It was the poet Wilhelm Müller who once made the linden tree the main protagonist of a folk song. "Am Brunnen vor dem Tore" (By the well outside the gate) told in 1823 of the magnificent tree, in whose shade one could have many a sweet dream. Today, some 200 years later, the meaning of Müller's lyrics can be rediscovered at Weingut Nikolaihof Wachau. It is there that a giant linden tree captivates guests of the estate year after year, and the asterisk symbol at the apex of a 45-degree angle between the chapel and the tree marks one of the most powerful places of energy in the Wachau.
A Blossom with History
However, the tangible energy of the cultural tree was known even before epic and lyric poets discovered the linden tree for themselves. In ancient Greece, for example, it was a symbol of healers and the tree of Aphrodite, the goddess of beauty. Even today, the tree serves beauty – I utilize the millennia-old knowledge of the linden tree's healing power in cosmetics, among other things. Because the countless blossoms of our "Kaiserlinde" (Emperor's Linden) – it was planted in 1908 for the emperor's 60th jubilee – not only invite dreaming with their honey-sweet scent. Due to their ingredients, they are also an important component of our biodynamic care cosmetics.
From Harvest to Processing
Harvesting the white-yellowish blossoms, however, is a challenge that occupies the whole family: with a forklift that reaches to the very top of the venerable tree, helpers must pick the small blossoms and bring them safely to the ground using old wine baskets. Afterwards, the few kilograms collected in a few hours are spread out to dry on the old wooden attics in the granary. What is a lot of effort for the helpers up to that point is, for dieNikolai, the beginning of the processing: after drying, an extract is produced from the blossoms in an elaborate process. Later, the extracted essences enrich the moisturizing care & fluid, Wunderbalsam (miracle balm), my facial cleansers, and the linden blossoms can also be found in the shower milk and the organic baby bath.
dieNikolai Linden Blossom Drying in the Attic
But why linden blossoms in particular? The fact that the tree was a symbol of healers in ancient Greece is, of course, no coincidence. After all, linden blossoms are attributed with a healing effect. Not only processed in tea, but also on the skin, they have a soothing and irritation-relieving effect. In addition, their extract stimulates blood circulation, which ensures a fresh complexion. So-called glycosides in the plant also provide an analgesic, anti-inflammatory effect.
However, the calming effect can not only be used for the care of irritated and sensitive skin, but our psyche also responds to it. Thus, the linden blossoms in the shower milk have a calming effect and also as a footbath, if one (or the children) cannot find peace, they help to ground the mind.
Processed by Hand and with Heart
To preserve the ingredients and prioritize quality over quantity, the linden blossoms are also processed by hand – this is not just our promise, but our heartfelt philosophy. Speaking of heart: Due to its heart-shaped leaves, the linden tree was once dedicated to the Norse goddess of love, Freya. This was also an inspiration for the great lyricists: "Wo wir uns finden, wohl unter Linden" (Where we find each other, surely under linden trees), a line from "Kein schöner Land," brought lovers together under the linden tree in 1838.
