Hemp seeds anchor this one, paired with fennel and liquorice root for sweetness and a thread of cocoa running underneath. Apple pieces and rose hip peel add fruit, marigold blossoms and cinnamon pieces round out the middle, and nettle leaves, mallow blossoms and peppermint bring in the herbal, cooling finish. Lemongrass ties the citrus notes together. In the cup the notes read sweet and earthy, almost peppery, with herbaceous undertones, and the liquor pours golden-yellow and light.
The organic certification means the hemp was grown without pesticides, insecticides, bio-engineered genes or petroleum and sewage-based fertilisers — worth noting for hemp specifically, since the plant tends to draw whatever is present in its soil straight into its tissue as it grows. Every batch carries certification from the regulatory body in its country of origin and is checked again on entry to the EU before reaching the UK, with containers sampled and any failures sent back rather than sold on.
Hemp has long been used for its cannabidiol content, and traditional use associates it with easing insomnia and stress; fennel and liquorice root are traditionally linked to weight management, lemongrass to cholesterol, and nettle to hayfever relief — none of that is medical fact, just how these plants have historically been reached for. Best brewed with freshly boiled water and left to infuse for five to ten minutes, and best served on its own, without milk or sweetener, so the herbal and cocoa notes stay clear.
