Drinking herbal tea is an exceptionally delightful pleasure for me because it has no caffeine, no tannin, no calories; it tastes delicious and is relatively inexpensive. You can get started with your daily dose of healthy herbs by brewing a cup in the morning when you get to work. If you’re using it to fight insomnia, try a cup just before bedtime.
The benefits of drinking herbal tea have been proven for hundreds of years. Each herb has its own special properties. While some can ease stress, others can get you going. One herb can help with an uneasy stomach while still other herbs can ease your mind.
A bed or two of your fave tea herbs will get you through the long, cold winter with yummy hot tea and you can brew the fresh herbs to flavor your summer cold teas.
An added benefit of brewing your own herbal tea is the fragrance. Clip a few leaves from your favorite tea herb like chamomile, peppermint, spearmint or fennel and you’re all set.
Making your home-grown herbal tea is not hard. If using dried herbs, use one teaspoon for each cup of tea. If you’re brewing a pot of tea use one teaspoon per cup (plus use an additional teaspoon for good measure).
Because your fresh tea herbs aren’t as potent and the dried ones, you will want to use more of them. Try 2 to 3 teaspoons for each cup.
You can make your own custom tea mix from different herbs, which I think is better than just using one. Add lemon verbena or calendula with your chamomile for an extra tart flavor.
Here are some of the best herbs to use in teas:
- Beebalm: Although beebalm is a part of the mint family, it has a light, citrus aroma that reminds me of oranges. Beebalm was first used in a tea by the Oswego Indians in Canada. You can get the same benefits they did, to help your upset stomach. You can even make it to ease with your sore throat.
- Hibiscus: There are so many kinds of hibiscus to choose from when planning your garden. If you’re planning your garden for tea, I recommend the rose mallow kind because it has a slight hint of citrus. There is also the marsh mallow variety (think marshmallow in taste). This particular kind can help you with your sore throat or help if you are prone to ulcers. Regardless of the type of hibiscus plant you use in your tea, the petals are all you need.
- Lemon Verbena: This little herb has a lot of lemon flavor and taste to bring your herbal tea, whether you brew fresh or dried leaves. This is an especially good herb to brew with your black tea, which make it much more enjoyable.
- Rosehip: The hip of the rose herb has been thought to be among the most valuable herbs around due to its high vitamin C content. You can steep the rosehips to ward off colds and the flu.
You might also enjoy one of the mints, lemon balm, or lemongrass in your next cup of tea.
Be aware that herbal teas make great gifts—it does not cost much and your friends and family members will certainly appreciate it.
Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.
Here is more information on Tea Herb Gardening. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.
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