Aromatic Tea Blends from the Garden

This article gives an insight into aromatic tea blends from the garden. To learn more, take the Aromatic Teas from the Garden workshop with us! By Sharon Falsetto.

There’s nothing quite a like a cup of tea in the garden on a sunny day! Join us for our Aromatic Teas from the Garden workshop and learn about the different types of aromatic tea blends you can gather from the garden – and how to use them. Here’s a quick look at some of the topics we cover!

Aromatic Tea Blends

Blending an aromatic tea is both an art and science, much like learning to blend essential oils. You need to understand the therapeutic properties of the plant, in addition to the both the aroma and taste of each plant.

Of course, you could make a simple “one-plant” tea. But the real creativity (and therapeutic value) comes in learning to blend different plants. If you understand the basics of essential oil blending, learning to blend an aromatic tea should come quite easily to you.

Plants to Use in Aromatic Tea Blends

There are many different garden plants and herbs which can be used in aromatic teas but some of my favorites include:

·         Chamomile

·         Peppermint

·         Spearmint

·         Lemon balm

·         Feverfew

·         Ginger

·         Rosemary.

Aromatic Tea Infusions

Aromatic teas, for imbibing, are usually made as either an infusion or decoction. In simple terms, plant parts such as flowers and leaves are infused, whereas plant parts such as roots and twigs are decocted. The methods to make each are slightly different, but the end result is the same – aromatic tea!

Aromatic Bath Teas

Teas aren’t just for drinking; you can add them to your bathtub to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of certain plants. A simple tea bag or muslin bag can be used to keep the plants tidy during bathing but allowing the plants to “infuse” at the same time. Think of your bathtub as one giant teapot!

Aromatic Foot Soaks and Compresses

Use teas in foot soaks and compresses to help with ailments such as arthritis and tired eyes. Simply infuse or decoct the tea as you would for drinking. Add to a foot bath or soak a small towel or face cloth and lay over the eyes or affected body part.

Tea in the Afternoon Recipe

Make this simple tea infusion in a glass teapot:

·         8-oz. boiling water

·         1 Tablespoon fresh German chamomile flowers

·         0.5 Tablespoon fresh lemon balm leaves

·         0.5 Tablespoon fresh spearmint leaves

Do not exceed 3 cups a day.

Cautions: For adult use only. May cause sensitivity in some individuals (especially with allergies to plants in the Asteraceae plant family).

About the Author:

The author of this article has a combined 25-year history in the health care and aromatherapy industry. She is UK-certified aromatherapist and a NAHA Certified Professional Aromatherapist®. She is both a published author and editor in aromatherapy, a consultant, custom blend formulator and herbal studies student. She is the author of Authentic Aromatherapy and the current chief editor of the NAHA Aromatherapy Journal. She has taken the online Master Gardener short course series with the University of Oregon and studied with the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. Sharon works from her garden studio in Sedona, Arizona, where she gardens and distills plants from her own aromatic gardens, surrounded by natural fauna and flora on an original pioneer homestead property.