What’s So Hot About Alpine Ice?

We created Alpine Ice in order to bring a healthy tasty treat into the wide and far-ranging world of desserts. Not only is this ice very low in sugar and high in natural fiber, but each serving contains roughly a cup’s worth of herbal tea (≈1 tsp, brewed and strained).

The English have said for centuries that “a nice cup of tea will cure any problem.” We don’t take such an extreme view of things, but when was the last time a nice cup of tea made you feel anything but calmer, more ready to face the day. In a world of isolated and cooked-up chemicals, we invite you to have a cup of natural medicine, free from tinkering, adulteration, or nasty additives. All of our ingredients are naturally grown and produced, and have been mixed and added to accentuate the flavors of our teas rather than to hide unpleasant preservatives.

The Harmony Infusion begins with green tea, well known for its anti-oxident flavinoids. Then we add soothing Elder Flower, nutritive Raspberry Leaf, Nettle Leaf and Dandelion. Peppermint and Orange Peal are included as digestive aids, nd finally we top it all off with a touch of calming Lemon Balm.

Included in the flavor infusions are Linden Leaves, Hibiscus Flowers, Rose Petals, Blue Malva Flowers, Chamomile, Lavender and Lemon Verbena, Cinnamon, Sage and Rooibos.

What exactly do these herbs do?

All of the herbs in our ices have been used for millennia by healers worldwide to promote well-being, general health, and a calm, clear mind. In addition to the empirical evidence of their long and valued use, modern scientists have evaluated them in labs and clinics, and designated them as GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). These herbs are all subtle in their effects, so they should not upset or irritate the body or mind. Subtle, however, does not mean weak.

When I had an allergic reaction to a blood transfusion, the doctors involved wanted to give me the standard treatment of Benadryl, an anti-histamine. I had used Benadryl for past allergic responses, and did not like the groggy intoxicating effects. I asked my mother to go buy a nettle tincture, which she did. After taking a few drops of the tincture, my swelling disappeared, and I had no more problems with histamine responses. This is not a claim that our ices will protect against bee stings, but a personal anecdote. However, a steady consumption of nettles¹ in the form of tea has been used by traditional herbalists for millennia as a general tonic, specifically benefiting the liver. Nettles are included in the tea base used in all of our ices.

One might expect some harsh side-effects from such a powerful plant. Certainly when fresh, nettles are nothing to sneeze at. No such side effects have been observed over many years of regular use. This is because nettles are a ‘tonic’ herb, meaning that they work by stimulating the body, rather than by direct action on a particular problem. Because of this, the herbs have no known lethal dose. How many clinically prescribed medicines can say the same? Yet nettles, far from being limited to the role of ‘tonic’ or even antihistamine, may even help regulate blood sugar!²

In addition to nettles, our teas contain many herbs from dandelion to rose petals. By combining herbs of vastly different yet complimentary character, we have provided a way for the palate to remain rooted to the ground while the nose is free to wander. This allows you, the customer, to g8ently stretch your senses instead of damping them with sugar and dairy. Likewise, the combination of tea and frozen dessert allows you to have your tea and eat it too! Dessert freedom is here at last.

Sam Hoffman, Herbalist

1. Mittman, P; Randomized, double-blind study of freeze-dried Urtica dioica in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Planta Med. 1990 Feb;56(1):44-7.

2. Bnouham M, Merhfour FZ, Ziyyat A, Mekhfi H, Aziz M, Legssyer A; Antihyperglycemic activity of the aqueous extract of Urtica dioica.; Fitoterapia. 2003 Dec;74(7-8):677-81.