How to Make Homemade Herbal Tea

If you love herbal teas, then why not invest time in making your own? There are plenty of edible herbs, flowers, even weeds, that are full of flavor and might be living right in your garden or kitchen.

What are the products?

Common kitchen herbs include basil, thyme, rosemary, oregano and mint. They are easy to grow and can often be grown in pots on a windowsill. These are just to name a few. There are many more. You can buy seeds or starter plants at your local nursery.

Garden herbs may be flowers, bushes, trees and weeds. Some common ones include roses (use petals, leaves and rose hips), violets (use flowers and leaves); birch, blackberry and raspberry leaves; chickweed, dandelions and goldenrod.

How do you know what is edible?

You can find a list of poisonous plants on the U.S. Army Website at chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/ento/plant.htm. If any doubt, look up the plant first. Roots cannot be eaten or drank, so leave them out. Also, in most cases, stems are not used. Many unripe berries are poisonous. Check to see what plants are edible when ripe.

Don't be afraid to mix herbs.

Some of the best, boldest tasting teas are a healthy mixture of flowers, herbs and weeds. Consider mixing dandelion greens with rose petals and raspberry leaves. Pour boiling water over the mixture and smell the aromatherapy properties. Experiment with your favorites to suite your taste.

Try steeping your herbs and plants (preferably in a glass pot so you can enjoy their colors) for a few minutes, then keep the tea on a low warmer to sip from all day long.

Healthful benefits abound.

Plants are loaded with vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, soluble fiber and essential oils which help strengthen the immune system and detoxify the body. Mixing greens, blossoms and herbs in one potful of tea will give you a deeper variety of healthful benefits with every sip.

Easy to plant or purchase, there are many ways to experience and enjoy herbal teas your way all year long.

Here's to your health.