Creating Tea Rituals: A Conversation with Understory Herbals
We introduce you to Taylor Traglia, previous Hola instructor, folk herbalist, and owner of Understory Herbals.
As a yoga teacher and Folk Herbalist, Taylor is passionate about a holistic approach to yoga; one that invites us to understand that we are one with nature and part of the divine universe.
Taylor believes that mindfulness can be found in the most beautiful, simple rituals. Tea—one of the world’s oldest and most beloved beverages—offers us an opportunity to pause, reconnect, and bring intention into our daily lives.
A tea ritual is a mindful practice—one that turns the simple act of preparing and drinking tea into a meditation of sorts. Through deliberate movements, presence, and awareness, tea becomes more than just a drink; it becomes a gateway to clarity, stillness, and connection. We chatted with Taylor ahead of her upcoming workshop about all things tea!
Hola: What are your tea rituals in the winter?
Taylor: During this time of year, I simply try to prepare myself a cup of tea everyday without any other distractions - I sip and reflect on what I’m grateful for.
Hola: Do you have a tea blend that you recommend for this season?
Taylor: Yes, it’s actually called ‘Ritual’! While this isn’t necessarily new, it’s one I recommend drinking everyday for immunity and vitality.
Hola: How would you recommend one start a tea ritual?
Taylor: Keep it simple - herbs are powerful, and your intuition will help guide what plants you need in the season you’re in. Presence is so important for health, and prioritizing some sort of “quiet time” while preparing and enjoying an herbal infusion is important for efficacy.
Hola: What can students expect from your January Tea workshop?
Taylor: An extremely cozy and introspective time! We’ll practice gentle asana to open up our channels in preparation to go inward, then we’ll go through a few journal prompts to reflect on the year past and the year ahead and discuss what herbs can support the themes that come up during those prompts. This workshop was such a delight last year and I’m so excited for round two!
Hola: Tell us about your journey with Understory Herbals.
Taylor: Understory Herbals was formed out of necessity, if you will. I would make an herbal remedy for a sick friend, that friend would tell their other friends, and this chain reaction prompted me to begin. I was drawn to herbalism firstly because it just makes sense to me - living in sync with nature has never taken “effort,” it's simply how I operate. I believe we are all nature (humans, trees, etc.) and we were made to support each other - yoga is a beautiful practice that reminds us of this as well. Secondly, I love to support others. I started my herbalism journey because I was drawn to the idea of being a “community herbalist,” I don’t really identify as a business owner, but supporting the people in my life with plants is what I believe to be my divine calling!
Hola: What are the most important ethical considerations in sourcing herbs and how can people practice herbalism sustainably and respectfully?
Taylor: Watching out for over harvesting to avoid extinction of a plant species is imperative! I try to avoid “trendy” herbs and look for other plants with similar properties. Of course, organic is crucial, not only for our health but I believe this is respectful to our planet. When foraging, gathering only what you need and making sure what you’re taking will not hinder a plant’s life cycle (for example, gathering violet ethically would look like taking a few flowers in an area where there are many). I like to offer something to the plant when asking to harvest from it, like an extra drink of water - obviously this won’t appeal to everyone’s experience, but I believe being in relationship with the plants is a great first step to ethical harvesting and sourcing. We are all Nature, existing together, and this requires respect.
Hola: What are the best herbs for beginners to work with, and why?
Taylor: I can’t truly answer this one! It’s so dependent on the person, the season, the health concerns and goals one is hoping to achieve….Ask any Hola student who has participated in my workshops in the past, every herb I introduce is followed with “this might be my favorite plant!” However, what I’ll add for beginners is just to start simply. It’s so easy to get excited and try to work with several plants, but I encourage newcomers to stock the apothecary shelf with 5-7 herbs that are widely utilized with no contraindications and learn all you can about them.
Hola: Are there any common misconceptions about herbalism you’d like to address?
Taylor: I’d like to debunk the idea that if one practices herbalism they can’t also utilize modern medicine. In the beginning of my personal journey with plants, my ego told me that it was one route or the other; I’d have to rid my cupboard of pill bottles and fill it up with plants instead. This is not realistic! I now feel passionately that the marriage of the two, modern medicine and ancient, create a wholesome path to wellness. I like to describe herbalism as preventative medicine that supports vitality and optimization, where modern medicine caters to specific, acute health issues.
To learn more and dive into the world of herbs, join Taylor’s upcoming tea workshop
