Tea bags are convenient, but they can also be expensive. Next time you’re craving a cup of tea, why not make your own?
If you have a garden””great. Even if you have only a small patio or balcony, you can still plant herbs for tea. Some will grow indoors, right on your kitchen windowsill. Start with a few plants and consider the following:
Mint: There are many varieties of mint: peppermint, spearmint, orange mint, etc. Mint is hardy plant that’s easy to grow. It needs partial sun and will grow indoors. Leaves can be used for tea.
Chamomile: The German variety makes the best tea. The plant prefers sandy soil and lots of sun. It can be grown on a balcony but doesn’t do well indoors. The flowers, not leaves, are used to make tea.
Lavender: The plant grows tall (2 to 3 feet) and prefers direct sunlight. Best grown outdoors, with soil regularly drained. Steep the flowers to make tea.
Lemon: The lemon balm plant likes mostly dry soil and partial sunlight. It can be grown indoors. The leaves are used for tea, and they can also be used to flavor food.
To make the tea from fresh leaves or flowers, simply pluck a few from the plant and gently crush them. It’s best to pluck from your plant as needed, rather than plucking everything at once, which could harm the plant. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of fresh crushed leaves/flowers to your teacup and pour in 6 to 8 oz of boiling water. Let steep for about 5 minutes, then strain.
If you have many plants, you can harvest the herbs and dry them for later use. Drying is a simple process: cut several stems from the plant; tie them together in a small bunch; hang upside down to dry for two to three weeks until the herbs are brittle; strip leaves from stems. Store dried herbs in airtight containers.
To make tea from dried herbs, use one teaspoon per cup and follow steeping instructions above. You can also purchase a “tea ball”””a wire mesh sphere that holds loose, dry herbs””to make your tea.