Grow Your Own Tea: How to start an herbal tea garden
There are few simple treasures in life quite like assembling a hot cup of tea from homegrown herbs. The touch and smell of gathering the herbs, the knowledge of their healing and where the plants were grown is almost hard to explain because of the gentle satisfaction. I suppose I’d call it joy. Simple joy and fulfillment. It sounds hyperbolic, but I’m not exaggerating – those are the simple things in life that can ground us in gratitude.
To start your own tea garden begins with what herbs you want to grow. Tea is typically made from leaves, flower petals or buds, roots or bark. The benefits are vast and wide in terms of medicinal use, so I’ll list here some that are common to find at your local garden center or nursery, or that are used frequently in teas.
I’ll also say that the below herbs are ones that you can dry at home for tea, and won’t require some crazy processing or anything special. These are perfect plants for simply growing and drying, or even enjoying fresh in a cup of hot water.
Once you choose your tea flavors and herbs, then you’ll review the conditions that your plants need, whether a full sun location with well-draining soil, or otherwise. Herbs can often be tucked into other garden beds, or grown in containers. I have seen some lovely herb tea gardens in troughs or old barrels.
For me, the most-loved tea blend that I grow is lemon balm, lemon verbena, and mint. It’s calming, anxiety-reducing, and great for digestion at the end of the day.
To begin our deep dive, we will start where all life starts: soil.
Growing Your Herbs
There are general rules of thumb that many people follow, and I’ll outline the basics here. However, some herbs do grow best when grouped together. For example, Mediterannean herbs tend to like drier, hotter climates. I’ll outline which grow best together for you, in case you have the room to plant more than one bed or pot of herbs.
Soil: Most herbs like soil that is balanced and well-draining. Basic potting soil does the trick. Some woodier herbs like rosemary and lavender like soil that is a bit more dry and gritty, but can still do well in average garden bed soil.
Sun: Four hours minimum for most herbs, but I’d recommend 6 hours. Those Mediterranean plants like more heat, so closer to 8 hours for those (lavender, basil, rosemary, thyme).
Water:
There are herbs that like moist soil and those that like dry soil in between watering. Water once or twice a week, spaced out for an even drink for most herbs.
Harvesting your Herbs:
It’s best to harvest herbs in the morning before the heat of the day. Also, most herbs are the most potent before going to bloom. However, some herbs have flowers that are lovely in tea. It will become a personal preference. Some herbs as well, like echinacea, are most helpful when the roots are used, and somewhat established.
Be sure that whatever you do, you harvest your herbs before any sign of frost so that you can preserve them. I like to harvest mine as often as I can to encourage continuous growth, and to even out the drying and processing time.
Preserving Your herbs
There are a few ways to preserve your herbs:
1 Use them fresh!
If you want to use them fresh within 1- 3 days, keep them on the counter in a glass of water. That stops any wilting. To stretch that even longer, but still use fresh, you can place them in a paper towel in a ziplock in the fridge. That should get you about 5 days.
2. Dry them
There are three drying methods: air dry, bake/microwave, or dehydrate.
Air drying preserves the highest amount of essential oils, and takes about a week. Be sure to not let dust settle on your herbs though, and I recommend laying them on a wire rack as opposed to bundling them up. Bundling can lead to mold.
Baking them is a great option, just be sure to lay them in one layer on a cookie sheet very low and slow. I’d say 150 – 200 degrees for three hours is a good start.
Microwaving herbs is my least recommended, but you simply lay the herbs flat on a microwave safe dish between two paper towels. Microwave for about 3- 4 minutes, until dry and brittle.
Dehydrating herbs require a dehydrator, but is fast and simple – I recommend this second to air drying them.
3. Freeze them
When freezing herbs, I recommend this for culinary purposes. You can gently chop your herbs (like Oregano or basil) and add them to an ice cube tray with some olive oil. That will all freeze and then you can add them to soups, or sauces.
THE HERBS
There are hundreds of herbs that are used for tea, however it can be hard to grow or access some. So, based on the average (or even slightly above-average) gardener, these are what I’d recommend considering for tea.
- Mint
Growing conditions: 6 hours of sun with consistently moist soil. Keep in a pot, so it doesn’t spread too much.
Benefits: Aids in digestion, can ease pain from breastfeeding, calms your tummy
Plant part to use: Leaves
- Raspberry
Growing conditions: full sun, very well-draining soil. Raspberries hate having wet feet, so be sure they don’t sit in water.
Benefits: menstrual support, fertility, preventing miscarriage and hemorrhaging, ease morning sickness
Plant part to use: leaves
- Lemon Balm
Growing conditions: full sun, prefer well-drained soil. The lemon scent stays stronger if it is not fertilized.
Benefits: Used to calm stress, boost mood, help you relax, reduce anxiety
Plant part to use: leaves
- Lemon Verbena
Growing conditions: full sun, well-drained soil that has been mixed with compost
Benefits: used to promote digestive regularity, also used for helping with insomnia, joint pain, colds, fever, and asthma
Plant part to use: leaves
- Chamomile
Growing conditions: partial shade, dry soil. It grows best when left alone.
Benefits: Used to ease an upset or nauseous stomach. Also, great for balancing gastrointestinal issues.
Plant part to use: leaves
- Rose
Growing conditions: full sun, moist yet well-drained soil.
Benefits: great for moisturizing dry skin, fighting acne, inflammation of the skin, and soothing a sore throat
Plant part to use: leaves and flowers
- Echinacea
Growing conditions: grows best in partially shaded areas, especially in a hot climate with well-drained soil.
Benefits: reduce the cold and flu symptoms and help boost the immune system
Plant part to use: root and leaves
- Hibiscus
Growing conditions: full sun and in soil that never completely dries out and is well drained
Benefits: can help promote weight loss, and has been shown to lower blood pressure and boost liver health
Plant part to use: flower and leaves
- Elderberry
Growing conditions: full to partial sun, well-drained moist soil. They do well in many different soil types and are hearty plants.
Benefits: boosting the immune system, reduce inflammation, and help with heart health
Plant part to use: flower and leaves
- Lavender
Growing conditions: full sun, well-drained soil. It does very well in dry arid climates
Benefits: reduce anxiety, ease stress and help fight insomnia
Plant part to use: leaves and stems
- Ginger
Growing conditions: warm and humid conditions with partial shade. They are a little bit fragile and do not handle strong wind well
Benefits: helps prevent stress and the damage it can cause to your body.
Plant part to use: root
- Dandelion
Growing conditions: will grow in locations will full shade to partial shade with well-drained soil
Benefits: reduce inflammation and might help reduce cholesterol and lower blood pressure
Plant part to use: root and leaves
- Strawberry leaf
Growing conditions: full sun and well-drained soil
Benefits: support the immune system, improve heart health, and may help with regulating blood sugar levels
Plant part to use: leaves
- Bergamot/Bee Balm
Growing conditions: full sun and well-drained soil
Benefits: Great for treating bloating and upset stomach. It can also be used to treat cold and flu symptoms
Plant part to use: leaves
- Valerian
Growing conditions: very hearty. Will grow in full to partial sun but needs well-drained soil. The soil should be kept moist by using mulch.
Benefits: reduces insomnia and promotes quality sleep
Plant part to use: root
- St. John’s Wort
Growing conditions: grows in all soil types and can even prefer being dry with partial to full sun
Benefits: improves feelings of depression and reduces exhaustion related to depression
Plant part to use: leaves
- Stevia
Growing conditions: full sun and rich soil that is well-drained. Try to avoid chemical fertilizers
Benefits: healthier sugar substitute
Plant part to use: leaves
- Fennel
Growing conditions: full sun, well-drained soil. Make sure to allow for the proper room. Plants need to be more than 6 inches apart.
Benefits: contains high amounts of fiber and other vitamins and minerals that promote heart health
Plant part to use: bulb, stalk, and fronds
- Hyssop
Growing conditions: full to partial sun with dry, well-drained soil
Benefits: great for easing digestive and intestinal issues as well as issues of the gallbladder and liver.
Plant part to use: leaves
- Borage
Growing conditions: full sun and well-drained soil. It will flourish best in soil that is rich with mature organic matter.
Benefits: reduces fever, fights cough, and can help with depressive moods.
Plant part to use: flower and leaves
- Calendula
Growing conditions: grows in both full and partial shade, it does prefer cooler temperatures and well-drained soil.
Benefits: reduces the likelihood of muscle spasms, cramps, and can help reduce fevers.
Plant part to use: flower
- Tulsi
Growing conditions: full to partial sun, well-drained soil. It cannot withstand frost of any kind, best to always keep it somewhere above 50 degrees.
Benefits: boost the immune system and helps fight infections
Plant part to use: leaves
- Saffron Crocus
Growing conditions: full sun, well-drained dry soil
Benefits: boost moods and treat depressive feelings. It also may reduce menstrual symptoms and may have cancer-fighting properties.
Plant part to use: the threads inside the flowers
- Jasmine
Growing conditions: full sun, well-drained moist soil
Benefits: improves liver function and health and also promotes relaxation
Plant part to use: flower
- Honeysuckle
Growing conditions: full sun,well-drained moist soil
Benefits: can be used for people with diabetes, urinary disorders, and applied to the skin to treat inflammation and itching.
Plant part to use: flower, seed, leaves (NEVER the berries, as those are toxic)
- Viola
Growing conditions: partial sun especially during hot summers, well-drained soil
Benefits: improves sleep and reduces cold and flu symptoms
Plant part to use: flower
- Feverfew
Growing conditions: full sun, well-drained soil
Benefits: reduces fevers, and helps fight migraines, toothaches, and stomach aches. It also promotes women’s health and fight issues with infertility, menstruation, and childbirth.
Plant part to use: flowers and leaves
Blending your teas
There is an art to the blending of tea, which I am a bit new to. There are three parts to consider:
- Primary herbs – the herbs with the greatest/desired benefit.
- Supportive herbs – these herbs and add flavor and complement the entire blend well.
- Catalyst herbs – these herbs often promote the most healing, really putting the primary herbs into effect.
Flavor also can dictate a lot too, but a well-blended herbal tea has these three elements that work in harmony together to give you a desired outcome or feeling.
The art of brewing tea and growing your herbs is ancient and personal. My hope is that you embrace it as a part of your gardening experience, and a worthy journey to learn and explore plants and yourself.