Yuma Herb and Spice Shop

Hawthorn berries (Crataegus monogyna L.) have a tart, slightly sweet taste similar to apples, but are often astringent. Cooking them develops flavors reminiscent of apples, raspberries, cranberries, and rose hips. The berries are often preserved as jams or jellies, brewed as a tea for their flavor and their medicinal properties, candied, or used in alcoholic beverages.

Hawthorn berries pair well with other dried fruits, berries, flowers, and black and green teas. Hawthorn Berry tea is naturally caffeine-free, making it an excellent choice for those who are sensitive to caffeine.

In Mexico, the fruits are used to make a traditional Christmas punch and rielitos, a confection fashioned in the shape of train rails made from sugar, chili powder, and a paste of hawthorn berries, or tejocote.

The so-called berries, which are technically known as haws, are completely edible and notably nutritious. Remove the seeds, however, as they contain compounds similar to apple pips that shouldn’t be chewed in large amounts. A flavorful addition to jams, syrups, baked goods and teas, hawthorn berries are high in bioflavonoids that lend the fruit bright color and strong antioxidant properties.

Hawthorn Berry has been traditionally enjoyed as a calming botanical and is often used as part of a relaxing evening routine. Many people appreciate it for promoting a sense of calm and overall well-being.

Hawthorn Berry is a natural source of vitamin C and antioxidant phytonutrients that help protect cells from oxidative stress and support the body’s natural defenses and overall wellness. These antioxidants also contribute to healthy-looking skin. (See below for a Hawthorn tisane face mask.)

Hawthorn Berry ‘Tea’ (actually a tisane as it has no tea leaves) can do double duty as a face mask, too! Here’s how:
Step 1: Combine 2 cups water, 2 tbsp. Hawthorn berries, and 1 tbsp. dried hibiscus flowers in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down and let simmer for 20 minutes on low. You now have an herbal tisane!
Step 2: Pour the tisane through a strainer and then set the full strainer aside for the face mask. At this point, you have a tisane to drink which can now be sweetened. Add a cinnamon stick and orange peel for a spicy, sweet flavor.
Step 3: Now for the face mask! Dump the herbs from the strainer into a food processor. Did you save yesterday’s used green tea leaves? We hope so! Your face adores green tea. Pop those in with the Hawthorn and Hibiscus and grind till small.
Step 4: Blend a clay such as Kaolin, or any of the other nourishing clays available in our shop, in a bowl with a small amount of water and mix in the ground herbs. Apply to the face, and enjoy a second cup of Hawthorn Berry Tisane while you relax!