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Botanical Becca 🇭🇹

@itsbecca_j

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👩🏾‍🎓 Public Health Gyal
🌿 Culinary Herbalist, Writer, & Researcher

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the summer of tomatoes, peppers, and other things 🍅🌶️🌻🦪

sun golds were so good this year

these were spicy 🥵

the sungold tomato sauce was SO deliciously sweet

my 3rd year celebrating tomato week

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my peppermint rose peach tea recipe

tomato feast tings

saltfish, marinated tomatoes, avocado, plantain

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good drinks, great views, and even better company

🌻🌻 by @itsbecca_j

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24 days ago

my summer 2026 reads and re-reads by @itsbecca_j

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a month ago

It’s Mullein month over at @plantwondercollective so I wanna chat about some of mullein’s lesser know herbal actions. Despite not being native to the Americas, Mullein has become a prized remedy for respiratory concerns. But I think an underrated way to engage with mullein is topically.

Mullein is anti-inflammatory and has soothing, pain relieving properties. You see evidence of this use in African American herbalism, where mullein is used in a poultice for skin and joint inflammat!on concerns. Learn more about mullein’s history, botany, and actions in my latest blog post. I also share one of my favorite mullein recipes! 🔗 in b!o 😮‍💨 by @itsbecca_j

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a month ago

✨ Free Herbal Recipe! ✨

Hibiscus is tart, cooling, beautiful, and so much more than just a refreshing summer drink. 🌺🌿

In this episode, I sit down with community herbalist Rebecca Fils-Aimé (@itsbecca_j) to explore hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) as food, medicine, and cultural tradition.

Drawing on her Haitian heritage as well as her own herbal studies, Rebecca shares why she loves hibiscus for its cooling, soothing, mucilaginous qualities, how she works with it for cardiovascular and respiratory support, and the many ways to use the calyxes and leaves in both the kitchen and the apothecary.

By the end of this episode, you'll learn:

🌺 Why hibiscus is particularly beneficial for dry, irritated respiratory tissues

🍽️ Several ways to weave hibiscus into your diet, both sweet and savory

❤️ What makes hibiscus so supportive for the heart and cardiovascular system

🌿 How this gorgeous plant became such an integral part of Caribbean culture

✨ Surprising ways to include hibiscus in your beauty routine

Rebecca also shares her Sorrel Cough Syrup, a simple combination of hibiscus and warming Caribbean spices designed to soothe an irritating, dry cough. And if you don't have a cough, try adding it to sparkling water for a tasty, refreshing treat!

👉 Type 237 to watch the full episode and get the Sorrel Cough Syrup recipe card.

#hibiscus #hibiscussabdariffa #sorrel #herbalrecipe #herbalmedicine #plantmedicine #botanicalmedicine #herbalism #herbalist #herbswithrosalee #herbs #cardiovascularhealth #respiratorysupport #medicinalplants #herbnerd #plantnerd by @itsbecca_j

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2 months ago

I had the pleasure of chatting with @rosaleedelaforet about one of my favorite plants - hibiscus! We talked about its lesser known qualities and I shared my sorrel cough syrup recipe. To listen to the episode and get this beautiful recipe card and handout, check the 🔗s in b!o! The podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Botanical Illustration by @tati_rusakova
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Hibiscus, Caribbean herbalism, The Herbal Diaries, Herbs with Rosalee by @itsbecca_j

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2 months ago

It’s here!! I’ve been working on this for so long so I’m excited to finally share it with yall. Welcome to The Herbal Diaries - enjoy my musings on food, herbs and everything in between. 🔗 in b!o.
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#theherbaldiaries It’s here!! I’ve been working on this for so long so I’m excited to finally share it with yall. Welcome to The Herbal Diaries - enjoy my musings on food, herbs and everything in between. The link is in my bio! by @itsbecca_j

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2 months ago

summer so far by @itsbecca_j

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2 months ago

This plant has deep cultural ties to Mesoamerican indigenous peoples and has been used for over three thousand years for its medicinal, spiritual, and nutritional properties. The Aztec name “chimalxochitl” means “shield flower,” demonstrating this plant’s cultural significance and connection to Indigenous practices. For example, Cochiti people in New Mexico use sunflower for cuts and wounds. The Dakota used sunflower infusion for respiratory ailments. And the Pima in Arizona use it for high fevers.

There are over 50 species of sunflower that are native to the American continent, but the common sunflower (Helianthus annus) is the one you tend see most often.

Sunflower leaves are bitter and contain expectorant properties that can support respiratory health in a syrup or a smoke blend. The leaves are also anti-inflammatory and sunflower oil is high in antioxidants.

I love how much of this plant can be eaten. The seeds are high in protein, healthy fats, fiber, and beneficial vitamins and minerals. They can be eaten raw, cooked, dried, ground, or pressed into an oil. The micro greens are high in protein, antioxidants, and minerals like zinc. The peeled stalks can be treated like celery and the green buds can be cooked like artichokes.

Sunflower leaves can be used alone for headache relief or sore muscles. In topical preparations (compress, poultice, salve) for skin support, sunflower leaves and petals pair well with calendula. For lung-supportive teas or syrups, pair with eucalyptus or mullein leaf.

In sweet foods and desserts, pair the seeds with fresh and dried fruits, cereals, granola, honey, molasses, and nuts. For savory preparations, combine with green beans, whole grains, leeks, lemon, or nutritional yeast in dishes like pastas, soups, & spreads. The seeds be used as a substitute for pine nuts in pestos or used in a nut-free mole.

If you want to learn more about how sunflowers have traditionally been used in curanderismo, herbalist Mimi Hernandez has written about this in multiple books and articles!

SN: This is for educational purposes only. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.
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The Herbal Diaries, sunflowers, summer herbalism by @itsbecca_j

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3 months ago

Just wrote a new article for @learningherbs on summer kitchen herbalism, including a general framework for seasonal herbalism and resources to find out what’s in season near you. Super excited about this one! 🔗 in my bio for the full article 🌞 by @itsbecca_j

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3 months ago

seasonal practices don’t have to be complicated. there are so many ways to connect with nature and honor the changing energy of the seasons 🧡💛 happy summer solstice folks. by @itsbecca_j

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4 months ago

I had the pleasure of talking to #JocelynAmador at @cuisinenoir_ about how soursop fruit and leaves are used across the diaspora. I loved being able to share insight about a plant that is so ingrained in my culture. 🔗 in my b!o and my stories!
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#soursop #theherbaldiaries #caribbeanherbalism by @itsbecca_j

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4 months ago

Charred scallion pesto spaghetti with mushrooms and cherry tomatoes, topped with shrimp marinated in Haitian epis. I made a charred scallion, cilantro, and garlic puree and added a little pasta water to make it a pasta sauce. I added cooked mushrooms and tomatoes to the spaghetti before tossing everything in the charred scallion pesto sauce. The epis marinated shrimp were cooked separately and added at the end. And of course, lots of parm on top 🧀
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#homecook #haitianepis #cookingwithherbs #TheHerbalistDiaries by @itsbecca_j

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4 months ago