| By growing your own tea herbs you can have almost | | | | ingredients which support the digestive system, |
| endless variations of herbal teas. Imagine walking into | | | | decreasing nausea and abdominal pain and cramps. |
| your herb garden on an early summer morning, | | | | Chamomile - This pretty daisy-like herb acts to |
| gathering a few sprigs of spearmint, a leaf or two of | | | | relieve headaches and induce sounder sleep. The |
| pineapple sage, and a sprig of marjoram, and brewing | | | | flowers and buds should be dried and used to brew a |
| a fragrant tea as a morning wake-up. What could be | | | | tea. Chamomile grows in almost any soil, and |
| more invigorating? | | | | re-seeds, so care is minimal. Blended with spearmint |
| Organically grown herbs, handpicked at the peak of | | | | or lemon balm, it makes a refreshing and relaxing |
| freshness, either fresh or carefully dried and stores | | | | brew. |
| will beat any commercial herbal tea, hands down. | | | | The Lemon herbs - lemon balm, lemon verbena and |
| Every day you could take a different combination of | | | | lemon grass will add a citrus tang to your herbal teas. |
| herbs and by experimenting, find the ones that suit | | | | Lemon balm is useful for cooling fevers, and even |
| your palate the best. | | | | makes a cooling lemon drink. Lemon verbena has an |
| The benefits of herbal teas go beyond fresh, | | | | even sharper lemon scent and flavor. It is brewed to |
| invigorating taste. By controlling the growing | | | | relieve indigestion and reduce depression. Lemon |
| environment, you can make sure your teas are fresh, | | | | grass, smelling and tasting mildly of lemons, makes a |
| pesticide and herbicide free, and processed without | | | | mild citrus tea, and is a good base for lemonade. All |
| additives. They cost next to nothing... just your initial | | | | three can be used in combination with other herbs. |
| investment in seeds or seedlings. Many of the herbs | | | | Roses - not often thought of as an herb, are used |
| you grow can be used in a variety of ways, as | | | | for teas in 2 ways. The bright red hip or fruit make a |
| aromatics, in cooking, as natural remedies, and, of | | | | tea rich in vitamins C and D, and have a very high |
| course, for teas. | | | | antioxidant value. The tea can also be used as a |
| Herbal teas are mainly made from leaves, but can | | | | natural preventative for urinary tract infection. Rose |
| include flowers, seeds and even the roots of plants. | | | | petals can also be used, fresh, as a fragrant tea |
| Rose petals, calendula flowers and lavender flowers | | | | ingredient. |
| make great additions to teas. Caraway and rosehips | | | | Herbal teas can be made by infusing either fresh or |
| both make distinctively flavored teas, rich in vitamins. | | | | dried herbs in boiling water. Keep them covered to |
| Roots of dandelion and ginger can add restorative | | | | prevent the health-giving qualities escaping with the |
| and healthy goodness to your teas. | | | | steam. Steeping time varies, so either look up a |
| If you're aren't sure which herbs make good teas, | | | | recipe or experiment with your herbs. Sage and |
| start with these: | | | | rosemary, for example, have a much stronger and |
| Mint There are several varieties of this cooling | | | | more bitter taste than mild lemon balm or |
| refreshing plant., each with its distinctive flavor. Plant | | | | anise-hyssop, so will require less steeping. A strong |
| mint in a contained area since its rapid runners will | | | | herbal tea will be bitter, and if the herb has medicinal |
| need to be restrained. Mint teas contain active | | | | qualities, may cause unexpected side effects. |