How To Make Every Day Tea Time In The Garden

Though I haven’t always, over the last few years or so I have really developed a liking for tea. In fact, I have a loose leaf tea collection that is slowly (but surely) taking over one of the cabinets in my kitchen. Tea has definitely become one of my hobbies. So I got to thinking one day, is it possible to combine my love of tea with my love of gardening? Come to find out, because it’s possible to grow your own herbs for tea infusions, combining my two favorite hobbies is oh-so-easy. Here are the plants you should be growing for your own home-grown tea infusions.

Not only can you use lavender flower cuttings in teas, but they also taste great infused in lemonades and even water. To grow your own, plant your seedlings in an area of full sun. Lavender plants are drought tolerant, so don’t be too worried if you miss a watering or two.

Lemon Verbena leaves are used to help stomach and joint pain. It’s even said to help with symptoms of asthma. But what’s better, is that these leaves taste tangy and refreshing, a perfect addition to any cup of tea. Gardeners should know that Lemon Verbena loves full sun and does not tolerate harsh winters. Only grow if you live in a tropical climate of sorts.

It’s no surprise that mint made the list of plants perfect for a tea garden. Not only does this herb taste incredibly refreshing, but mint will help those suffering from congestion or stomach pain. Grow mint in moist soil in an area of your garden that has partial sun.

Pure ginger tea is popular in many Asian countries because of its stomach-soothing capabilities. Ginger is a cure-all for just about any ailment. But, perhaps, the best part of the ginger root is the ability for gardeners to plant it and just forget about it. Really, ginger thrives on minimal care, perfect for those of you without a green thumb. 

Chamomile flowers are commonly infused into store-bought teas due to their universally-loved taste. You can even grow your own Chamomile flowers at home, just so long as you live in growing zones 4-9.

If you’ve ever been on a low-carb diet, chances are that you have substituted sugar for the low-cal sweetness of Stevia. Stevia is best grown in zones 9-11, but can be grown outside of that range in containers indoors. If you grow your own Stevia, you’ll never have to use store-bought sweeteners to sweeten your tea ever again.