Some Like It Hot: Cat Fancy

The Happy Belly Tea ($1.85) at Root Cafe in Lakewood will have your grumbly tummy purring with joy thanks to an unlikely ingredient: catnip. "It is a folk remedy for an upset stomach," says co-owner Julie Hutchison. "It is said to relax the smooth muscle tissues of the stomach." Upset stomach or not, the organic chamomile, organic peppermint, whole-leaf stevia and hop flowers in this specialty tea provide a balanced flavor that's part minty, part earthy and entirely soothing. The blend was created by Maureen Burns Hooker, who owns Herbal Sage Tea in Athens, Ohio, and grows the hops on her Herbal Sage Farm. "Maureen chose hops because it is bitter, so it aids in digestion," says Hutchison. "But it also balances out the mint and the chamomile flavor to give it a little more of an earthy groundedness."15118 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, 216-226-4401, theroot-cafe.com