We at all times appear to have additional herbs readily available. Right here’s an concept: Dry a few of these leaves and use them for tea! We’ll present you methods to dry herbs and make a full-bodied cup of tea.
Develop Your Personal Herbs for Tea
I actually having fun with develop herbs, particularly what I name “calming herbs,” which assist with stress and nervousness. So, it makes excellent sense to make use of these calming herbs in teas.
Chamomile, lemon verbena, lemon balm, and any of the mints—peppermint, orange mint, and spearmint—are all excellent for tea.
Easy methods to Dry Herbs
Earlier than your crops are killed by frost, get a few final harvests in and dry your remaining leaves to make use of over the winter.
Ideally, it’s best to harvest earlier than the crops flower for the most effective taste—however that is the final name!
- Harvest the leaves within the morning after the dew has dried. (When the rising season has ended, you’ll be able to reduce the crops proper again to the bottom for those who want.)
- Fastidiously brush off any filth. Don’t wash the leaves off with water, as they might mildew as a substitute of drying.
- Correct drying will protect the leaves and focus the flavors. Make small bunches and cling them the other way up in a heat, dry place out of direct daylight.
Or, you might unfold the crops out on a clear display (or paper towels laid over a wire rack) in a cool, dry spot. If you’re having hassle drying in humid climate, you might resort to the oven, however that isn’t optimum for tea.
→ Study extra about how to dry and freeze herbs.
It will probably take as much as every week or extra for them to dry, relying on the humidity within the air. Temperatures which can be too scorching—over 85 to 90°F—will trigger risky oils to evaporate. When the leaves are absolutely dried, strip them from the stems and retailer in an hermetic glass jar stored in a darkish, cool place.
Put the kettle on and brew up a cup!
Easy methods to Make Natural Tea
Convey the water simply to a boil, add anyplace from 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon of dried herbs per cup of water to your teapot, after which let steep for 3-5 minutes, relying on how sturdy you want your tea. Since herb teas are naturally gentle in shade, check by style fairly than by sight. Understand that over-brewed tea could be bitter.
You should utilize a tea ball to maintain leaves from clogging the teapot’s spout or use an infuser to brew only a single cup. Many tea aficionados don’t like to make use of steel strainers, claiming they provide the tea a metallic style and don’t enable the herbs to totally swell and launch their flavors. I’ve a pal who makes use of her French press to make tea.
A dry summer season helps to pay attention the flavors, making for some tasty teas. The chocolate mint was extraordinarily sturdy and fragrant, and the holy basil was particularly candy and fruity this yr. It grew so prolifically that I couldn’t sustain! The bees appreciated the blossoms, although, and the bubblegum aroma wafted over the backyard on scorching days.
Bored with tea constructed from a single herb? Attempt these scrumptious mixtures or experiment and make up a few of your individual. In the event you like your tea candy, add a dried stevia leaf to every cup.
- Stress-free and Refreshing: 2 components lemon balm to 1 half spearmint. That is my favourite combo.
- Citrus Spice: equal components lemon basil, bee balm flowers, and orange mint.
- Luscious Licorice: equal components anise hyssop, candy cicely, and fennel leaves.
- Victorian Tea Backyard: equal components pineapple sage, chamomile flowers, and lemon balm.
- Mediterranean Mix: equal components summer season savory, marjoram, and rosemary. Higher than bouillon!
- Calming Stress Reliever: 3 components chamomile flowers, 2 components lemon balm, and 1 half holy basil.
Get pleasure from a reminder of the backyard this winter over a cup of homegrown herb tea.
