There is no point in denying: anyone who has ever tasted a tea made with fresh herbs knows the difference it makes in the taste and effects of the drink on our body. There’s even a post explaining the differences between sachet teas and bulk tea (here), but even better are when the teas are so fresh that we can pick them up in the yard, right? So we made this list with the best plants to make a tea garden at home or apartment and some tips for growing tea.
However, there are some very important points to be considered before choosing which plants are. Each one has its own need for water, light, space and type of soil, so pay attention and put each one in a different vase – we swear it is much easier that way 🙂
MINT
The leaves of mint they are great for aiding digestion and can be used in teas, but also for seasoning dishes. The plant likes very clayey soil, plenty of sun throughout the day and lots of water. Water every day. Another essential tip is to leave the mint alone in the pot – this is because it has very invasive roots.
Photo: Eleanor Chen in Unsplash
CHAMOMILE
One of the favorites when we talk about teas to calm down: the chamomile. The flowers are very beautiful and super easy to grow. Like mint, to grow this tea you will need an environment with lots of sun, in addition to frequent watering (3 times a week on hot days and 2 times in winter). Ah, it’s super important to dry the flowers well before making the tea, okay?
Photo: Photo by Carolyn V on Unsplash
LEMONGRASS
With excellent properties to combat intestinal problems, gas and colic, the lemongrass it is also relaxing. The tea is made with fresh or dried leaves and, for cultivation, you can leave a bowl in half shade (very bright but not with direct sunlight) and water 3 times a week in the heat and 2 times in the winter.
Photo: Amelia Lawrence / Apartment Therapy
ROSEMARY
THE Rosemary is well known for its aroma. Besides being perfect for seasoning meats, chickens, it is also a great herb for flavoring olive oil or flavoring sauces. Rosemary teas are also great for inflammation, colds, stomach problems and so on! It is one of the herbs that has the thinnest leaves and it makes you like less water compared to others. It is important to water once a week (at least), but leave the rosemary in a space with plenty of sun. The soil can be more sandy 😉
Photo: Francisco Delgado in Unsplash
LAVENDER
Besides being beautiful and super aromatic, lavender serves to make a tea with a very sweet flavor with a calming effect to reduce tension. It is very common to harvest the stems and flowers and let them dry in the sun before making tea or incense. To grow this plant you need to leave it in a pot on the window or on the balcony (it likes a lot of sun). The soil can be sandy and, like rosemary, watering should be more widely spaced.
Photo: Krisztina Papp at Unsplash
SAGE
THE sage it is great for indigestion problems and great allies to reduce body heat during menopause. The plant does very well in pots or beds, although it is not as cultivated as the others we have already mentioned. To cultivate it is necessary a place with plenty of sun and alternating irrigation, without soaking the soil too much.
Photo: Matt Montgomery in Unsplash
BASIC CARE TO GROW TEA
Now, some basic care before you have your tea garden: (1) Plants have their peculiarities, study well before you have it at home if you still have any questions. (2) Never water too many plants and no less. Watering too much can rot the roots. Respect the individualities of each plant and always observe the soil before watering. (3) Planting can be done by seeds, piles or seedlings bought ready-made.
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Did you like this post? Comment here what tea you intend to plant at home 🙂