Teas can be made from leaves, roots, flowers, fruits, stem or seeds. Whether they are iced or hot, relaxing, refreshing or medical they provide a wonderful way to enjoy the garden. In this post we will look at a variety of teas to grow for
- Tummy soothing tea
- Sleepy tea
- Tea for headaches
- Tea to ward off or treat colds and flus
Preparing tea
Make your perfect cup by placing fresh leaves, flowers or fruit directly to a tea pot, adding hot water and allowing to steep for a few minutes. Use a tea strainer, to pour the tea into a cup, adding sweetener, milk, a slice of lemon or extra spice if desired. Alternatively you can make the directly in the cup by using a tea infuser or simply straight in the cup as is.
There is nothing better than making a cup of tea from the garden however there are a few pointers that will enhance the quality:
Always thoroughly wash the leaves, flowers or fruit to remove any air pollution, bird droppings or dust
Warm the tea pot and/or tea cup with a little hot water before preparing
Use a tea cosy to keep the tea warm for top ups
For a visual reminder to enjoy the tea mindfully use a cup that is beautiful or add a flower or slice of lemon to bring your focus back to the experience
Enjoy the tea with artfulness and mindfulness. See the Art of Tea
Tea blends
Depending on how you are feeling prepare your own tea by making your own blends.
Please note: pregnant women, people taking medications or allergy sufferers should always check with a medical practitioner before trying any new tea ingredients. The information provided in this blog is advisory only.
Tummy soothing tea
For conditions such as nausea, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas and bad breath prepare a tea with any combination of the following ingredients. Sweeten with a little honey if desired or add flavour with the addition of lemon juice.
INGREDIENT | USES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Apple skin | Makes a beautiful tea simmered with cinnamon and honey. Beneficial for gut health. | Tree – choose a variety suited to the subtropics. |
Chamomile flowers | Calming effect on mind and body. Reduces inflammation, helps relieve nausea. Use the flowers fresh or dried for tea although the dried flowers are more potent. | Small perennial flowering groundcover. Leave some flowers to self-seed in the garden. Prefers full sun to part shade and well composted soil. |
Dandelion roots, flowers and leaves | Can help relieve stomach cramping and period pains. Assists with liver health and works as a diuretic – relieving constipation. Roast or boil dandelion roots and prepare similar to coffee. Infuse flowers or leaves in boiling water for a soothing tea or chill for an iced tea. | Small herbaceous perennial plant. This is a common ‘weed’ but be careful it has not been sprayed with pesticides. It’s better to grow your own. The seeds are ready to harvest when the flower turns into a “wishing” or “Santa Claus” flower. You will find the small brown seeds at the base of the white fluff. |
Fennel seeds | Helps to relieve stomach pain, bloating, indigestion, constipation and diarrhoea. Makes a nice after dinner drink to aid digestion. Crush seeds and then steep in boiling water. | Herbaceous perennial plant, usually grown as an annual. Allow best plants to go to seed, using some for cooking and some for planting. Allow plenty of room around the plant for it to grow. |
Geranium leaves | Prepare a tea by steeping the leaves in boiling water. The tea has a soothing effect on the stomach. | Herbaceous mostly perennial plant. Extremely hardy and easy to grow. Prune back in autumn and use the cuttings to grow new plants. |
Ginger root | Helps relieve nausea. Peel, then finely slice the root before boiling for about 15 minutes. | Herbaceous perennial plant. They require plenty of mulch and moisture. Harvest once the plant has finished flowering. |
Lemon balm leaves | Helps with indigestion and bloating. Steep leaves in boiling water to make tea. | Herbaceous perennial plant. In hot climates it can benefit from partial shade. |
Lemon grass leaves | Cut leaves into small pieces and steep in boiling water. Lemongrass has a calming effect and can relieve bloating. | Perennial grass suited to subtropical environment. It requires well composted soil and regular watering. Prune it back at the the end of winter. |
Lemon juice | Juice a lemon and add to boiling water or add a slice to any of the other teas listed. Lemons contain anti-virals which can help treat stomach upsets | Small tree. They require well mulched and composted soil and should be fed in spring and autumn each year. |
Peppermint leaves | Can help relieve stomach and period cramps, bloating and indigestion. Steep peppermint leaves in boiling water or chill to prepare a refreshing peppermint iced tea. | Small herbaceous perennial plant. Plant peppermint near a dripping tap as it is a water lover. Prefers part shade in hot regions. |
Pigeon pea leaves and stems | Can help with constipation, gingivitis and mouth ulcers. Young stems can be used as a toothbrush. | An easy to grow small tree in sub-tropical areas. See more information here. |
Pineapple sage leaves | Calms an upset stomach and assists with digestion. Steep leaves in boiling water. | Small herbaceous perennial plant. Easy to grow from cuttings. |
Sleepy tea
A simple ritual each night of mindfully preparing and slowly sipping a special cup of tea to relax the body and mind can help you let go of the stresses and strains of the day in order to have a good restful night of sleep.
INGREDIENT | USES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Chamomile flowers | Calming effect on mind and body as a mild sedative and muscle relaxant. Use the flowers fresh or dried for tea although the dried flowers are more potent. | Small perennial flowering groundcover. Leave some flowers to self-seed in the garden. Prefers full sun to part shade and well composted soil. |
Geranium leaves | Prepare a tea by steeping the leaves in boiling water. The tea relieves stress and anxiety which aids sleep. | Herbaceous mostly perennial plant. Extremely hardy and easy to grow. Prune back in autumn and use the cuttings to grow new plants. |
Lavender flowers | Make a tea by gently boiling the flowers in water and then straining. It has a calming effect on mind and body. | Herbaceous perennial plant. Lavender requires a well drained soil and plenty of air flow in humid climates. |
Lemon balm leaves | Steep leaves in boiling water to make tea. | Herbaceous perennial plant. In hot climates it can benefit from partial shade. |
Passionfruit vine leaves | Calming effect on mind and body. Dry the leaves and steep in boiling water. | Perennial evergreen vine. Prune back lightly in late winter to encourage new growth. |
Rose petals | Make a a delicious and calming tea by steeping rose petals in boiling water with a vanilla bean. Add honey to sweeten. | Roses take a little extra care to grow in hot and humid climates. Ensure adequate airflow around plants to reduce pests and diseases. |
Teas for headaches
Taking time out to relax and sip a cup of tea can assist clam the body but specific herbs and flowers have been shown to have specific headache reducing qualities.
INGREDIENT | USES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Begonia flowers | A tea made with begonia flowers is said to reduce headaches | Small annual flowering plant. Ensure the soil is very well drained. |
Chamomile flowers | Chamomile's calming and muscle relaxant effect can help relieve headaches. Use the flowers fresh or dried for tea although the dried flowers are more potent. | Small perennial flowering groundcover. Leave some flowers to self-seed in the garden. Prefers full sun to part shade and well composted soil. |
Chrysanthemum flowers | Can help lower blood pressure and reduce headaches. Steep the flowers in boiling water and strain. | Chrysanthemums are perennial plants and very easy to grow but benefit from a well-composted soil. |
Feverfew leaves | Is said to help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. Use dried or fresh leaves steeped in boiling water. | Perennial plant with small daisy like flowers. |
Ginger root | Helps reduce inflammation which can settle headaches. Peel, then finely slice the root before boiling for about 15 minutes. | Herbaceous perennial plant. They require plenty of mulch and moisture. Harvest once the plant has finished flowering. |
Peppermint leaves | Helps to open sinuses and relieve pressure. Steep peppermint leaves in boiling water or chill to prepare a refreshing peppermint iced tea. | Small herbaceous perennial plant. Plant peppermint near a dripping tap as it is a water lover. Prefers part shade in hot regions. |
Rosemary leaves | The anti-inflammatory effect of rosemary can help relieve headaches. Steep fresh or dried leaves in boiling water. | Small herbaceous perennial plant. Requires a well drained soil and ample sunlight. |
Teas to ward off or relieve colds and flus
Keeping up your fluids is vital and by making tea blends from these ingredients you may get added benefits to help fight colds and flus
INGREDIENT | USES | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Choko leaves | Chokos leaves have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Boil the leaves for 15 minutes and then strain. | Perennial vine from the gourd family. It is very easy to grow on trellises or over sheds and chook houses. |
Citrus fruit skins and juice | Citrus fruit are high in vitamin C and the skin has anti-inflammatory properties. Juice or grate into boiling water. | Small tree. They require well mulched and composted soil and should be fed in spring and autumn each year. |
Echinacea leaves and flowers | Echinacea has been shown to boost the immune system and has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial qualities. Make tea from fresh or dried leaves and flowers. | Also known as purple coneflower. This is a hardy perennial and flowers throughout summer into autumn. |
Elderberry fruits | Elderberries are full of vitamins and help to ward off colds and flus. Boil them with a cinnamon stick for 15 minutes to make a healthy tea. | Medium sized shrub. Very easy to grow. |
Hibiscus flowers | Hibiscus tea has anti-inflammatory qualities which helps protect the body against disease. Steep whole flowers in boiling water. | Small shrub. Very easy to grow from cuttings. |
Lemon myrtle leaves | Helps ward off and treat colds with its antibiotic and anti-viral qualities. Steep crushed leaves in boiling water. | Small Australian native tree. Likes well drained soil with added compost |
Nasturtium leaves and flowers | Steep leaves and flowers in boiling water. Helps relieve colds and flus and soothes sore throats. | Annual flowering groundcover. See more information about nasturtiums here. |
Rosehip | Helps relieve colds and flus and soothes sore throats. Harvest the seed capsules (rosehips) once the petals dry out. Remove the seeds and boil for about 15 minutes. | Rosehips grown in cool areas are sweeter but can still be grown in the subtropics. |
Rosella calyx | Helps boost immune system to fight off colds and flus and sooth sore throats. Steep rosella in boiling water and serve either hot or iced. | Annual flowering plant. Well suited to growing in the subtropics. |
Rosemary leaves | Rosemary has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. Steep fresh or dried leaves in boiling water. | Small herbaceous perennial plant. Requires a well drained soil and ample sunlight. |
Turmeric root | Add boiling water to grated turmeric root with lemon juice, honey and a pinch of black pepper for an immune boosting cup of tea. | Perennial herbaceous plant. Clumps can be divided and replanted every 3-4 years. |
Teas in compost
Compost teas
Compost tea is a brew made by soaking mature compost in water for a few days, sometimes adding sugars and aerating it to increase the microbe count. This is then strained, diluted and used as a soil amendment.
Tea bags
Some tea bags contain plastic either in the bag itself or in the glue that binds the tea bag together. If these tea bags are added to the compost micro-plastics will end up in the soil. Therefore it is important to find out if the tea bag contains plastic before composting it. Contact the tea supplier to be sure.