Blending your own teas can be fulfilling and fun, and if you like to garden, you can create a special blend from the garden all the way to the cup. There's nothing like serving a delicious brew that you've grown yourself. Following are some guidelines, and some recipes regarding herbs, their uses, and blends. Like food recipes, there are endless combinations of ingredients. Please note that the information given here is not intended to replace qualified medical care.

Harvesting, Drying, and Storing Guidelines

Harvesting - The best time to harvest your garden herbs is on a warm summer morning, after the dew has evaporated but before the sun gets so hot that it affects the essential oils of the plant. Most leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower. Flowers themselves are best harvested when in full bloom, however some are best harvested just before they bloom. Most of the herbs listed are available through our web catalog if you do not grow them yourself.

Drying - After harvesting, wash the herbs thoroughly. Shake them dry, or pat them gently with a clean towel. There are a couple of easy drying methods.
Oven drying - place the herb on a cookie sheet and put it in the oven for a couple minutes at about 85 -95 degrees. Leave the door open and check the herbs often, so they don’t overcook. When chip dry, they are done.
Bundling - small leaf herbs can be tied into small bundles and hung upside down to dry in a cool, ventilated place safe from insects and moisture.
Basket drying or paper bag drying- I like to dry my flowers in a basket, so that I can shake them daily and carefully watch their level of dryness. Flowers seems to dry quickly so the basket method works well for them. I also use it for large leaf herbs sometimes, like basil. These take a little longer, and need to be shaken a couple times a day. You could use a paper bag the same way, although you don’t get the same level of air circulation as with the basket.

Storing - When the herbs are fully dry, try to store them in the largest form possible to preserve the essential oils in the leaves and flowers. Airtight glass jars, preferably not clear, will best preserve the herbs. If you can’t find colored glass jars, then keep the jars in a cabinet or some place with minimal light.

The Tea Herbal

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous)
This plant is native to China and has deep tap roots that are superior for
boosting immunity.
Benefits: Strengthens the immune system by revitalizing white blood cells, and stimulating the production of natural antibodies; balances body fluids, strengthens cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure.
Tasting notes: Astragalus has a mild, gentle flavor and is easily incorporated into
blends to strengthen and tonify your entire system.

Calendula Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
A bright annual garden flower. Harvest: cut the bright yellow flowers all through the summer, just before they are fully open.
Benefits: Eases digestive distress, soothes the stomach lining: relieves congestion in the lymph nodes; detoxifies the body; menstrual and menopause regulator. Externally as a skin wash for cuts, sores, or other skin conditions.
Tasting notes: Calendula has a delicate, gentle flavor, and will blend well.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
This perennial garden herb is a member of the mint family and is easy to grow. Harvest anytime during the growing season
Benefits: Excellent for stress relief, helps aid in restful sleep, acts as a natural antacid and digestive aid, helps in PMS and cramps, wonderful herb for children to ease hyperactivity and colic. Great for cats too!
Tasting notes: Fresh catnip is minty tasty, however dried catnip is slightly bitter so it’s best blended.

Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Annual reseeding garden herb. Harvest during blooming season, June - frost. Carefully pick each flower by hand for best flavor. Picking flowers encourages new buds.
Benefits: Sedative, Stress relief, Calms, Anti-inflammatory, Digestive aid, Sleep aid, Children’s calmative.
Tasting notes: Bright honey flavor, often compared to apples. Delicious!

Cinnamon (Cinnamon cassia)
Best to buy, but use sticks and break them into pieces, or look for chips. Don’t use powder or it will make your tea muddy.
Benefits: helps fight bacteria and viruses with antiseptic properties,
acts as a digestive aid.
Tasting notes: the warm spicy flavor of cinnamon is great paired with citrus, or with winter immune stimulating herbs.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Probably already grows in your garden, even if you don’t think you want it! Harvest the leaf early in spring before flowering; roots in the fall.
Benefits: Leaf - mild laxative, diuretic, good for weight control, high in iron, strengthens digestion. Root - removes toxins from the body, acts as a liver tonic, anti-rheumatic.
Tasting notes: Dandelion leaf can be very bitter, best blended. Roots are best roasted.

Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia or purpurea)
A garden flower with purple daisy like flowers. Use the leaf and the roots.
Benefits: Cleans the blood, strengthens immune system, protects healthy cells from bacteria, viruses, fungus and microbes. Stimulates the production of antibodies, is anti-inflammatory. High is B complex vitamins, iron, calcium, and selenium.
Tasting notes: Not horrible.

Elder (Sambuca nigra)
This native of Britain and Europe blooms with delicate yellow flowers and purple-black berries, both of which are medicinally useful.
Benefits: a great remedy for colds and flu, helps clear respiratory passageways, alleviates congestion and sore throat, can give allergy relief.
Tasting notes: Flowers are delicately flavored and blend well. Berries are strong, but delicious.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Easy to grow in the garden, but with the quantity needed, buying may be easier.
Benefits: soothes indigestion, reduces flatulence and heartburn, improves digestion, reduces fluid retention, helps in weight control, has many nutrients, minerals and vitamins A,C,and E and zinc.
Tasting notes: the seeds taste a little like anise or licorice, and are sweet, so they are often added to blends to sweeten the taste.

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)
This aromatic and flavorful root can be used fresh or dried.
Benefits: digestive aid, renown for easing motion sickness, treatment of cold and flu symptoms, lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood pressure, reduces the risk of heart attack, increases metabolic heat.
Tasting notes: ginger is spicy and warm, fresh root will be much more aromatic.

Hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa)
Although there are more than two hundred species of hibiscus, the one most commonly used for tea is rarely grown in the US.
Benefits: high in vitamin C, calming
Tasting notes: these flowers brew a bright red cup with a tart, tangy, sweet taste that lends it self well to any fruity blend.

Jasmine (Jasminium odoratissimum)
Benefits: Primarily used as an aromatic herb, attracts love
Tasting notes: the classic flavor of jasmine lends itself to many blends, the flavor is floral, and slightly perfumy.

Lavender (Lavandula officinale)
A wonderful, aromatic garden flower with spikes of lavender flowers. Usually only flowers are used for tea but it’s easiest to dry on stems.
Benefits: Calmative, Pain relief, Children’s herb, Women’s herb
Tasting notes: used extensively in France as a culinary herb, the flavor can be a bit perfumy for American palates, so use sparingly. Tastes like it smells.

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
A great garden herb and member of the mint family.
Benefits: Calming, Relieves stress, alleviates depression, relieves digestive upset and flatulence, strengthens immune system, Great children’s herb
Tasting notes: a wonderful lemony flavor, better fresh than dried.

Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
This sweet root is commonly used in herbal medicine and helps to sweeten and harmonize blends, and helps to mask the medicinal flavor of some herbs.
Benefits: Eases allergic reactions, aids indigestion, remedy for stomach ulcers, soothes and stops coughs
Tasting notes: Licorice root has a natural sweetness and can be added to any tea blend to increase sweetness.

Linden (Tillia europa
The flowers of this tree are one of natures most effective, gentle relaxing herbs.
Benefits: gently calms and soothes, aids in sleep. Great children’s herb
Tasting notes: Linden has a mild, slightly earthy taste. Average taste.

Nettles (Urtica dioica)
A great garden herb if you have an out of the way place for it. Be careful! Nettles sting ALOT! Use gloves when handling fresh plant. Dried, they don’t sting. Benefits: Whole body tonic rich in vitamins and minerals, Good for reproductive health,Respiratory and immune health, Allergy relief, Children
Tasting notes: Nettles have a bit of a vegetal, spinachy taste, and the medicinal benefits make it a wonderful tea to add to blends.

Oatstraw (Avena sativa)
Another way to get some of the many benefits of oats!
Benefits: Strengthens immunity and builds energy, nourishes the nervous system, alleviates depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Good for the skin. High in vitamins A,D, and E, and zinc.
Tasting notes: A little like hay, but with a pleasant sweetness.

Orange Peel (Citrus sinensis)
Benefits: High in Vitamin C, strengthens immunity, stimulates digestive juices with bitter properties.
Tasting notes: Orange peel is a great flavoring addition to blends for it’s orange, citrusy sweet taste. Try lemon, lime, and tangerine peel too!

Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Mints are easy to grow, but aggressive garden herbs. Container planting is suggested. Harvest just before flowering.
Benefits: Digestive tract soother, Respiratory ailments, Pain relief
Tasting notes: The essential oils in Peppermint are aromatic and give it is characteristically strong minty flavor. Also try Spearmint for a slightly different taste.

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
This common evergreen shrub is the symbol of friendship and remembrance.
Benefits: stimulates brain function and circulation, eases stomach distress, colic, nausea, indigestion, flatulence, promotes healthy liver function, alleviates headache.
Tasting notes: aromatic and slightly piney

Rose Petals and Hips (Rosa centifolia)
Roses have been cultivated since the 6th century B.C.
Benefits: Hips- high in Vitamin C, helps ward off colds, soothes sore throats, rich in bioflavenoids, helps nourish blood.
Tasting notes: Hips taste fruity and a little bit like pleasant citrus. The petals taste like roses with a delicate, fragrant floral flavor.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia)
This member of the mint family has a long history of use by Native Americans.
Benefits: Excellent remedy for nervous conditions like anxiety, stress, insomnia, Soothes nerves and calms, helps headaches and muscle aches, helpful in PMS to soothe nerves and spirit.
Tasting notes: Bitter. Blend with other herbs.

Spearmint (Mentha spp.)
Easy to grow. Harvest anytime during the summer.
Benefits: Helps soothe the stomach, has a milder, cooler flavor than peppermint and is a less stimulating choice.
Tasting notes: Fantastic- an excellent blending herb.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Easy to grow perennial. Harvest anytime in the growing season.
Benefits: Immune support for cold and flu, Digestive and respiratory aid, Sore throat, Antibacterial and Antiseptic
Tasting notes: This pungent aromatic herb is slightly medicinal tasting

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian has been used for centuries as a tranquilizer and for headaches.
Benefits: Relieves anxiety, promotes sleep, eases pain, reduces muscle tension,
relieves menstrual cramps.
Tasting notes: Valerian has a distinct, taste that can be overpowering to some. Blend with strong mints to help with the taste.

Common Tea Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy

Angelica (Angelica archangelica) - can bring on menses
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) - increases menstrual flow
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.) - large doses can be a uterine stimulant
Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) - moves blood and can lead to miscarriage
Ephedra (Ephedra sinensis) - can increase heart rate and blood pressure
Fennel (Foenicculum officinale) - excess may be a uterine stimulant
Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) - may be a uterine stimulant
Ginseng (Panax ginseng) - may disrupt hormonal constituents
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) - brings on menses
Juniper (Juniperus spp) - diuretic with vasodialating effect on uterus
Kava-kava (Piper methysticum) - large doses can cause a build up of toxins
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) - can adversely affect hormone levels
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) - stimulates oxytocin, brings on menses
Mugwort (Artemesia vulgaris) - may stimulate uterine contractions
Oregon Grape Root (Mahonia aquifolium) - too strong and bitter
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) - large doses may cause stimulation of uterus
Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) - many alkaloids that may affect fetus
Sassafras (Sassafras officinale or spp.) - oils in plant may harm fetus
Sage (Salvia officinalis) - large doses may adversely affect hormones
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) - excessive use may be uterine stimulant
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) - can cause headache or palpitations
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) - strong astringent, may be abortive

Before using any herbs during pregnancy or lactation, consult a qualified herbalist or health care practicitioner.

Herbal Tea Recipes

Summer Afternoon Tea
2 parts lemon balm
1 part rosehip
1 part hibiscus
1 part orange peel

Floral Fantasy Tea
1 part Rose petals
1 part calendula
1 part jasmine
2 part lemon balm
1/4 part lavender

Uplifting Tea
1 part oatstraw
2 part lemon balm
1 part St. John’s wort
2 part chamomile
1 part jasmine

Sniffles Tea
1 part ginger
1 part fennel
1 part rosehips
1 part thyme
1 part orange peel

Calming Children’s Tea
2 parts chamomile
1 part lemon balm
1 part oatstaw

Digestive Soother Tea
1 part peppermint
1 part chamomile
1/2 part fennel
1/2 orange peel

Immunity Booster Tea
1 part rosemary
1 part echinacea
1 part rosehips
1 part calendula
1 part mint
1/2 part nettles

Sleep Tight Tea
1 part catnip
2 part chamomile
2 part lemon balm
1 part oatstraw
1/2 part skullcap
1/4 part valerian

©2001 Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse