Search Bar
Billy Joe's Food Farm - ᵀʰᵉʳᵉ ᶦˢ ᶠʳᵉᵉᵈᵒᵐ ᶦᶰ ᵃ ˢᵉᵉᵈ⋅™
  • Food Farm Blog
  • Kid's Blog
  • Home
  • FOR SALE
  • Our Animals
  • Photos From Around the Farm
  • Resources and Websites
  • French Lop Rabbits
    • Rabbits For Sale >
      • Bucks
      • Does
    • Raising Kits: Birth to Weanlings
  • Pet Page
    • Up For Adoption
  • Goats
    • For Sale

Growing an Herbal Tea Garden

2/27/2013

2 Comments

 
Gardens are so important to many people, either for aesthetics or for producing food.  Working the soil is good for the soul, and years ago I had a gardening epiphany; if I am going to do all this work landscaping, why not put in plants that would give back in the form of food, herbs and medicine?

I've never been much of a tea drinker.  I have sampled many times the teas in the little boxes from the grocery store, trying to understand why people seem to like them so much.  They were always so bland and tasteless, even if I used three or four bags.  I even went so far as to find a local bulk tea shop, and bought several types that appealed to me.  Most of them just can't compete with my heavenly dark brewed, packed with flavor, beloved coffee.  I gave up, and decided the Brits could have my share.

However, when I began to grow my own herbs, a really wonderful thing happened; I found that my homegrown teas were packed with flavor.  In addition, if you are using teas as medicine, using fresh plant material is a better way to acess the medicinal qualities.

For an even more interesting tea, try adding fruit peels such as apple, lemon or orange.  I save my fruit peels for just this purpose.  Find some local honey as well, and you can create all sorts of heathful, helpful powerhouses.



 






From wikiHow.com:

A tea garden is a delightful hobby that can complement the rest of your herb garden and will provide you with the joy of fresh herbal teas, more properly known as herbal infusions or tisanes, at a moment's notice. Creating a tea garden in a container can also make a perfect gift for somebody.  References to "tea" below should be understood to refer to herbal tea.

[snip]

Peppermint - this is a perennial favorite for many people. Its refreshing taste is uplifting and cleansing, as well as wonderful for stomach troubles of all kinds. Peppermint is generally very easy to grow and enjoys sunny and semi-shaded spots. Grows very, very easily and unless you want it escaping across the garden, keep it pot-bound. The leaves are the part used for making tea.

Lavender - a delightful, softly fragrant tisane that is perfect for soothing, especially recommended for reducing tension and soothing headaches. Lavender grows well in full sun, well-drained soil . Lavender buds are the part of the plant used for tea.

Lemon Verbena - a refreshing and tangy lemony taste comes packed in these simple but easy-to-grow leaves. It needs full sun and will not tolerate harsh winters, so keep it pot-bound if that's a danger in your area. The leaves are the part used for tea.

Rose Hips - rose hips are the seed cases for roses. They are extremely high in vitamin C and are very good for you. Rose hips will form once the rose bush goes to seed. The rose hips should be deep orange-red before harvesting. Clean the rose hips gently before steeping.

Marjoram - this herb has a fruity, citrus flavor and an undertone of mint. It grows well in full sun to semi-shade.
Leaves and flowers are suitable for steeping.

Pick the leaves or flowers. The best time of day for this is just after the dew has dried but before the heat of the sun begins to draw the oils out of the plant.

Prepare the leaves. Leaves should be bruised to release their essential oils . Do this by rubbing them  together.

Make the tea. Add the herbs to a teapot or directly to a mug or cup. For each cup of tea, add approximately 2 to 3 teaspoons of fresh leaves and/or flowers. Slice rose hips in half before adding.

Allow to steep for 5 minutes. This will ensure that the flavors are released and the full benefits of the herb's or flower's qualities are available.


Read more about teas as gifts, choosing the right soil and/or pots for herb growing, and additional herbs to grow and use at http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-an-Herbal-Tea-Garden.



2 Comments
Nina
3/1/2013 01:17:09 am

Thank you for your articles. I very much enjoy them, I have wanted a 'tea' garden for quite awhile. Time to get started,

Reply
Tina
3/1/2013 03:19:43 am

Nina, you are very welcome, I'm glad you enjoy them. Many of these plants are very easy to grow, and most will even thrive in containers. No matter where you live or how much room you have, everyone can grow some food. Happy planting!

Tina

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    If you like our blog and would like to help support what we do, please feel free to donate any amount to help keep us going!  Our goal is to use this blog to help care for the animals.  We will let you know how your donations are used.  Thank you!
    Billy Joe's Food Farm
    Organic herbs, spices, teas and oils.
    The Enclyclopedia of Country Living is one of THE best homesteading books I have ever purchased, and I still refer to it often.

    RSS Feed

    Author

    We are city folk who decided to move our family to the country, to experience life the way it ought to be lived...OUTSIDE! 

    Categories

    All
    Butchering
    Chickens
    Ducks
    Food As Medicine/Herbal Medicine
    Food Security
    Gardening
    Gmo
    Goats
    Heirloom Seeds
    Herbal Resources
    Homesteading
    Rabbits
    Self Reliance
    Sheep

    Archives

    February 2014
    November 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Shop Amazon's Kindle Accessories Store
    Search & Win

Billy Joe's Food Farm 

  Raising sheep, goats, chickens, guineas, ducks, dogs, cats, and gardens since 2010.  Oh, and not eating anything but plants and fish.  Welcome!

    Contact Us

Submit
Proudly powered by Weebly