Litha has arrived! As we dive into this glowing celebration, marking the apex of summer and showcasing the sun's maximum brilliance, we find ourselves in a season drenched in radiant light, boundless abundance, and vibrant life. In celebration of this joyous occasion, we've meticulously crafted two delightful recipes that embody the very spirit of Litha: our Litha Ritual Tea and Ultimate Berry Crumble.

These culinary delights are crafted not only to nourish the body but also to elevate your Litha festivities, whether you are celebrating in a lively gathering of loved ones or savoring a peaceful moment in the embrace of nature. Let's make this Litha celebration unforgettable with dishes that are as vibrant and lively as the season itself.

Litha Ritual Tea

Introducing our Litha Ritual Tea - a harmonious blend crafted specifically to celebrate the zenith of summer. Each sip is a symphony of organic ingredients, including soothing chamomile, tart hibiscus, spicy cassia chips, sweet licorice, aromatic rose, calming lavender, heartening motherwort, and healing calendula. Designed to align with the vibrant energies of Litha, this tea is perfect for grounding and purification, helping you to reflect, rejuvenate, and revel in the season's abundant joy. Enjoy a cup and let the magic of the longest day wash over you.

Ingredients

• Chamomile
• Hibiscus
• Cassia Chips
• Licorice
• Rose
• Lavender
• Motherwort
• Calendula
• Honey to your liking

Directions

• Slowly pour 1-2 cups boiling water over 1 teaspoon of our Litha Ritual Tea, depending on your preferred strength. Cover and let steep for 3-5 minutes before straining. Sweeten to your liking, then refrigerate for several hours. If you want to add extra flavor, you can experiment with infusing the tea with fresh fruit.

Fun Adaptations

• Berry Mint: Strawberries (halved), blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, sprig of fresh mint
• Citrus Blueberry Basil: Orange slices, lemon slice, lime slice, blueberries, 1-2 fresh basil leaves
• Cucumber Watermelon: Watermelon pieces, slice cucumber, basil keaves
• To make a Litha cocktail, try spiking the tea with a shot of vodka, whiskey, or bourbon.

Ultimate Berry Crumble

Discover the delights of our Ultimate Berry Crumble - a true celebration of summer's freshest flavors. This sumptuous dessert showcases a trio of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries, each bursting with natural sweetness and wrapped in a rich, buttery crust. Crafted to epitomize the essence of the season, our crumble is a perfect way to savor the luscious, juicy goodness of the finest summer berries. Serve it warm for a cozy treat, or add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a sublime dessert experience. Embrace the joy of Litha with this scrumptious tribute to nature's generosity.

Crumble Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp fine salt
• 3/4 cup frozen unsalted butter
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, or as needed

Fruit Filling

• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup raspberries
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Make crumble: Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk until thoroughly combined. Grate in frozen butter, stopping occasionally to toss butter into flour mixture until coated.
3. Stir in egg yolks and vanilla with a fork until egg is mostly absorbed. Add 1 teaspoon vinegar; mix briefly. Use your hands to finish mixing, squeezing until clumps form, but mixture remains mostly dry. Add more vinegar if needed. Set crumble aside.
4. Make filling: Combine blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries in another large bowl. Add sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, lemon zest, and cayenne pepper. Mix until well combined and sugar and cornstarch are mostly dissolved.
5. Place about 1/2 of the crumble mixture into the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. Press mixture down using a flat cup until well compacted. Spread berry filling on top. Sprinkle remaining crumble mixture over berries, squeezing some of the crumble into chunks.
6. Bake in the preheated oven until top is beautifully browned and berry filling bubbles, 40-45 minutes. Let cool to room temperate before serving, about 30 minutes.