The beginner home apothecary checklist
The whole trick of starting is starting small: one shelf, a dozen jars, and a first afternoon of making. Here is the honest list — plus the pocket-sized version for travel.
Dried herbs
- Chamomile — the evening cup
- Peppermint — after meals
- Elderberry — cold season
- Calendula — salves & skin
- Lavender — rest & linens
- Ginger root — warmth
- Nettle — daily minerals
- Thyme — steams
Kitchen staples
- Raw honey
- Apple cider vinegar
- Garlic & onion
- Lemons
- Cinnamon & turmeric
Tools of the trade
- Glass jars, wide-mouth
- Amber dropper bottles
- Fine tea strainer
- Mortar & pestle
- Muslin bags
- Labels & a pen
- Small funnel
First preparations
- Honey-ginger infusion
- Elderberry syrup
- Garlic honey
- Chamomile evening tea
- Lavender sleep sachet
The travel apothecary
The tin
- Ginger tea bags — for the road
- Chamomile bags — for strange beds
- Peppermint bags — for strange food
The extras
- Honey sticks — airport tea rescue
- Epsom minis — hotel baths
- A small balm — one jar, many jobs
Keep this one — and get early access.
Steepie is a cozy little web app for your home apothecary: recipes, ratios, and a place to keep the ones you love. Join the beta waitlist and we’ll email you the three-sheet Home Apothecary Set — the cold-season shelf, five make-ahead recipes, and the starter shelf. Printable, and yours to keep.
Steepie shares traditional and educational information about herbs and home rituals. It isn’t medical advice, and it’s no substitute for a professional when one is needed.