Growing Your Own Herbs for Herbal Tea

Herbal teas are delicious and refreshing. (Yes, yes, for all you tea enthusiasts, I know they aren't really "teas" - they're infusions, but let's dispense with the formalities here, shall we?) Herbal teas can also promote good health, and some are used to combat various ailments. You can buy the herbs, roots and flowers you need to make various types of herbal tea at health food stores. But growing your own herbs allows you to have everything you need at hand any time you want a good cup of tea - plus you know they're organic and fresh, and it's so much more satisfying to drink something you grew yourself!

Lemon balm herbal tea (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Most of the herbs used to make tea are easy to grow. You can even plant many of them in containers if planting them in the ground isn't an option, or simply if it's more convenient. Here are some good herbs to use for making tea, along with some things to keep in mind when growing them.

* Mint – There are many different types of mint, and most of them make wonderful tea. Peppermint is one of the most popular. If you have more adventurous tastes, try pineapple mint or orange mint. Mints are generally hardy plants, and they will spread if allowed to do so. They are best grown in containers or planted in the ground in the middle of tall, bottomless containers, so they don't take over the whole garden, which they will if you let them. Tea is made from the leaves.

* Lemon balm – Closely related to mint, lemon balm also makes a tasty tea. It has a minty lemon flavor. Lemon balm grows best in dry soil and partial shade. The leaves are used to make tea.

* Chamomile – Chamomile tea is very soothing, and it is also used to treat a variety of health problems. It is very easy to grow. Chamomile grows best in sunny, moist areas. The flowers are used for making tea.

A variant of apple mint, pineapple mint, displays white variegation on its leaves, Pierce County, Washington (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

* Lavender – If you're looking for a tea to help you unwind after a stressful day, lavender tea is a great choice. Lavender is well known for its calming effect, and it can help relieve tension headaches. It needs full sun and well drained soil to flourish. Use the buds for tea making.

* Coriander – Also known as cilantro, this herb is most often used in cooking, but it makes a nice tea as well. It has a unique spicy, citrusy flavor. Coriander grows in full sun or partial shade. The leaves OR seeds are used to make tea.

* Violet – Violet tea is quite refreshing, and it's also a great source of vitamins A and C. Violets grow best in shady areas. Tea is made from the dried leaves and flowers of the plant.

* Thyme – Another herb that is usually used for cooking, thyme has a spicy flavor. Thyme tea is most often used for medicinal purposes, as it is good for sore throat and stomach problems. Thyme grows best in full sun or partial shade. Leaves and flowers may be used to make tea.

Almost anyone can grow an herbal tea garden. Many of these herbs do well indoors in containers as long as they get adequate sunlight. You don't need a lot of space to produce enough herbs to make tea any time you like. You can also grow a variety of herbs together in one container, for an interesting mix of colors, textures, and flavors.