The Morning Blends That the Expert Herbalists Behind Sun Potion Sip On

Welcome to My Morning Routine, where Scott Linde, Nitsa Citrine, and other good-life gurus share their personal (frequently surprising, often healthy) morning rituals—to help you make your a.m.’s more awesome.

Scott Linde
Founder, Sun Potion

Morning routines are some of my favorite parts of each day. I awaken with the sunrise, while the house and the yard are still quiet. I am welcomed into the day with the comfort of organic flannel sheets and a super-luxurious natural rubber mattress. I like to cuddle with Nitsa while she's still asleep.

Eventually, I make my way to the kitchen for tea. Preparing tea is the love of each morning. I meet the day in silence. Eventually, Nitsa awakes and joins me for more tea. Later, herbs and potions take their place in the mix. My current favorites include he shou wu, pine pollen, mucuna, and reishi.

At some point I draw a mind map for the day, for a specific project or whatever else I'm working on at that time. I often call my mentors during these first hours of the day.

I take care of my body with dry brushing, oils, swishing with Tait's Toothpaste, hydrosols, and other special things made by friends. I leave the house around 10 or 11, feeling saturated with what I love and ready for another amazing day!

Nitsa Citrine
Creative Director, Sun Potion

I wake up around 7 a.m. I drink a large glass of spring or alkaline water and eat a few spoonfuls of tocos. Then, I boil water for tea (or more tea, if Scott has already started a pot).

While it’s boiling, I separate tea leaves. Most mornings I will drink pu-erh, which is pressed into a cake, so you have to break off little chunks of the tea to use each time. Usually, we sit at the kitchen table and drink tea, in silence.

Then after some strategy and chatting with Scott, I do a Shinto meditation and chant.

At 8am, it’s potion time (AKA breakfast). I pull all the tonic herbs out from the cabinet, add them to a blender with 8 to 16 ounces of raw nut milk and a good splash of tea—blend and serve.

Most days I will have my camera nearby to snap a few photos to share the day's recipe on the @sunpotion Instagram. If we are lucky, we enjoy our potion outside in the sun.

Then, it’s time to respond to immediate e-mails or communications, shower, dress, and gather myself for 9:30 a.m. Ashtanga yoga! 

Ready to rise and shine? Rachel Brathen shares her favorite morning yoga videos, beauty buff April Gargiulo reveals her breakfast bowl recipe, and The Butcher's Daughter founder explains why you really need an a.m. bubble bath.  

(Photo: Sun Potion)