How to Make Herbal Tea From Your Garden

Quick answer

Start by growing a few easy herbs like mint, lemon balm, and rose geranium. Harvest them at their peak, dry them properly, then blend to create your own signature tea.

Step-by-step: From garden to cup

1. 1. Harvest at the right time: Pick leaves in the morning after dew has dried but before the sun gets hot. This is when essential oils are most concentrated. Choose healthy, unblemished leaves. A common mistake is harvesting too late in the day when oils have dissipated. Morning harvest gives the best flavour.
2. 2. Rinse and dry gently: Swish leaves in cool water to remove dust and insects. Pat dry with a clean towel or use a salad spinner. Spread them in a single layer on a drying rack or clean cloth. Avoid direct sunlight, which degrades oils. Leaving leaves wet can cause mould during drying. Make sure they are surface-dry before you proceed.
3. 3. Dry thoroughly: Bundle small stems and hang upside down in a warm, dark, well-ventilated space. Alternatively, lay leaves on a mesh drying rack. Drying takes 5–14 days depending on humidity. Leaves are ready when they crumble easily. Under-dried leaves will spoil in storage. Check that stems snap, not bend, before storing.
4. 4. Store whole leaves: Crumble dried leaves into an airtight glass jar, but keep them as whole as possible until you're ready to brew. Whole leaves retain flavour longer than crushed ones. Store in a cool, dark cupboard. Crushing leaves early releases oils that fade quickly. Crush only what you plan to use within a week.
5. 5. Blend your custom tea: Start with a base herb (like spearmint or lemon balm) and add accent herbs in small amounts. A good ratio is 3 parts base to 1 part accent. For example, 3 tsp spearmint + 1 tsp rose geranium. Steep 1 tsp of blend per cup in boiling water for 5–7 minutes. Begin with simple two-herb blends. Strong flavours like rose geranium can overpower if used too generously.

Tea herbs to grow

• Herbal Tea Collection: This collection includes Rose Geranium, Spearmint, Lemon Verbena, Lemon Balm, and Greek Mountain Tea — five plants selected for delicious homemade infusions. You get a ready-made tea garden with complementary flavors, so you can start blending right away instead of hunting down individual plants.