Tea For 2

I'm really taking a long hard look at my plan for an herb garden this year. Herbs will take a front row seat here at Hidden Acres, as I will be adding them to my soaps as well as making my own tea combinations. Some things that we already have growing on the farm will be a part of my tea collection. Strawberry, raspberry, blackberry and blueberry all make lovely teas when using their leaves and berries. Since I do not treat my berries with sprays or other chemicals, they are safe to use in tea making (if you are unsure you should not use them for tea making). It is best to gather the leaves from the bushes before the fruit ripens and to pick those leaves without stripping. After the berries ripen, gather as usual, but save a few to dry and add to their leaves for tea. It doesn't take many dried berries to get the desired result. Some people like to mix and match their leaves and berries, but I appreciate a singular flavor for my tea. You, of course, can do just as you please with yours!

Beyond those berries, I am completely surrounded by rose bushes. The dried flowers and hips make for a delightful cup of tea.  Lastly, I have a "mint garden" that I achieved by planting mint directly into my once thriving herb garden~over running everything but itself. If you plan to add mint to your repertoire of herbs please take care to plant it in it's own containers where it can not spread. I love mint, but-yikes! I will certainly have plenty to harvest again this year. There is something special about mint tea. It is one of the only teas that I like both hot and cold. It has this special power that makes me feel better.

The herbs that I will be purchasing to round out the collection of ingredients for tea will be; thyme, sage, dill, lemon balm (watch out, it is a relative of mint and spreads), marjoram, rosemary, lemon verbena, chamomile, basil (also will make a delicious jelly),  and lavender. This list includes almost all of the herbs I tend to grow already, so just buying a few extra plants should allow me enough to harvest for tea.

                                                       
                                                                Harvesting


Harvest your herbs in the morning after the dew has dried from their leaves. The essential oils are at their peak first thing in the morning. I use screens to lay my shorter herbs on to dry. I have a dry, evenly heated space to leave them. For my mints and lavender, I tie the stems together and hang the bunches in that same dry space. After the drying process is complete, package your tea ingredients into an airtight container and store away from sunlight and heat.

Of course you can use the leaves and flowers to make a fresh pot for yourself right then and there.

                                                              Making Tea


Place the pieces (a small handful for fresh plants or 1-2 tablespoons for dried plants) in a pot and cover with boiling water. Cover and steep until it has reached your desired strength. Strain. Enjoy!


Herbs impact us all. They make our homes and ourselves smell better, they add flavor and pizazz to our culinary delights, and they have the ability to cure us of what ails us. There are so many resources for growing herbs and making your own teas. Look around and choose carefully. I like researching the suggested medicinal impact of herbs, but caution that everyone is different and although herbs have a history dating back to the Garden of Eden, they are not magical...I don't think!