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How
to
Grow-Your-Own
Tea
Garden by
Amanda Whiting
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I
love the smell of herbs,
so my garden is full of
them. Sometimes they die
(like basil, why can't
I grow basil?), but most
of the time they grow
into giant plants ready
for harvest multiple times
a year (like our chive
bushes which now
resemble small shrubs).
I'm
a tea junkie and always
love to try new teas
first by smelling, then
sipping. So, what better
way to sample a load of
new teas while not
breaking the bank, grow
a tea garden!
It's actually really easy,
and you don't even need
a
yard to do it. You just
need a planter (or two,
or
three depending on how
many herbs you carry off
in your arms), access
to water, a few minutes
and voilà! Your
tea garden is ready to
grow.
The easiest
no-fuss way to start a
tea garden is to head
off to
your nearest plant-supplier
(farmer's markets, retail
stores and
nurseries all carry herbs).
When you get there, start
smelling!
Whatever
smells you think are good,
put them in your basket
to buy.
If you're having trouble
getting a scent from just
the leaves, rub a
leaf with your fingers
and smell - the scent
will be stronger.
Get some potting soil
- most herbs grow rather
easily, so there's no
need to spend a small
fortune on soil - any
will do.
When you get home, choose
a planter or spot in your
yard to
grow your tea garden.
Dig holes, insert plants,
water. The majority
of herbs like full sun,
but you can get away with
almost anything
for plants like mint and
lemon balm.
At
least twice a week, go
out and enjoy your garden.
Smell the
plants and let your tastebuds
guide you. Once your plants
are
established (as in, not
10 minutes old and actually
growing in your
dirt), you can start removing
the leaves for tea as
you wish.
Keep in mind that some
plants use the buds (lavender)
or the flowers (chamomile)
as opposed to the leaves.
harvest herbs
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If
you want to make tea
from fresh herbs,
then the timing of
picking the leaves
doesn't matter as
much.
You
can pick whenever
you feel like a cuppa
and following the
directions from brewing
tea. If you want to
dry the leaves, pick
mid-morning, before
the sun gets too hot
(between 10-11 is
perfect).
Wash
off any dirt. Be sure
to dry them well or
mildew can grow while
drying.
To dry, hang them
upside down in a bunch
in a darkish area
that's not too cold,
and not humid.
Drying
time varies and you'll
need to check them
every few days to
see if they're dry.
Once
they're dry and crumbly,
take them down. For
tea, it's best to
leave the leaves as
intact as possible.
Store them in a jar
for up to a year.
Don't
forget to label them.
You wouldn't want
to have a cold, want
a cup of tea, and
have to try to guess
through the congestion
what each smell is.
Steeping
Tea
For fresh tea,
remove enough leaves
or flowers of various
plants to make up
about a tablespoon.
Rinse
them, rub the leaves
together to release
the oils, and toss
them in a cup or teapot.
Pour
hot water over top
and let it steep for
5-10 minutes. The
longer you steep,
the stronger the flavour
becomes.
Strain
and drink. You can
add sugar, honey or
stevia for sweetening.
Try making enough
to put a cup in the
fridge over night
and trying the same
tea in the iced version
the next day.
If
you use dried herbs,
use about a teaspoon
of herbs. Dried herbs
have a lot more flavour
per teaspoon You can
use a bodum, a tea
ball, or strainer
to strain the leaves
before drinking.
GET
CREATIVE ! Mix herbs
to make your own special
blend; add a splash
of juice; add fresh
fruits like raspberries,
strawberries or orange.
Make notes so that
if you make a really
good tea you know
what you put in it
(and on the same note,
if a tea was terrible,
you won't repeat the
mistake).
Tea
gardens aren't hard
to grow and they can
are a lovely addition
to any garden, small
or large. They take
very little time and
effort - always a
bonus with the busy
lives moms lead -
and have excellent
outcomes. Introduce
your friends, children,
and other family members
to the wonderful world
of tea. A homemade
blend makes a thoughtful
gift, and your kids
will feel like grown-ups
getting to drink a
cuppa!
M
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So
I must rise at early dawn, as busy as
can
be, to get my daily labor done,
and pluck the leafy tea."
Ballad of the Tea Pickers Le Yih Early
Ch’ing Dynasty, 1644
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Common
Herbs
Bee Balm On top of being a
great addition to any tea
(it has a similar flavour
to Earl Grey), it attracts
bees and hummingbirds with
its sweet nectar (also known
as bergamont).
Chamomile The flowers of this
plant are used in tea as opposed
to its leaves. It's a really
pretty plant that resembles
daisies. Chamomile is great
for helping lull people to
sleep, and it is used to help
with relaxation. Beware chamomile
if there are ragweed allergies
as a similar reaction can
occur.
Lavender
This is a pretty plant with
beautiful purple flowers.
The buds of the flowers are
used in tea. Lavender is a
natural relaxant that helps
to release tension and relieve
headaches.
Lemongrass Although really
common in tea, it does need
to be brought in for the winter
as it's not frost friendly.
If you're not prepared to
take care of it over the winter,
treat it as an annual.
Lemon
Balm Occasionally lemon balm
can taste slightly bitter.
To avoid this, do not over-steep
it, and consider pairing it
with a mint variety. This
will remove some of the bitterness.
This is a really invasive
plant that can grow almost
anywhere. It is best grown
in containers.
Mint
Mint is wonderful to use as
a remedy to morning sickness,
hangovers, or anything else
that makes your stomach queasy.
It grows really easily and
there are a ton of different
varieties. Try a few different
types of mint in your garden
for variety. It comes in everything
like spearamint, apple mint,
chocolate mint, grapefruit
mint and so on. Be prepared
- mint grows like a weed!
Grow it in a container or
be prepared to pluck more
than just your eyebrows every
week.
Rosemary
Although usually thought of
as a cooking herb, rosemary
can also be used in teas to
help with circulation issues
and depression. Harvest enough
for both a supply of tea and
cooking!
Stevia
You can use stevia leaves
as a
natural sweetnener in your
teas.
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