Pictured – Herbs & Spices to Make Herbal Tea
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.
Keep in mind that herbs have medicinal qualities that can be very helpful, but are not to be ingested in excess. Discuss concerns about drug interactions and possible contraindications with your Doctor.
Easy Herbal Tea Recipes
Star Anise – Illicium verum – This star shaped woody seed has a licorice flavor.
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.
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 whole star anise seeds
- 4 cups of water
- 2 Tbsp of honey
- Slice of orange as garnish
- 2 green tea bags
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 – Laurus nobilis – Dried bay leaves are strongly aromatic and impart a spicy flavor in tea.
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.
- 3 bay leaves
- 4 cups of water
- 3 Tbsp of honey
- Wedge of lemon as garnish
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 – Piper nigrum – Black peppercorns give a strong spicy bite to an herbal tea.
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.
- 3 cups of water
- 1 tsp of ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp of fresh minced ginger
- 2 tsp of honey
Instructions: Boil water. Then, pour over herbs and steep 5 minutes. Strain. Add honey. Drink.
Learn more about black pepper: Black Pepper Research.
Cardamom – Elettaria cardamomum – Cardamom pods have a sweet, spicy, green flavor.
Cardamom Tea Recipe: Use for congestion, nausea, and to relax. Avoid with young children.
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 tsp of dried cardamom pods, crushed
- 1/2 Tbsp of minced fresh ginger root
- 1 Tbsp of honey
- 2 black tea bags
- 2 cups of milk
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 – Anthemis nobilis (Roman) or Chamomilla recutita (German) – has an apple-like and cooling flavor.
Chamomile Herbal Tea Recipe: Use to relax.
- 4 fresh organic chamomile flowers or 2 Tbsp of dried flowers
- 4 cups of hot water at about 170 degrees (not boiling)
Instructions:
Pour hot water over flowers. Then, steep about 4 minutes. Finally, strain and drink.
Read more about German Chamomile: German Chamomile Research.
Cinnamon – Cinnamonum zeylanicum – has a flavor that is spicy, hot, and sweet.
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.
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 cups of boiling water
- Honey to taste
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 – Eugenia caryophyllus – this common spice is known to be warming and aromatic.
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.
- 8 cloves, crushed
- 4 slices of lemon
- 4 cups of water
- Honey to taste
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 – Foeniculum vulgare – licorice like, warming, and sweet.
Fennel Herbal Tea Recipe: Helps the digestive system. Avoid with pregnancy, lactation, young children, estrogen dependent cancers, epilepsy, anticoagulants, diabetic meds, and bleeding disorders.
- 1 tsp of fennel seeds
- 2 cups of boiling water
Instructions:
Pour the water over the seeds and steep 10 minutes. Strain and drink.
Read more about fennel: Fennel Research.
Ginger – Zingeber officinale – spicy, tangy, earthy, and slightly sweet.
Ginger Herbal Tea Recipe: Aids in digestion, reduces inflammation, helps circulation, and is warming.
- 1 Tbsp of minced ginger
- 1 tsp of crushed cloves
Instructions: Pour hot water over the spices. Then, steep 8 minutes. Finally, strain and drink.
Want to learn more about ginger: Ginger Research.
Lavender – Lavendula angustifolia – floral, herbaceous, and cooling.
Lavender Herbal Tea Recipe: Deliciously floral to calm the nerves, help with headaches, and promote good sleep.
- 2 Tbsp of fresh organically grown lavender tops, or 1 Tbsp of dried lavender
- 2 cups of boiling water
- Honey to taste
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 – Melissa officinalis – lemony and tart, slightly minty.
Lemon Balm Herbal Tea Recipe: Also called Melissa, this herb is used to boost mood and feel more cheery.
- 2 Tbsp of fresh organically grown lemon balm leaves
- 2 cups of hot water
- Lemon to taste
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 – Cymbopogon ssp. – lemony and warm.
Lemongrass Herbal Tea Recipe: Good as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and to improve mood. Avoid during pregnancy, young children, and with certain chemotherapy medications.
- 3 stalks of fresh lemongrass, sliced
- 6 cups of boiling water
- Honey to taste
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 – Mentha piperita – minty, cooling, refreshing.
Peppermint Herbal Tea Recipe: Drink to help with congestion, indigestion, and to improve cognition. Avoid in excess, during pregnancy, and with young children.
- 2 Tbsp of fresh or 1 Tbsp of dried peppermint leaves
- 2 cups of hot water
- Honey to taste
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 – Rosa ssp – delicate, smooth, mildly sweet and fruity.
Rose Hip Herbal Tea Recipe: Beautiful and calming.
- 2 Tbsp of fresh rose hips or 1 Tbsp of dried hips – gently crushed
- 2 cups of hot (not boiling) water
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 – Rosmarinus officinalis – pine-like, camphorous, and herbaceous.
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.
- 1 Tbsp of fresh or 1/2 Tbsp of dried rosemary
- 2 Cups of hot water
- 2 tsp of honey
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 – Thymus vulgaris – strongly herbaceous – sweeten the flavor with honey.
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.
- 1 Tsp of fresh thyme or 1/2 tsp of dried herb
- 2 Cups of hot water
- 1 tsp of honey
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.
Posted By: Kathy Sadowski, Master of Science Degree in Aromatherapy, Registered Aromatherapist, LMT
Updated: 11/26/18
