Tea has been made from plants for a long time. You can grow herbs in the garden – even tea plants – to make your own. I always recommend starting small, a few pots of your favorite herbs. Inevitably those few pots can become a whole plot of your yard! It’s like “chicken math” in that way.
(Have you ever heard of chicken math? It’s the concept that when you start with a small flock, and then you become obsessed with your chickens, suddenly somehow you have 40 chickens….)
In the blog today I’d like to give you some refreshing tea recipes to make for yourself as we go into the heat of late Spring and Summer.
Spring/Summer Tea Recipe #1:
Lavender Mint Tea
Two of my all-time favorite herb, Mint and Lavender were meant to be together in my cup. You’ll see why.
(recipe makes 1 cup)
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon fresh lavender flowers OR 1/2 teaspoon dried
1.5-2 Tablespoons fresh mint of your choice OR 2 teaspoons dried
1 cup boiling water
Instructions:
In a teapot, combine the lavender flowers and mint. Pour boiling water over mixture. Steep 5 minutes. Strain as you pour into mug.
Fun ingredient additions:
– Stevia – fresh leaves, 2 or 3, crushed, or to taste (for natural no calorie sweetening)
– Lemon Balm – for a little twist, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon balm OR a pinch of dried.
– Catmint/Catnip – for some extra relaxation, 1 teaspoon fresh Catmint/Catnip OR a pinch of dried.
(recipe courtesy of The Backyard Homestead from Storey Publishing, with ingredient additions by me)
P.S. Have you ever pondered making a Lavender Mint Mojito? Food for thought…
Spring/Summer Tea Recipe #2:
Peppermint Punch Tea
This refreshing and crisp drink recipe is great for cooling off after some garden work outside. And if you’ve ever grown Mints of any kind, you know how quickly you end up with LOTs of mint. This recipe can help you use it up!
(recipe makes 3 quarts, about 10 servings)
Ingredients:
4 Tablespoons Dried Peppermint leaves OR 4 teaspoons frest peppermint leaves, bagged in teabags or cheesecloth
2 quarts of water
1 Tablespoon raw honey
1 quart 100% juice cranberry
1 lime, juiced
Fresh Mint Sprigs
Instructions:
Place the peppermint leaves into teabags or cheesecloth and place those bags into a pitcher (glass preferably, as you’re using boiling water next). Bring the 2 quarts of water to a boil and pour the water and the raw honey into the pitcher. Allow to steep for 30 minutes.
Next, scoop out the tea bags. Add the cranberry juice and lime juice. Chill. Serve in tall glasses over ice, garnished with a sprig of mint.
Add extra lime wedges to the glass if desired for fragrance and taste. You can also add sliced fruit like oranges and lemons or whatever you like!
(recipe courtesy of The Backyard Homestead from Storey Publishing, with slight alterations by me)
Spring/Summer Tea Recipe #3:
Sage & Rosemary Tea
Sage and Rosemary both have a very pine-forward flavor that need a bit of “rounding out” with other additives, however, the oils they contain are very restorative and are great for a pick-me-up! Give this a try and see what you think!
This recipe makes 1 cup
Ingredients:
1 sprig of fresh Rosemary
1 sprig of fresh Sage
Boiling water and your favorite tea mug
Fresh lemon wedge
Honey OR Agave OR 2 Stevia leaves, crushed
Instructions:
Roll your sprigs gently between your two palms for a moment to lightly crush and release the oils (your hands will smell amazing!), then place into your tea mug. Pour boiling water and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Remove the sprigs and add your sweetener (you can put stevia leaves in with the boiling water and sprigs so they can steep too). Squeeze your lemon wedge into the tea and stir. Sip!
The lemon and sweetener take the edge off of the pine notes and give you a lovely fresh “wake up” in a cup!
Recipe is from Marissa’s stash of fun tea concoctions.
Herb gardens can be as simple or as large as you want!
Do you have a favorite herbal tea or mixed herbal drink? Share it in our Facebook group, Shell’s Garden Community!
Until next time, Keep Growing!
Marissa
Want more recipes using herbs? Check out some of my other blogs with food!
My Mint Lemonade in this article: 3 Harvest Fresh Recipes You Need Right Now
My compendium of herbal cocktails: Summer Drinks with Fresh Garden Herbs
A fruit salad with Mint, and a recipe for Agua Fresca: Tasty Summer Garden Treats