Suze Walker is a certified Medical Herbalist who gained her First Class BSc (Honours) from Napier University in 2012. She is registered with the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, the UK’s leading regulating body for Medical Herbalists. She runs herbal medicine clinics from her home in Shetland, and in 2018, she launched Island Botanicals, Shetland’s first herbal tea company.
Changes here at Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Dearest reader, you may be wondering where I have disappeared! I realize it’s been a few weeks since my last blog post and even longer since I actually wrote something from the heart, not just creating content because I was being paid to do so.
I have a confession to make: this last year and a half have been extraordinarily difficult for me. In May 2018, I had surgery to remove a very rare, random, rapidly growing tumour. To cut a long story short, everything went well. I’m more fit and healthy than I’ve ever been, and so far (knock on wood), I’m still alive and kicking. I get quarterly check-ups with my surgeon to make sure everything is as it should be, and if the tumour does recur, it’ll be dealt with quickly.
I am in love with life right now and its infinite possibilities. We don’t know what might happen tomorrow, so we need to make the most of today. Life’s too short to spend it unhappy.
Health scares can have the uncanny ability to help one focus on what’s important in life, to prioritize things that may have been put on the back burner for another day.
As such, I’ve done something I should have done ten years ago: I’ve left an environment that was not bringing out the best in me or the people around me.
I don’t want to go into too many details (one isn’t supposed to air one’s laundry in public, are they), so all I’ll share is that:
- it was amicable,
- it was a long time coming,
- he didn’t like cheese (not even Wensleydale!). What other choice did I have?
Moving house
I recently moved into the most adorable little cottage here in Shetland with my two youngest children. It’s got the most Instagrammable kitchen ever, unobstructed sea views, a gorgeous cast iron peat stove in the living room, a patio with an overhanging cherry tree (currently in flower), and a huge shed/greenhouse that will become my food photography/art studio once I’ve fully unpacked.
The photos in this blog post were also taken on a cloudy day—it’s even more beautiful when the light isn’t at its best!
Not too long ago, while I was taking a break from packing, I was killing a bit of time scrolling through Facebook. I saw that our local Cake Fridge & Tea Room was now stocking some new herbal teas from Shetland’s own medical herbalist, Suze Walker. These teas were aptly named ‘Begin Again’ and ‘Toughen Up’, and something in me clicked: a jar of each of these herbal infusions had to be brought into my new home and new life.
About Island Botanicals
Suze Walker is a certified Medical Herbalist who gained her First Class BSc (Honours) from Napier University in 2012. She is registered with the National Institute of Medical Herbalists, the UK’s leading regulating body for Medical Herbalists. She runs herbal medicine clinics from her home in Shetland, and in 2018, she launched Island Botanicals, Shetland’s first herbal tea company.
Many of the herbs included in Suze’s herbal blends are grown locally or wild-harvested, and last month, her website and online shop went live.
There are currently six different teas available on her website, a collection of herbal finishing salts for cooking and her own wonderfully soothing elderberry & echinacea syrup.
Begin Again – Rejuvenating Herbal Tea
This is a rejuvenating blend of spring herbs designed to get things moving again after the winter. Containing dandelion leaves, cleavers, nettles, marigold flowers, fennel, aniseed and ribwort, it’s a cleansing blend sure to put a spring into one’s step.
Toughen Up – Herbal Tea for the Immune System
This warming blend, created to boost your immune system, includes echinacea, Siberian ginseng, ginger, lemon, and orange peel. It is the perfect brew for cold winter nights and frosty mornings.
To find out more about Suze Walker and her services, visit her website and online shop. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.
This is not a paid post, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are our own.
Celebrate American Independence Day and #SKIPPY4July with these delicious SKIPPY® Peanut Butter & Chocolate Cupcakes
Hubby and I love to try new brews sitting and putting the world to rights as we do so !
Fabulous! I love how we are going back to nature to try snd rebalance our bodies and minds
This tea sounds such a treat. I love trying different ones and my collection is growing
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate
These teas sound nice. I would like to try them.
Fabulous blog, great range of teas
I never knew the positive effects of herbal tea until I tried them a year ago. I have never felt or looked as healthy. I am a convert.
So lovely & healthy… A nice herbal tea always makes me feel good inside! xx
Great blog and great giveaway. That tea sounds amazing!
Would love to try these teas, they look wonderful, as is everything else on your blog!
Love the blog – and would love the teas – wouldn’t it be great to sip one in the garden on one of these warm days 🙂
Keep up the amazing work! Loving your blog <3
It sounds as though after your nasty health scare you are finally in a good place. It’s a shame it takes something so drastic to get us to put our house in order isn’t it. But you have come out of the other side with a lovely optimism, that is very infectious and refreshing … and with a gorgeous new kitchen to boot.
Take care. xx
Loving your kitchen. Mine is long overdue a makeover so I’ll be bookmarking this post for my file of inspiration!
Congratulations on your new start in life! Your new house sounds lovely and I’m glad you have moved on to a new place in life where you are happier. Best of luck also for your health. It’s amazing how quickly things can change so we certainly do need to embrace every day and follow our dreams.
The recipes on your blog are so intriguing and lovely! I love reading your blog – keep up the amazing work!
Glad to hear that your health is much better now and best wishes for the next chapter in your life.
smile and the whole world smiles with you!
I’m looking forward to spending 2 weeks in the sun.
All who wander are not always lost (is one that keeps me inspired and looking forward)
Would love to sample these teas – thanks for the chance
I have had the opportunity to taste one of Suze’s herbal blend and it was soooo nice!
Love the range of interesting teas.
I have suffered mildly (compared to some) with CFS since I was very little. I think the Toughen Up blend would be perfect to strengthen my immune system. My ‘family environment’ is lovely but I feel I need to be more aware and selective of what I eat and drink to make my body as healthy as it can be, which is hard to juggle with 2 young children. Now is the time for a conscious change in my fitness, health and happiness!
Your new kitchen looks fantastic, wishing you all positivity in this next part of your journey. The teas sound fab – I’d so love to win some 🙂 xx
What a beauty – makes everyday beautiful and special- a cuppa and friends
This just what I need – a good quality product ideal pick me up after a day in the garden