5 Herbal Pantry Staples to Support You Through Cold Season

If you’ve ever had a cold sneak up on your house mid-September, you know the value of a well-stocked pantry. Not just with crackers and soup—but with herbs.

These five herbs are the backbone of my cold season kitchen. They’re versatile, gentle, safe for kids, and useful in everything from teas to syrups to steam bowls. You don’t need to buy everything on the shelf—just a few hardworking staples you’ll actually use.

Most of these have earned a permanent place in our home apothecary after years of trial and error (and too many midnight medicine runs). They help us prevent where we can, comfort when we need to, and feel a little more in control of the sniffly chaos.

🍵 Want a printable version? Our Herbal Pantry Staples for Cold Season Cheat Sheet is available for free.

Made for You If...

• You want a practical herbal approach to fall illness prevention

• You’re new to herbalism and want to start with basics

• You’re looking for herbs that are safe for kids but effective for adults

• You’d rather make something at home than buy another mystery syrup

What You’ll Come Away With:

• 5 tried-and-true herbs to keep stocked this season

• How each one supports the body and why I use them

• Easy suggestions for teas, syrups, and DIY blends

• A printable cheat sheet to hang in your pantry (coming soon!)

1. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

If I could only keep one herb on hand during fall, this might be it. Lemon balm is bright-tasting, gentle on little ones, and incredibly versatile. I use it in tea for calming nerves, in glycerites for bedtime support, and even steep it for facial steams when my skin’s acting up.

Use It In: Teas, glycerites, calming steam bowls, bedtime gummies

👉 Grab our Lemon Balm Elderberry Glycerite recipe here

🛒 I keep dried lemon balm in a large glass jar like this one so it stays fresh and visible on the pantry shelf (affiliate). But a large mason jar is always great for storage!

2. Elderberry (Sambucus nigra)

It’s a classic for a reason—elderberry is immune-support gold. I brew it into syrups, simmer it into stews, and use the strained berries in baked goods to avoid waste.

Use It In: Syrups, gummies, oxymels, daily tonics

👉 Try our Honey Lemon Ginger Syrup with Elderberry option

🛒 Try this organic elderberry on Amazon—it’s what I’ve used for years with consistent results.(affiliate)

3. Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)

Soothing, floral, and surprisingly multi-purpose. Chamomile is one of those herbs I always keep on hand for the “I don’t know what’s wrong” moments—fever, fussiness, bellyaches, or bedtime resistance.

Can Be Used In: Teas, bath soaks, compresses, facial steams

👉 Use it in our Cozy Fall Tea Latte

🛁 Pro tip: toss a handful into a warm bath with Epsom salts for a bedtime reset everyone will love.

4. Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale)

This one earns its spot for digestion alone—but it brings so much more. Ginger is warming, moves stuck energy, supports circulation, and adds a kick to teas and broths.

Use It In: Decoctions, syrups, spicy teas, congees, stir-fry

Tip: Fresh or dried both work. I keep sliced frozen ginger in the freezer and toss it into simmer pots or tea blends.

🛒 These dried ginger chips are perfect for decoctions and store well all season.(affiliate)

5. Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Often overlooked, but one of the most powerful herbal multitaskers around. Calendula is known for skin support, but it also gently stimulates the lymph system, soothes the gut, and adds beauty to any tea blend or broth.

Use It In: Skin salves, infusions, compresses, herbal broths

👉 See it in our Facial Serum – part of the Glow Bundle

🛒 I store calendula petals in wide-mouth mason jars with moisture packs so they stay fluffy and potent. (affiliate)

Final Thought:

Herbal prep doesn’t have to be complicated. If you’ve got these five herbs in your pantry, you’re ahead of the game. They’re adaptable, affordable, and foundational.

Start with one. Brew a cup. Infuse a jar. Make a syrup. Let your pantry support you this season—quietly, gently, and naturally.

If you're ready to put these pantry staples to work, my Cozy Cold Season Sips Bundle is the easiest way to start. It includes all 3 recipes bundled together for easy reference. You can grab the complete printable bundle here for $5.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All content is for educational purposes only and not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.