Herbs are one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow at home. Homegrown herbs offer unparalleled flavor and freshness to what you can find at the grocery store. Herbs offer a variety of nutrients, and they have been used for thousands of years by many cultures for their benefits and potential medicinal properties.
Herbal teas are a wonderful way to enjoy the benefits of herbs at home, and they are easily made by infusing leaves and flowers in hot water. While the experience of holding, smelling, and sipping hot tea alone can be a soothing and relaxing experience, herbal teas contain zero caffeine, and some are even thought to improve sleep and reduce stress. Numerous studies have also shown that certain herbal teas can boost your immune system, fight inflammation, and promote digestive and cardiovascular health.
Keep reading to learn which herbs are perfect for tea and their benefits plus get a growing guide, steeping times, and more. Don’t forget to put the kettle on!
Tea Herbs and Their Benefits
Chamomile
- Delicate grassy and floral flavor
- Shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety effects, promote cardiovascular health, and improve sleep quality
Lavender
- Strong floral scent and flavor with earthy, sweet notes
- May relieve tension, alleviate headaches, and improve skin health
Mint
- Crisp, fresh flavor
- Thought to improve digestive health plus boost focus and concentration
Lemon Balm
- Bright lemon flavor and aroma
- May reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and alleviate indigestion
Holy Basil
- Mildly sweet and refreshing yet spicy flavor
- Supports immune system, promotes detoxification, improves mood, and relieves stress and tension
Borage
- Mild, sweet cucumber flavor
- May help with inflammation, asthma, and skin health
Steeping and Planting Guides
Herbal teas are best brewed with water that has just finished boiling (208 to 212°F). You can start out with about 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs per cup of water. If you like your tea stronger, try using 2 or 3 tablespoons. Herbal tea should be steeped for at least 5 minutes, but you can definitely go longer as the tea will not get bitter. When ready, strain out the leaves and flowers as you pour the tea into your cup.
Prefer iced tea? You can use a similar approach to easily make your own herbal iced tea. Use the same ratio of fresh herbs to water but use room temperature water and let steep overnight (or at least several hours).
Growing your own tea herbs is very easy on your Gardyn. Some tea herbs take slightly longer to germinate and reach maturity than others. If you would like all of the plants in your tea Gardyn ready for harvesting at the same time, start the
Chamomile and
Lavender first. Three to four weeks later, you can start the rest of the herbs (
Borage,
Holy Basil,
Lemon Balm, and
Mint).
Holy Basil and
Lavender prefer the middle of your Gardyn where there is maximum light intensity, the
Chamomile and
Mint prefer the top or bottom where the light intensity is the lowest, and the
Borage and
Lemon Balm enjoy the sides and moderate light intensity.
Gardyn Tea Blend Recipes
Note: recipes are for 2 cups of tea
Soothing and Calming Teas
1 tablespoon Lemon Balm
1 tablespoon Chamomile
1 teaspoon Lavender
2 teaspoons Chamomile
2 teaspoons Lemon Balm
2 teaspoons Mint
Refreshing Teas
1 tablespoon Holy Basil
1 tablespoon Lemon Balm
1 tablespoon Borage
1 tablespoon Mint
Grow Your Favorites!