The Ultimate Guide to Growing Herbs for Your Personal Tea Blends [2023]

Do you dream of having your own tea garden where you can grow your herbs and create unique tea blends that suit your taste buds? Growing your herbs can be an incredibly rewarding experience, as you get to harvest them fresh, making them ideal for use in homemade tea blends.

At Growing Teas™, we are passionate about herbs and tea. Our team of expert tea growers has put together this ultimate guide to help you get started on your journey of growing herbs for tea. In this guide, we will cover everything you need to know, from the best herbs to grow, how to make tea from home-grown herbs, and quick tips and facts.

Benefits of Growing Your Tea Herbs

Growing your herbs for tea comes with a range of benefits, including:

• Cost-effective
• Fresh and flavorful herbs
• Have control of the quality of herbs
• Customize and experiment with flavors
• Use the herbs for medicinal purposes

Growing herbs for your tea garden is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your overall tea-drinking experience. With so many herbs available to choose from, let us explore the best herbs to grow for your tea garden.

Best Herbs to Grow for Your Personal Tea Blends

While there is an endless array of herbs to choose from, below are the five best herbs to grow for your tea blends, as they are easy to grow, quite versatile, and packed with flavor.

1. Mint

Mint is one of the easiest herbs to grow. It is an incredibly versatile herb that comes in many varieties, including peppermint, spearmint, apple mint, pineapple mint, and chocolate mint. Apart from its refreshing taste, mint has an array of health benefits, including aiding digestion, relieving stress, and headaches.

2. Chamomile

The chamomile herb has a delicate, earthy flavor and is known for its calming properties. It is a great herb to grow for making a relaxing cup of tea before bed. Also, chamomile has many health benefits, including reducing inflammation, easing menstrual cramps, lowering blood sugar, and promoting sleep.

3. Lemon Balm

Lemon balm has a pleasant lemon scent and a slightly sweet, lemony taste that makes it perfect for making a refreshing cup of tea. The herb has several medicinal properties, such as easing stress and anxiety, improving sleep, and promoting healthy digestion.

4. Lavender

Lavender has a distinct floral flavor and can add a unique touch to your tea blends. The herb has calming properties, making it ideal for stress relief. Also, it has anti-inflammatory properties and can aid in fighting respiratory problems.

5. Rosemary

Rosemary has an earthy, piney flavor and is quite versatile in tea blends, especially those with a savory twist. Apart from enhancing tea blends, rosemary has several health benefits, including improving memory, reducing inflammation, and boosting the immune system.

Other Herbs Worth Growing

Besides the top five herbs we mentioned, there are plenty of other herbs to consider growing in your tea garden. They include:

• Hibiscus
• Lemon Verbena
• Sage
• Thyme
• Holy Basil
• Calendula
• Fennel
• Dandelion

What Herbs are Best to Mix Together for Tea?

Mixing herbs for tea can be an incredible way to create blends with deep, rich flavors. You can mix herbs with complimentary health benefits or flavors to create unique blends. Below are some herb combinations that work well together:

• Mint and Ginger: Ginger's natural spice complements minty freshness, making it a perfect combination for digestion teas.
• Chamomile and Lavender: These two herbs have calming properties that are ideal for sleep teas.
• Hibiscus and Rose Hips: This combination produces a tart, fruity tea blend that is high in vitamin C.
• Lemon Balm and Lemon Verbena: The distinct scents of these herbs combine to create a refreshing citrusy tea blend.

Mixing herbs is all about experimenting with different flavors and combining them to create the perfect blend that satisfies your taste buds.

Easiest Herbs to Grow

For those new to tea gardening, some herbs are easier to grow than others, making them ideal for beginners. Below are some of the easiest herbs to grow:

• Mint
• Chamomile
• Lemon Balm
• Thyme
• Lavender
• Dandelion

Aside from being easy to grow, these herbs have a range of health benefits and flavor profiles, making them an excellent starting point for your tea gardening journey.

How to Make Tea With Homegrown Herbs

One of the best things about growing herbs is using them to make your tea blends. Here are the steps to make tea from home-grown herbs:

Step 1: Harvest Your Herbs

Harvest your herbs when they are mature and their oils are at their peak. Rinse the herbs under cold water to remove dirt and debris.

Step 2: Dry the Herbs

Dry the herbs by spreading them out on a flat surface in a single layer. Leave them in a well-ventilated area until they are completely dry.

Step 3: Brew the Tea

Use a handful of dried herbs per cup of tea and steep in hot water for about 10 minutes.

Step 4: Strain and Enjoy

Strain the tea and add sweeteners like honey or sugar to taste.

Quick Tips and Facts

• Herbs are easiest to harvest and process in the morning when the oils are at their peak.
• Always label your herbs to avoid mixing them up during the drying and processing stage.
• Growing herbs in well-draining soil with good soil fertility will result in high-quality herbs.
• Some herbs, like lemon balm and mint, can be invasive when left unchecked. Always plant them in a pot or container to control their spreading.
• The flavor of your tea blend is only as good as the quality and freshness of your herbs.

FAQ

What Herbs are Best to Mix Together for Tea?

The herbs that are best to mix together for tea depend largely on personal preferences. However, some herb combinations like mint and ginger, chamomile and lavender, and hibiscus and rose hips work well together.

What is the Easiest Tea to Grow?

The easiest tea to grow depends on the climate and how much space you have. However, chamomile, mint, lemon balm, thyme, lavender, and dandelion are relatively easy to grow and maintain.

How Do You Make Tea with Homegrown Herbs?

To make tea with homegrown herbs, harvest the herbs when they are mature and rinse them under cold water. Dry the herbs by laying them out in a single layer until they are completely dry. Steep a handful of the herbs in hot water for about 10 minutes, strain the tea, and add sweeteners to taste.

Quick Tips and Facts

• Harvest herbs in the morning when the oils are at their peak.
• Always label herbs to avoid mixing them up during the drying and processing stage.
• Growing herbs in well-draining soil with good soil fertility will result in high-quality herbs.
• Some herbs, like lemon balm and mint, are invasive when left unchecked. Always plant them in a pot or container to control their spreading.

In Conclusion

Growing herbs for your tea blends is an exciting and fulfilling experience that takes your tea-drinking experience to a whole new level. The herbs we have recommended in this guide are the easiest to grow, easy to mix, and offer a range of health benefits and flavor profiles.

If you are a beginner looking to start your tea garden, we suggest starting with the easiest herbs to grow, such as chamomile, mint, lemon balm, thyme, lavender, and dandelion. Experiment with different blends to create unique tea profiles that reflect your taste preferences.

At Growing Teas™, our passion for tea and herbs has inspired us to put together the ultimate guide to growing herbs for your personal tea blends. We hope that our guide will inspire you to grow your herbs and enjoy the fulfillment that comes with having a thriving tea garden.