Have you noticed how your likes and dislikes change over the years? Tea is a good example. As a young woman, I thoroughly enjoyed a cup of regular tea. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve discovered that the tannins in the tea irritate my mouth.
I switched from regular tea to decaf. That helped a little, but even decaf tea contains some tannins. Then I tried herbal tea. I started with store-bought varieties but soon discovered that growing the herbs myself gives a much more flavorful cup of tea.
This led me to begin a journey of growing an herbal tea garden for crafting teas. I’ve grown culinary herbs for many years, but now I’m adding in medicinal herbs. And I’m loving not only the delicious teas I’m creating, but the added beauty in my garden as well.
Where to Start…
You might already grow some herbs in your garden you can use to make tea. Sage, mint, and lemon balm are wonderful herbs for tea making. Start with what you have to see if you enjoy herbal teas. When you first drink herbal tea, you might think they are weak and flavorless. But as you adjust to the milder flavors, you’ll realize that they actually taste wonderful.
Explore herbal teas from the grocery or health food store. Try a variety of teas to see if anything tastes delicious to you. Then consider growing those herbs.
If you’ve never grown herbs before, then begin with something simple. Try growing chamomile, for example. Or mint. Everyone can grow mint. However, if your garden space is limited, consider growing mint in a garden container to help reduce the risk of it spreading out of control.
Why Grow Your Own Herbs…
There are many reasons to grow your own herbs in the garden. Here are a few beneficial reasons.
- Many of these herbs are easy to grow and can add beauty to your garden.
- Growing your own herbs can save you money.
- Homegrown herbs will be more potent than store-bought herbs.
- If you grow perennial herbs, you’ll only need to plant them once.
- Many of these herbs attract pollinators to the garden.
- You can easily grow your herbs without added chemicals. You can’t know for sure what was used to grow the store-bought varieties.
- When you grow your own herbs, you’ll have plenty to share with others.
What Herbs to Grow In Your Herbal Tea Garden…
There are so many options available. Here are some common herbs to grow in your herbal tea garden:
- Chamomile
- Calendula
- Holy Basil-Tulsi
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Verbena
- Mint – Many Varieties
- Hibiscus
- Lavendar
- Ginger
- Cinnamon Basil
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Sage
READ: 7 Tips For Growing an Herb Garden
How to Make a Cup of Herbal Tea…
When making herbal tea, it takes longer to steep than a traditional cup of tea. Here are the simple steps to brew a delicious cup of tea.
Step 1: Heat Water
Heat your water until just boiling. Do not actually boil the water. You can use a teakettle, the microwave, a pan on your stovetop or a hot water dispenser.
Step 2: Prepare Tea Blend
While the water is heating, decide what herbs to use in your tea. You can choose a single herb such as chamomile. Or you might combine several herbs together, such as lemon balm and mint. Place your herbs in a tea strainer into your cup. A tablespoon of dried herb works well for an 8-10 oz cup of tea.
Step 3: Brew and Steep
Once your water is just at boiling, pour the water over the herbs into your cup. You might need to use a spoon to press the herbs into the water. Cover your cup with a lid or small plate and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Steep longer if you want a stronger cup of tea.
How long to steep is a personal preference, and you will only learn by trying different steep times. At five minutes, take a taste of your tea. Does it taste flavorful? If not, allow it to continue steeping 1-2 minutes more. Taste again. Continue until you reach your desired taste level.
Step 4: Press Herbs
Gently press the liquid out of your herbs in the strainer. Add in your favorite sweetener, such as honey. Enjoy!
Make a Pitcher of Fresh Herbal Tea…
On a hot summer day, a pitcher of herbal infused water can be very refreshing. This doesn’t get any easier. Pick some of your favorite herbs, such as lemon balm and sage. Give them a quick rinse and place them in a pitcher or mason jar. Cover with fresh water and place in your refrigerator.
Allow the herbs to steep for three to four hours. Taste to see if you need to continue steeping. Then remove your herbs and pour your “tea” over some ice and enjoy. You can also combine your herbal infusion with refreshing fruits, such as berries and citrus.
Making this simple infusion is one of the best ways to use herbs from your herbal tea garden.
How to Preserve and Store Your Herbs…
You can make a cup of tea with fresh herbs that you’ve harvested from your garden. But to enjoy a nice cup of herbal tea next winter, you’ll want to preserve your herbs for later.
Preserve Your Herbs
The simplest way to preserve your herbs is to dry them. However, you could also freeze them. Follow these steps to dry your herbs…
- Pick a fresh stem of leaves or flowers. Shake the stems a bit to dislodge any critters that might be on the stems.
- No need to wash the leaves and flowers unless they’ve come in contact with the dirt or dust. If you wash the leaves, then allow them to dry completely. You could use a salad spinner to remove moisture or press between two layers of towels to dry.
- You have several options for drying the herbs. Trim small or thin leaves and flowers and place in a paper bag to dry. Or you can bundle the stems together and hang them upside down.
- Spread larger flower heads out on a screen to allow them to dry adequately.
Store Your Herbs
Once your herbs are completely dry, you’ll want to store them for long term. Glass jars work well for this. A few other things to consider are light and heat. You’ll want to store your herbs in a dark cupboard. Light exposure can cause the herbs to lose some of their healthful benefits and flavor.
Chose a storage place that stays cool. I wouldn’t store your herbs in the garage where the summer temperatures might be excessive. Instead, choose an indoor cupboard or closet away from your stove, dryer or heating vents.
Tips on Harvesting Your Herbs
It’s important to know what part of the plant you’re going to use for tea. Will you use the flowers or leaves of the plant? Typically, we want to harvest when the flowers and leaves are fully formed but still young and tender. Consider these tips when harvesting your herbs:
- Pick your herbs in the morning after the dew has dried on the plant.
- Harvest small amounts regularly to keep the herbs growing.
- Do not use harmful chemicals on any plants that you will be consuming.
Blending Your Herbal Teas
When I began to make homegrown herbal tea, I started with single ingredients. We drank chamomile tea at bedtime. In the afternoon, I would brew a cup of holy basil tea or lemon balm tea. In the summer, I would infuse cold water with lavender flowers or mint.
But then I experimented with combinations of herbs. Some of my blends weren’t so good, but overtime, I’ve found a few combinations I like. I’m still working on crafting my herbal tea blends. If you want a little more information on blending herbal teas, you might find this article helpful… 30 Best Herbs for Tea and the Secret for Better Tea Blends.
Growing herbs for tea making is so simple. I have lovely plants growing in my garden that not only provide beauty but taste delicious as well. You can do this too. Get started growing your herbal tea garden today and begin making your own relaxing, calming, and refreshing tea.
