Monday, March 4, 2013

5 Easy Tea Leaves To Grow In Your Garden

Homeowners with a garden may choose to grow their own plants to make teas. These are called herbal teas and will be made from plants other than the traditional tea plant. Herbal teas are common as a drink during the cold months of the year to provide a boost to the immune system. There are 5 plants used for herbal teas you can easily grow in your garden.

Chamomile

This is an easy plant to grow in any garden and the flowers that are produced look similar to a daisy. A dried plant can be used to make a refreshing tea to have in the morning. Pick flowers from the plants at their peak to dry and keep stored to make tea to last during winter months. The plant grows up to about 18 inches and is great to plant alongside cabbage.

Basil

Teas made from this herb are popular in the West Indies and surrounding areas. The leaves and flowers of this plant can be made into a herbal tea. There are a variety Basil plants, such as Cinnamon Basil or Lemon Basil that can also be made into herbal tea. If you add honey to your tea, then a great drink can be made by adding a few cubes of ice.

Anise Hyssop

This plant produces purple-colored flowers that can be made into a herbal tea. The taste is sweet with a hint or licorice flavor and smell. You can grow this plant in the sun or even in shade. These plants grow to a height of 3 feet. Flowers bloom will cover the plant from July to September. Tea can be made from dried leaves and flowers in the summer or winter.

Hoary Mountain Mint

Do not confuse this plant with common peppermint. The appearance of this plant is a silvery white and has flowers that have a fragrance of piney mint. This plant is a perennial and will produce flowers from year to year. You can make fresh or brew tea from dried leaves and flowers. The plant grows to a height of 3 feet.

Lemon Balm

The Lemon Balm is actually a member of the mint family and is a fast grower. This plant grows up to a height of 2 feet and is a great option for ground cover in your garden. Herbal tea can be made by drying and grinding up the leaves and flowers. The result is a soothing tea with a strong scent of lemon.

Additional Information

Growing your own plants to make herbal tea offers many advantages. The plants will give your home a touch of beauty from the colors of the leaves and flowers. A walk in your garden will be enhanced by the fragrance of perfume coming from the plants. The maintenance of plants for your garden does not require a lot of effort. All you need to do is add mulch and water regularly. You will enjoy the return from the cost of seed by the amount of tea that can be made.
Graham is a keen gardener who lives in Brisbane with his wife of 30 years and beloved Jack Russel Neil. After living in the tropical QLD climate for over 5 decades, Graham is a local expert on garden maintenance in Brisbane.When he’s not in the garden, Graham loves nothing more than cheering on his favourite AFL team – the Brisbane Lions. 

1 Smart Readers SAID::

Christina Paul said...

Thanks for sharing!- I never thought of growing herbs for tea! :) I must try chamomile!

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