sprinkled into baked goods or as an essential oil in body care products. Note, essential oils are for external use only.
Pansies
(Viola spp.)
These precious little edible flowers make an enchanting decoration for baked goods, of course Arleta is drawn to them! They also have herbal benefits within their lovely little petals. Pansies are cooling and offering an anti-inflammatory effect. The flowers are also mucilaginous and soothing for the respiratory and digestive systems. Grow a pot full and use the flowers to garnish salads, pasta dishes, dips, and of course your favorite baked goods.
Rosemary
(Salvia rosmarinus)
Rosemary is well-known as an herb that helps to aid memory and ease exhaustion. In fact, in the Language of Flowers it symbolizes remembrance. A tea made from rosemary offers a wonderful pick-me-up in the afternoon or during study time for students. If you want to experiment with this herb in the tub, here is a recipe to get you started.
Thyme
(Thymus vulgaris)
This amazing herb with its tiny leaves is filled with aromatic oils that bring forward delicious flavor along with helpful herbal actions. It is used by herbalists as a wonderful expectorant and antimicrobial making thyme a helpful choice in teas, infused honeys, and cough syrups during cold and flu season.
Herbalism Made Simple With Experimenting
Arleta shows us how a bit of whimsical experimenting with flavors in the kitchen can bring about wonderful creations to enjoy and share. She seamlessly incorporates herbalism into the baking that she so loves.
Sometimes the best way to start using herbs is to experiment with adding herbs to what you already love doing. If you love to garden, try growing an herb or two you are interested in learning more about. Or perhaps you enjoy taking warm, cozy baths. You could try making herbal bath recipes and note how the addition of botanicals to your bath water feels for you.
Or if you love to bake like Arleta, consider seeing if you can add a bit more spice to your dishes and take a few moments to learn about the culinary herbs you are using in your baking. That ground cinnamon? It has warming properties that help to increase circulation. The thyme you enjoy in your pasta sauce has anti-inflammatory properties. When you use herbs in your foods, all these wonderful properties are right there on your plate and in your tea cup.
Do be warned, this book will make you hungry!
References
Groves, M.N. (2016). Body into balance: An herbal guide to holistic self-care. North Adams, MA: Storey Publishing.
McBride, K. (2019). The Herbal Kitchen. Newburyport, MA: Conari Press.
McIntyre, A. (1996). Flower power. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, Inc.