“We are made for loving. If we don’t love, we will be like plants without water.”

― Desmond Tutu

This week is all about love and the heart in celebration of Valentine’s day! It’s the perfect time to introduce heart herbs to your kids by making some herbal treats that are good for the heart.

First, let’s look at some herbs that are good for our hearts.  These herbs are all wonderful for the heart on all levels. 

Cacao – Cacao, in its pure form, is nourishing and protective to the cardiovascular system.

Cayenne – Stimulating to the circulation, Cayenne is also a vasodilator, helping to lower blood pressure and increasing cardiovascular health.

Cinnamon – Another circulatory stimulant and vasodilator, Cinnamon not only works on cardiovascular health but also is helpful for lowering blood glucose levels

Hawthorn – Hawthorn, a member of the Rose family, is one of my favorites for protecting both the physical and emotional heart.

Rose – Rose protects the heart and is supportive of the heart during times of grief.

All of these herbs have one thing in common, they love our hearts! Make some heart friendly candy with your kids this week with this deliciously easy candy. I like to pour ours into heart shaped molds.

Heart Candy

3 oz cacao, broken into pieces
1/2 cup cacao butter
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 – 3/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup dried rose petals, broken up
2 tablespoons hawthorn berries, ground
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 pinch cayenne powder

Place the cacao butter and coconut oil in a saucepan and gently heat until they melt.

Add the broken up pieces of cacao and stir until they are melted.

Add the honey and stir  until it is mixed together.

Combine the rest of the ingredients and stir to mix well. I like to mix the powdered ingredients together first then stir in the remaining ingredients.

Pour into your heart shaped molds. If you don’t have heart shaped molds, butter or line the bottom of a glass baking dish with waxed paper and pour into the dish.

Refrigerate until hardened then remove from the molds. 

Having a Valentine get together? Print off our free silly herbal valentines (my Valentine’s Day gift to you and your children) and attach them to little cellophane packages of heart candy to give to your friends!

Do you incorporate herbs into your valentine treats? What other treats do you like to make for showing your love to your family?