Using herbs to make tea is easy and comes with a variety of health benefits. Below is a list of 16 common herbs and spices used to make tea, their flavor profile, common ailments for which they have been used, and a simple herbal tea recipe. Many of these plants can be easily grown at home and harvested for use. But, be sure to grow your plants organically if you plan to use them to make tea. You may also have many of these spices readily handy in your cupboard.
Star Anise Herbal Tea Recipe: Good for congestion, indigestion, menstrual cramps, and menopausal symptoms; avoid during pregnancy, with small children, and with hormone related medical conditions.
Instructions:
Bring the cinnamon stick and star anise to a boil in 4 cups of water. Then, reduce heat, and add honey and tea bags. Simmer 5 minutes. Then, strain, add an orange slice, and drink.
Did you know…
Anise seed is different from star anise. These green pods also taste like spicy licorice. Here is a link to some research on anise: Anise Research.
Bay Leaf Herbal Tea Recipe: Good for improving concentration, reducing cough, and reducing headache. Avoid in excess, with small children, and avoid eating the bay leaf.
Instructions:
Add all ingredients into a pot. Then, bring to a boil. Next, reduce heat and simmer 5-10 minutes. To drink, remove bay leaves, add honey, then garnish with a lemon wedge.
Read more about bay: Bay Research.
Black Pepper Herbal Tea Recipe – Good as an anti-hypertensive, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, antispasmodic, anti-depressive, and cognitive stimulant. Avoid with young children.
Instructions: Boil water. Then, pour over herbs and steep 5 minutes. Strain. Add honey. Drink.
Learn more about black pepper: Black Pepper Research.
Cardamom Tea Recipe: Use for congestion, nausea, and to relax. Avoid with young children.
Instructions:
Bring water, cardamom and ginger to a boil. Then, reduce heat and add honey and tea bags. Simmer five minutes. After 5 minutes, remove tea bags and add 2 cups of milk. Once milk is hot enough, immediately remove from heat, strain out ginger, and drink.
Click here for research about cardamom: Cardamom Research.
Chamomile Herbal Tea Recipe: Use to relax.
Instructions:
Pour hot water over flowers. Then, steep about 4 minutes. Finally, strain and drink.
Read more about German Chamomile: German Chamomile Research.
Cinnamon Tea Recipe: For warming, antimicrobial, and helps with blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Avoid during pregnancy: possible uterine stimulant. Avoid with young children. Healthy adults: do not exceed 1 cup a day.
Instructions:
Pour boiling water over a cinnamon stick and steep 10 minutes. Then, add honey to taste.
Here is some research on cinnamon: Cinnamon Research.
Clove Herbal Tea Recipe: Useful as an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and warming. Avoid with pregnancy, breastfeeding, young children, or for those with liver disease or those taking anti-coagulants. Avoid with young children. Healthy adults: do not exceed 1 cup a day.
Instructions:
Boil water. Then, add cloves and turn off the heat. Steep about 10 minutes. Finally, strain out cloves, and add lemon and honey to taste.
Some research on cloves: Clove Research.
Fennel Herbal Tea Recipe: Helps the digestive system. Avoid with pregnancy, lactation, young children, estrogen dependent cancers, epilepsy, anticoagulants, diabetic meds, and bleeding disorders.
Instructions:
Pour the water over the seeds and steep 10 minutes. Strain and drink.
Read more about fennel: Fennel Research.
Ginger Herbal Tea Recipe: Aids in digestion, reduces inflammation, helps circulation, and is warming.
Instructions: Pour hot water over the spices. Then, steep 8 minutes. Finally, strain and drink.
Want to learn more about ginger: Ginger Research.
Lavender Herbal Tea Recipe: Deliciously floral to calm the nerves, help with headaches, and promote good sleep.
Instructions:
Pour the hot water over the flower tops. Then, steep 5 minutes. Strain, add honey to taste, and enjoy.
Click here to learn more about lavender: Lavender Research.
Lemon Balm Herbal Tea Recipe: Also called Melissa, this herb is used to boost mood and feel more cheery.
Instructions:
Fresh leaves are much better than dried in a tea. Pour hot water over the leaves and steep 5 minutes. Then, strain, add honey to taste, and smile while you sip.
Learn more about lemon balm: Lemon Balm Research.
Lemongrass Herbal Tea Recipe: Good as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and to improve mood. Avoid during pregnancy, young children, and with certain chemotherapy medications.
Instructions:
Pour boiling water over lemongrass. Then, cover and steep about 9 minutes. Finally, strain, add honey to taste, and enjoy.
Here is some research on lemongrass: Lemongrass Research.
Peppermint Herbal Tea Recipe: Drink to help with congestion, indigestion, and to improve cognition. Avoid in excess, during pregnancy, and with young children.
Instructions:
Pour the hot water over the leaves. Then, steep about 6 minutes. Strain. Add honey to taste. Then, inhale the aroma while drinking to clear the head.
Read more about peppermint: Peppermint Research.
Rose Hip Herbal Tea Recipe: Beautiful and calming.
Instructions:
Pour the hot water over rose hips. Then, steep about 3 minutes. Strain and drink.
Click here to read some research on the amazing rose: Rose Research.
Rosemary Herbal Tea Recipe: Use as a circulatory tonic, stimulant, and to aid in concentration. Avoid during pregnancy and with small children. Do not drink in excess.
Instructions:
Pour the hot water over the rosemary and steep about 7 minutes. Then, add honey to taste. Inhale while drinking to improve concentration.
Here is some research on rosemary: Rosemary Research.
Thyme Herbal Tea Recipe – Works good for congestion, cough, and cold. Avoid during pregnancy and with small children; do not drink in excess. There are many chemotypes of thyme with significantly differing aromas, tastes, and therapy profiles.
Instructions:
Pour hot water over the thyme and steep 7 minutes. Then, strain, add honey, and drink.
Click here to read more about thyme: Thyme Research.
Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves – slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.
– Nhat Hanh
Updated: 11/26/18