From growing my own tea garden to harvesting and drying my herbs and flowers (which I document on my Instagram @bigfamilyliving) I’m deeply connected to the herbal tea I drink. Each blend offers something different for the senses, and depending on the ingredients, benefits my health or mood. When life happens, I reach for the jars in my tea cabinet to keep me on my path, mixing and matching herbs to help myself heal, whether I’m dealing with anxiety, a sore throat, an aching head, or a tired spirit.
How to Make Homemade Herbal Tea Blends
Herbal teas are made from dried fruits, spices, flowers, and herbs. You don’t need to grow your own ingredients to make them; simply visit your local herb shop or a reputable online source like mountainroseherbs.com.
Here are some blends to get you started—each ingredient is the dried version of whatever plant or flower is called for—but feel free to get creative mixing and matching your herbs and edible flowers to make your own custom combo.
These tea recipes are measured by parts, so that you can make as small or big a batch as you want. To start, I suggest equating 1 part with 1 tablespoon, but when you find a blend you really love, feel free to size up.
Once you’ve made your mix, store it in a container with a tight-fitting lid. Homemade teas will last longer if stored in a dark tin inside a cabinet, but I like to display my herbs—just seeing them makes me happy—so I store mine in glass jars in a glass cabinet where I can enjoy them. They last about a year (unless I use them up!).
Use approximately 1 tablespoon of the blend for one cup of tea, and steep using a tea filter bag, a tea ball, a basket infuser—even a teapot and a strainer will do! Allow your homemade tea to steep a little longer than you would store-bought—about 5 to 15 minutes. Remember, it’s always important to do your own research when it comes to putting anything in your body—knowledge is power.
Photo courtesy of Holly Capelle
Photo courtesy of Holly Capelle
To Rest and Calm the Soul
2 parts lemon balm
2 parts chamomile
1 part lavender flower
To Sooth an Aching Heart
2 parts chamomile
2 parts rose petals
1 part dried hawthorn berries
To Ease a Sore Throat
3 parts peppermint
1 part chamomile
1 part thyme
1 part fresh lemon peel
To Help Treat a Cold
1 part yarrow flower (or leaf )
1 part elderflower
1 part peppermint leaf
1 part sage
For an Aching Head
1 part basil leaf
1 part lemon balm
1 part chamomile
1 part lavender flower
To Be Reminded There Are Always Things to be Grateful For
3 parts dried apples
1 part thyme
1 part lemon balm
Stick of cinnamon
Photo, top: Nitr – stock.adobe.com
This article originally appeared in the Spring 2023 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
