A Perfect Pairing: Using Herbs in Teas and Tisanes
Relaxation is Just One Cup Away!
Transform your herb garden into a home apothecary by learning how to craft your own soothing herbal tea blends and tisanes. Discover the best recipes, essential growing tips, and perfect flavor combinations using chamomile, spearmint, and lemon balm.
In Part 2, I will go into depth on the herbs mentioned in this article to set you up for success in your growing, and brewing, journey!
Beyond the Tea Bag
"Tea" technically refers only to the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, but the beverage world is rich with tisanes, or herbal infusions. Tisanes offer a delightful way to enjoy the calming, digestive, and therapeutic benefits of herbs, all while capturing the fresh, clean flavors of your garden.
Growing your own tea ingredients guarantees the freshest, most potent flavor possible, as the volatile oils—the source of both flavor and medicinal benefit—are at their peak right after harvest. This is particularly true for dried herbs; store-bought varieties often lose much of their efficacy over time. This guide details four essential herbs for any tea garden and how to blend them perfectly for maximum flavor and comfort.
The Perfect Pair: Best Herbal Blends
These three simple blends are designed to maximize the flavor and therapeutic benefits of your garden harvest. Use 1–2 teaspoons of dried herbs per 8 ounces of freshly boiled water, and steep covered for 5–10 minutes to extract all those wonderful volatile oils.
Sweet Dreams Tisane:
Ratio: 2 parts Chamomile, 1 part Catnup, 1 part Spearmint.
Flavor and Focus: This deeply calming and sleep supporting blend has an earthy base with a minty finish.
Morning Brightener:
Ratio: 3 parts Lemon Balm to 1 part Spearmint
Flavor and Focus: This uplifting blend also helps with focus! It has a bright and lemony flavor that will hep clear your mind and get you ready for the day!
Digestive Cooler:
Ratio: 3 parts Spearmint to 1 part Chamomile.
Flavor and Focus: This stomach soother has crisp and cool flavorings and is also a fantastic gentle anti-infammatory!
Recipe Highlight: The "Tranquility Trio"
This classic, balanced blend is perfect for unwinding after a long day.
Ingredients (Dried):
1 tablespoon dried Chamomile flowers
1 teaspoon dried Lemon Balm leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried Spearmint leaves
Instructions: Gently combine the dried ingredients and store them in a dark, airtight jar. To brew, use 1.5 teaspoons of the blend per cup. The gentle citrus of the Lemon Balm perfectly brightens the earthy chamomile while the spearmint ensures a refreshing, clean finish. This is lovely served warm with a drizzle of local honey.
Harvesting and Storage for Longevity
The secret to potent, flavorful tea is proper drying and storage, which preserves those precious essential oils.
Drying: Spread harvested leaves and flowers in a single layer on a drying screen or tie them loosely into small bundles and hang them in a warm, dry, dark, and well-ventilated area. Sunlight and humidity are the enemies of potency—they will degrade the oils and color quickly. The herbs are ready when the leaves crumble easily between your fingers (often 3–7 days).
Storage: Store the dried herbs whole (do not crush them until just before brewing) in airtight, dark glass jars. The darker the jar and the tighter the seal, the longer the essential oils will last. Always label everything with the herb and the harvest date.
Time to Kick Back and Relax!
Moving from nurturing seeds and watching them flourish to crafting your own custom tisanes is arguably the most satisfying step in kitchen gardening. By adhering to proper drying techniques, you ensure that the tranquility and flavor of summer are preserved, ready for a comforting cup, perhaps even in the depths of winter.
Please check out part two where we will explore the secrets to growing four powerhouse herbs—Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Spearmint, and Catnip—focusing on maximizing their potent volatile oils through careful harvest timing.