It is very easy to brew delicious herbal tea from fresh and dried herbs. First, choose your favorite herbs to keep handy. Use fresh organically grown herbs from your own garden. Dry them yourself, or buy quality dried herbs from herbal shops. Store dried herbs in sealed jars to last up to one year.
Here is How to Dry Herbs You Have Grown In Your Garden
Harvesting in the warm months offers dried herb in the Winter when garden plants have gone dormant.
- Harvest herbs by cutting stems to about 4- 12 inches in length. Do not harvest more than 50% of a plant. Harvest leaves like peppermint, oregano, or rosemary before the plant has flowered for a better taste. Harvest flowers like lavender or chamomile will the flowers are young and vibrant for optimal flavor.
- Gently rinse, and then pat the cuttings dry with a paper towel or cloth.
- Make small bundles by tying with string, allowing air flow around the herbs.
- Dry in a warm, dry, well ventilated area. Hang the herbs upside down or put the bunch in a brown paper lunch bag, stems facing outward. Bagging prevents dust and debris from collecting on the drying herbs.
- Once completely dried, remove leaves or flowers from stems, and place desired parts in a sealed container and store in cupboard, out of sunlight.
12 Great Herbs for Making Herbal Tea
- Ginger root – to aid digestion
- Chamomile flowers – to calm and relax
- Cinnamon sticks – to awaken and heat
- Dandelion leaf, flower, and root – to detox
- Echinacea root – for immunity strengthening
- Fennel seeds – for digestive needs
- Lemon balm leaves – to relax and unwind
- Mint leaves – for congestion, indigestion, and alertness
- Red clover flowers – for menopausal issues
- Rose petals – to calm the heart
- Lavender flowering tops – for peace and a good night’s sleep
- Ginseng root – for memory and good health
Preparing the Herbs for Herbal Tea
- Heavier plant parts like roots, seeds, and coarse bark such as cinnamon sticks, star anise, and black pepper, are generally added to boiled water and simmered for 10-20 minutes.
- Lighter plant parts such as leaves should be infused in water that is slightly less hot than boiling for 6-9 minutes.
- Very delicate plant parts such as blossoms and flower petals should be steeped in hot water that wont burn your finger for 3-5 minutes.
Helpful Hints for Brewing Tasty Herbal Tea
- Use spring or distilled water.
- Do not over-boil water – minerals can over-concentrate.
- Use about 1 tsp of dried herbs or 2 tsp of fresh herbs per 8 ounces of water.
- Diffuse loose herbs in just-boiled water 4-10 minutes.
- Do not use an aluminum or cast iron pot to brew herbs.
- Strain loose herbs immediately after diffusing.
- Avoid over-steeping, which can bring out a bitter flavor.
- For a stronger flavor, use more herbs instead of steeping longer.
- OR – crush fresh herbs in a pestle to bring out a stronger flavor.
- For iced tea – allow strained brew to cool before pouring over ice.
- Add honey or lemon to taste.
Herbal Tea Recipes
Coriander Tea for an Upset Stomach
I got nasty habits; I take tea at three.
-Mick Jagger
