Learn about Fireweed tea 🌿🍵
Also known as Ivan’s Chai
Chef Alex Hamilton & Malcolm Saunders discuss the ancient origins of Ivan’s Chai and how the process of “fermenting” the fireweed was translated to the tea plant to create black tea.
Alex shares his connection to the process and the love and inspiration he had to the plant and this way of crafting a local, delicious, herbal tea.
Do you know fireweed?
Have you tasted Ivan’s Chai?
Have you tried this process?

Join us for a plant walk this summer season to learn more

https://lightcellar.ca/collections/in-person-classes-events

Check out all the plant ID and foraging books we currently have in store!
Learn how to wildcraft your own food and medicine
🌞🌲🌿🌸🍄‍🟫✨

Here’s one more way to use your hydrosols….
💧🌲🌿🌸✨
Especially if you find some tinctures too strong to take straight - mix your hydrosol in

If you’d like to learn more about hydrosols, what are they, how are they made, how to use them, etc we have a free class coming up Saturday June 28th from 1:00 - 2:30 MST where you can join online or in person
Malcolm Saunders and Vivian Safaris will be creating a hydrosol on site during the class as well as providing lots of samples so you can experience the magic of these botanical waters
💧🌲🌿🌸💫
See lightcellar.ca for details and registration
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Here’s What Chef Alex Has Going On In the Kitchen Today…

Are you already missing the lilacs?
Even though it wasn’t long ago that the lilacs were in bloom, many of them are already done for the year…
But the essence and aromatics can live on!
One way to capture and re-delight in the soft, floral and sweetly nostalgic scent of lilac is through a hydrosol.
💜
Spritz the air, infuse your space with the lovely lilac any time, of any day, in any season.
The elegant and ephemeral essence of lilac can be preserved in the botanical waters known as hydrosol.
Hand-harvested fresh local lilacs were stream distilled in house using our copper Alembic still to produce a very small run with limited supply.
See webstore or shop to get yours or for the lilac lover in your life
https://lightcellar.ca/products/lilac-hydrosol-1

💜
And if you would like to learn more about Hydrosols we have a free class coming up - see https://lightcellar.ca/products/hydrosol-high-immerse-yourself-in-the-captivating-world-of-herbal-hydrosols for details

Bubbly Botanical Beverages
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Chef Alex Hamilton shares what he’s got brewing in the kitchen

Nettles 🌿
An incredibly nutritive wild food

Experience these Botanical Waters
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We now have over 50 different hydrosols in store for you to try
Next time you are in, visit the corner shelf where all the samples are and spritz away
Some are grounding, some are uplifting, some are refreshing, some are soothing - they each have their own unique character and properties
If you would like to learn more about hydrosols then join us for our free class, Hydrosol High: Immerse Yourself in the Aromatic World of Botanical Waters
💧🌲🌿🌸🍄‍🟫✨
You can join online or in person.
See website for details and registration

https://lightcellar.ca/products/hydrosol-high-immerse-yourself-in-the-captivating-world-of-herbal-hydrosols

One of the biggest health issues we face as a society is consuming food too high in calories and too low in nutrients…
Superfoods are a way to flip that equation
💫
But what exactly is a superfood?
There are a few ways to define it
Here’s a couple interpretations
What foods are super to you?
🥦🫐🥥🍇🫒🌶️🥚🥛🥩🍯🌰✨

As of today, Fluoride is in the water in Calgary now…
Here’s the filtration system we set-up at the shop to have the cleanest, most vibrant chemical-free water

And below is info about the application for an injunction

📣 IMPORTANT UPDATE – FLUORIDE INJUNCTION APPLICATION

✅ Good news: Our Emergency Injunction Application has officially been accepted by the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta!
⚠️ Important note: It has NOT been enacted yet — we now wait for a hearing.

📅 Court Date:
🗓 Wednesday, July 9, 2025
🕑 2:00 PM
📍 Calgary Courts Centre – Urgent Chambers

💥 This injunction aims to stop the City from adding Hydrofluorosilicic Acid (HFSA) to our water supply.

❗️This is your chance to show public support and stand for informed consent, public health, and water safety. We need to pack the courtroom — your presence matters!

🙌 Please book off July 9th and join us in person to make sure our voices are seen and heard.

Probiotic Soda Refreshments
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Chef Alex shares about the refreshing probiotics sodas we have available
Made with real herbs, fruits, superfoods, natural sweeteners, nourishing colours and medicinal flavours!
Available in store only