Wednesday, August 25, 2021

How to Grow an Herbal Tea Garden Indoors or Outdoors

Learn how to grow herbs for tea.  This has a list of herbs for tea plus information on making herbal tea with fresh or dried herbs.  If you love herbal tea, this can save you a lot of money. 


I start my day with coffee, then I switch to water or tea.  I drink either white tea or green tea, and I usually had some dried herbs for some flavor because I drink it unsweetened.  


Since I grow my own herbs, I add a few herbs just for making herbal tea.  You can grow several different kinds of herbs for tea, so start with one or two and grow from there.





Creating an herbal tea garden is easy, and the tea will taste better than what you get in a store.  If you do buy dried herbs for tea, I recommend buying the best quality that you can find and afford.  


You'll find a list of herbs for tea so you can plant one or several different herbs to make your own herbal tea blends.


Below, I'll have some recommendations for my favorite places to buy dried herbs.


How To Grow Herbs For Tea


Many of these in this list of herbs for tea can be used for food too.  I generally blend small amounts of herbal tea and keep most of the dried herbs for cooking or for making more herbal tea mix.


If you're new to growing herbs, learn how to grow herbs in pots for beginners.   Also check out these easy herbs to grow at home.  Here's how to do container gardening with herbs.


If you also plant a garden, herbs make excellent companion plants.  Learn more about companion planting with herbs.


I keep a gardening planner binder each year.  This helps me see what works, what didn't, and when to plant and harvest.  


Can You Grow Your Own Herbs For Tea?


In short- yes! You absolutely can grow your own herbs and use them in tea. In fact, making an herbal tea garden is an incredibly rewarding process. There is simply nothing like enjoying a cup of tea using herbs that you grew yourself.


In fact, many people have been growing their own herbs for tea gardens for years, and the practice is rising in popularity. Many have seen the positive benefits of having a garden to grow herbs for tea.


Further, herbs for tea gardens can be grown outdoors and indoors using a variety of different methods. This means that you as a gardener have a ton of flexibility when it comes to growing herbs for tea. 


Growing your own herbs can also be cheaper in the long run, and ensures that you always have what you need to make tea without having to go to the store or spend money on expensive tea brands. 


Growing herbs for a tea garden can be both simple as well as rewarding, and doesn’t take much more than it does to maintain a traditional garden. Following is a handy guide to get you started on growing your very own herbal tea garden.





How Do You Make Herbal Tea Gardens?


First things first, how does one grow herbs for tea gardens? 


The first thing you will want to do is decide on what kind of garden you would like to have. Namely, you will want to pick between an outdoor or indoor tea garden. If you are planning on having it indoors, you will need containers to grow herbs in. 


Rooting sizes, and thus container sizes, will depend on what kind of herbs you decide to grow. As such, it is important to plan ahead and decide on the herbs you wish to grow before you purchase your containers.


You will also need to find a spot in your house for the containers to sit. As a general rule, your plants should get about eight to ten hours of strong sunlight a day. Therefore, it is important to find an area of your home that will allow them to get this much sunlight, such as near a window.


If you are growing your herbal tea garden outside, you can choose between a container garden or a traditional garden. With a container garden, the same general principles of indoor plants typically apply. You will need to acquire containers to house the plants, and position them so that they get enough sunlight.


If you are doing a raised bed or traditional garden, then all of the same practices would apply to growing herbs. You will want to plant them either as seeds or starters, and ensure that no pests or weeds harm them while they grow.


What Herbs Can You Grow For Tea?


It can be hard to find a comprehensive list of herbs for tea. This list is designed to help you get started and get an idea of what you can grow. It can be easy to grow herbs for tea once you are able to do your research.


If you are looking for your next herb to grow, look no further than this list of herbs for tea. Following are some of the best herbs for tea gardens. 


You can start your herbs for a tea garden inside or outside from seeds or a young plant.  If you are starting from seeds, learn how to make a mini greenhouse for seeds.





Fennel


Fennel has a unique taste that many liken to licorice, and is great for digestive health. If you enjoy its taste, it can be one of the best herbs to grow for tea.


Mint


Mint is a classic herb used in teas, and there are many different kinds of mint. It makes an excellent addition to any herb garden.


Lavender


Lavender is one of the best herbs to grow for tea in regards to its health benefits. Lavender is very calming and can help to relieve tension and headaches. It is also rather calming and has a sweet and warm flavor.


Lemon Verbena


This herb is very sour and like lemonade, very refreshing. It is great as a delicious tea and is very easy to grow. Meaning that as far as growing herbs for tea gardens go, Lemon Verbena is one of the best.


Cilantro


On its own, cilantro is a great herb and one of the best herbs to grow for tea. It can also be mixed with honey to help with digestion and alleviate upset stomachs and the side effects that come from them.


Basil


Basil has a stronger flavor that makes a refreshing cup of tea when blended with other herbs.  It's best to use fresh herbs when you add basil and not dried.





Chamomile


Chamomile tea is a delicate tea with an almost fruity flavor.  It's said to be calming, so many people drink it at night.  


Lemon Balm


Lemon balm is a type of mint, so it's cooling and a little sharp.  You can use fresh or dried lemon balm to make an herbal tea.


Rose Hips


Rose hips make a fruity type of herbal tea.  You can grow these seed pods at home and dry them to add to herbal teas.


Rosemary


Rosemary is often grown for cooking, but you can also mix it with other herbs to make a tea.  It has a strong flavor, so use it sparingly in tea.


Sage


Sage has a very herbal flavor.  Sage tea is said to reduce stress.  It's very good mixed with other herbs, but you can drink plain sage tea.  Try pineapple sage for a fruity sage tea.





Dried Versus Fresh Leaves


When you are ready to harvest your herbs, you can decide whether to use the leaves fresh or dry them out before making tea out of them. 


To use fresh leaves, they will need to be bruised. This can be done easily with a mortar and pestle.


From there, simply place them into a cup and fill with hot water. You can add anything you want, and make it to your liking before enjoying it.


How Do You Dry Herbs For Tea


After you have harvested your herbs from this list of herbs for tea, you might choose to dry them for use in tea. Drying herbs are preferable to using fresh ones as dry herbs are more flavorful in tea. To start, brush off any dirt that are on the leaves after being harvested.


You don’t want to wash them in a sink as that will make it difficult for them to dry and might even cause mold to grow. From there, bunch them together and hang them upside down in a warm and dry place away from direct sunlight.


Alternatively, you can spread them out on a paper towel over a wire rack, again in a warm and dry place. Either of these methods will suffice. Expect to let them dry for about a week depending on temperature and humidity. 


Once they are dry, remove the leaves from the stem and store in a sealable jar. When you want to make a glass of tea, simply add a few leaves to a cup and fill with hot water.


Learn more about how to dry herbs for tea.





Making Homegrown Herb Tea


After you are done with the whole process of growing herbs for tea gardens, it is time to reap the benefits of your work. 


When making tea, you will want to be careful in following these instructions. To start, add a few leaves or about a tablespoon if you like it strong, and a teaspoon if you want it to be weaker. 


From there boil water and pour it into your cup. Let it steep for three to five minutes, again depending on how strong you want it. Once it is done steeping it is ready to be enjoyed!


I also use some dried flowers in my tea.  You can use dandelions to make tea.  Learn more about how to make dandelion tea and its benefits.


Where To Buy Dried Herbs For Tea


For all of us tea lovers, the prospect of growing our own tea leaves is incredibly enticing. Growing herbs for tea gardens is a wonderful process, and the benefits cannot be understated. 


However, you may not have the space or the time to start your own herbal tea garden.  I recommend using high quality herbs to make your herbal tea.  


I recommend buying bulk herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.  They sell organic herbs, and you can buy 4 ounces or a pound.  


I also like Grass Root Herb Supply.  They also have organic herbs, and you can buy as little as 1 ounce at a time.


With the help of this guide and list of herbs for tea you can jump straight into growing herbs for tea gardens. With work and dedication you can easily grow the herbs to make delicious tea for enjoyment and to help alleviate minor sicknesses.




Learn More About Using Herbs


If you want to learn more about herbs, I highly recommend taking a course from The Herbal Academy. They have several herbal courses, and they are all online.  


I also recommend one of the following herbal books to learn more and keep as a reference.



Now you know how to plant an herbal tea garden and have a list of herbs for tea.


How to Grow Herbs for Tea was originally posted at Koti Beth Designs.


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