Your Can Do It! Grown Your Own Herbal Tea Blends

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By Ellen Heron, Garden Supplies Manager, American Plant

Creating your own herbal teas from herbs you have grown is a delightful project to undertake this spring. Herbal teas are known to have health benefits as well as contribute to a soothing feeling of relaxation.

Spring is the time to start thinking about what herbs you want to grow this year. What kind of herbs do you want to save for the winter? What kind of flavors do you like? Citrus, mints, floral or spicy?

Now is the time to plant most all herbs with the exception of tender annuals like basil, lemon verbena and lemongrass that need to be planted when it is late enough in the spring that nighttime temperatures won't dip below 50˚. If you stop by any of the American Plant locations, our team can help you with out with advice on how to grow herbs, whether you want to start from seeds or plant already herbs starts from our greenhouses. Most herbs are very easy to propagate in a variety of ways, but lavender and rosemary should be planted in terracotta pots as they do not like "wet feet."

Herbs can be used fresh or dried, you just need filtered water for infusing. As the spring progresses into summer and your herbs get larger, you can start harvesting during the season. Either make a large pot of tea with fresh leaves to put in the fridge or start drying herbs for the winter months. If harvesting the flowers of chamomile, lavender, or Echinacea- snip the flower buds off close to the first day the bud has opened. You can drink herbal tea either hot or cold, and another easy way to make a batch is to make it using the sun tea method. Grab a big glass pitcher and pick the fresh herbs that you want to blend for tea, enough to fill one cup. Pour water over the herbs and place it in the sun in the morning. By sunset, your tea will be ready to serve over ice!

There are many methods to drying leaves for tea, following is an example of two drying methods depending on the weather.

 Indoor Air Drying:

Harvest the herb in the morning hours. Tie stem bundles with rubber bands- the reason I suggest rubber band is because as the herbs dry the stems get thinner and the rubber band will contract around the stems to hold them tight. If you use string then you may have stems drop out of the bunch. A warm dry spot is best: avoid the kitchen.

Refrigerator Drying Herbs: 

A super simple method of drying herbs- stick them in the fridge uncovered on top of a paper towel- In a few days they will dry crisp and retain their color and fragrance.

 When storing your herbs- I recycle glass jars from pasta sauce etc. be sure to label the jars with dates, dried herbs will last 6 to 12 months

Suggested herbs to grow for your own tea:

  • Lavender
  • Echinacea
  • Peppermint
  • Chocolate Mint
  • Lemongrass
  • Lemon Balm
  • Chamomile
  • Holy Basil
  • Rosemary
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Pineapple sage
  • Thyme

Herbs that promote relaxation:

  • Holy Basil
  • Chamomile
  • Lemon Balm
  • Lavender

Herbs that help soothe a cold:

  • Peppermint
  • Spearmint
  • Rosemary
  • Thyme
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Echinacea

My Favorite Cooling Summer Sun Tea:

  • Lemon Verbena
  • Mint
  • Lemon Balm

Another Summer Blend:

  • Lemon Balm
  • Lemon Verbena
  • Lavender Flowers

My Favorite Winter Blend

  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
  • Mint

 

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