How to Make Your Own Herbal Tea Blends
As an herbalist, I have a lot of experience making my own tea blends. I've found that the typical blends in the stores aren't personalized enough for my tastes. I love to take my favorite plants and blend them in interesting ways. Plus, a lot of the commercial blends contain ingredients I don't like (fennel seeds) or can't have (licorice - makes me retain water) so I've learned how to blend my own. So, I'll teach you what I know! ;)
STEPS FOR MAKING HERBAL TEA
Here is a simple list of the steps to take to make your own herbal tea.
- Your first step is to decide what the tea will be for. This will help you decide what kinds of herbs to put in. For example, if you want to make a relaxing herbal tea blend, you can use herbs like chamomile and spearmint. I'll go into this in more detail after I outline the steps.
- Once you decide what the tea will be for, you will need to select the herbs. If you don't have a lot of experience, you can follow a recipe that someone else came up with.
- Then, you'll need to mix the herbs together. I usually combine them in a large mixing bowl and stir them gently with a wooden spoon.
- 4. Lastly, you'll need to decide how you'll store it. The most important thing is to find a way to keep the blend away from heat and light. My favorite is to use amber colored glass jars but you can use anything as long as you store it correctly. (I've also used plastic containers, clear glass jars, and plastic bags.)
FAVORITE TEA RECIPE FOR GENERAL HEALTH
I use nourishing and gentle herbs for this blend. I classify herbs into three categories - really strong, medicinal herbs, tonifying herbs, and herbs that are "food grade". Food grade herbs are nourishing and gentle and rich in vitamins and minerals.
Note - don't drink this tea as a replacement for good nutrition. Also, these herbs are all blended in their dried forms.
1/2 cup stinging nettle leaves
1/2 cup oatstraw
1/2 cup spearmint leaves
1/4 cup chamomile flowers
1/4 cup rosehips
Combine all of the herbs in a large mixing bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon. Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.
Note - don't drink this tea as a replacement for good nutrition. Also, these herbs are all blended in their dried forms.
1/2 cup stinging nettle leaves
1/2 cup oatstraw
1/2 cup spearmint leaves
1/4 cup chamomile flowers
1/4 cup rosehips
Combine all of the herbs in a large mixing bowl. Stir with a wooden spoon. Store in an airtight container away from heat and light.
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Don't have time to make your own blends? Try TeaVana!
Mate vana is one of my favorite blends from them - but they're all yummy!
Tea Blend Recipes
Here are some of the tea blend recipes I've written.
- Iced Pomegranate Green Tea Recipe
- I love mixing fruit juice with green tea!
- Strawberry and Nettle Tea Recipe
- I love doing this every spring when strawberries are in season.
- Stress Controling Tea Recipe
- There's nothing like herbal tea to help beat stress.
- Healthy Russian Tea Recipe
- Russian tea is usually filled with sugar, but mine isn't!
- Cinnamon Spiced Black Tea Recipe
- Cinnamon and black tea blend very well together.
- Delicate Flower Petal Mint Tea Recipe
- Flower petals are great in herbal tea - I use mint to give it a kick.
- Ginger Mango Green Tea Recipe
- Ginger and mango pair well with green tea.
- Tropical Mango Green Tea Blend
- Mango is one of my favorite fruits ... so I often blend it with tea!
- Apple Cinnamon Herbal Tea
- Apple cinnamon herbal tea is delicious - I often buy it but I love making my own.
Try These Herbal Teas!
Traditional Medicinals Organic Mother's Milk Herbal Tea, 16-Count Wrapped Tea Bags (Pack of 6)
Amazon Price: $25.38 (as of 12/06/2009) 
Gloria Jean's Coffees, Tea K-Cup, Peppermint Herbal Tea for Keurig Brewers, 24-Count Boxes (Pack of 2)
Amazon Price: $23.00 (as of 12/06/2009)
Twining's Infusions, Camomile, Orange, Linden Herbal Tea, 8-Count T-Discs for Tassimo Coffeemakers (Pack of 3)
Amazon Price: $13.47 (as of 12/06/2009)
What do you think?
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- Treasures-By-Brenda Treasures-By-Brenda Jul 12, 2009 @ 7:58 pm
- Welcome to the Culinary Favorites From A to Z group. Don't forget to come back and add your lens to the link list so that it will appear on the group page!
Your lens has been blessed by a SquidAngel.
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- KaraLynnRussell KaraLynnRussell Jun 13, 2009 @ 8:28 pm
- I love the idea of creating my own teas. I don't know if I'll ever do it, but it's interesting to read about.
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- AlishaV AlishaV Jan 15, 2009 @ 12:01 am
- Great lens. I drink a lot of tea but haven't tried to make my own, I'll definitely have to give it a shot.
by kohuether
My name is Katherine Huether and I am a writer, editor, and herbalist. I have a BA in Engish from the University of New Hampshire and a Diploma in Her...
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