Homegrown Herbal Teas: Chamomile, Lavender, Clover And Other Custom Brews

From Networx's Sayward Rebhal:

Chamomile has always my favorite bedtime beverage. Growing up, we just bought the supermarket boxes of bagged tea. And although I enjoyed the pretty white flowers on the packaging, I never really considered the connection between the decorative exterior and the drink inside.

Flash forward a decade or so and I was working my way through college slinging coffee at a small art house. That’s where I discovered the joy of loose leaf teas. I remember the first time I opened the chamomile canister, and poured out a pile of ... dried flowers! It seems silly now, but it was such a surprise to me. “Of course! Chamomile is a flower!”

Flash forward yet another decade, and these days I’m planting my own pretty white chamomile patch in my own little garden, harvesting and drying the buds, and brewing my own homegrown tea. And it is, unquestionably, the best tea I’ve ever tasted.

The great news is that chamomile is just the tip of the tea-stained iceberg. There are so many ways to collect your own herbal teas, whether you’re carefully cultivating a tea garden, or simply taking advantage while weeding your lawn. Maybe you know of a berry bush in a nearby park. Maybe there’s a patch of clover around the corner. Maybe you had a local carpenter build you a deck and you're looking forward to relaxing there with a good cup of tea. Or you want to take a fresh cup of earthy herbal tea with you on your commute through New York City's tile and concrete subway jungle. Once you’re onto it, it’s hard not to have fresh herbal tea almost everywhere. Here are my top six picks.

List and captions courtesy of Networx

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• 1. Chamomile

  But of course! Use the whole flowers, fresh or dried. Chamomile is an age-old remedy for anxiety, upset stomach, and headaches. It's also a sleep aide and a breastmilk booster.

• 2. Other Garden Flowers

  There are tons of other flowers that can be dried and brewed just the same as chamomile. A few easy-to-grow options: Honeysuckle to reduce a fever; Lavender as a stress reliever and relaxant; Calendula for a super immune boost; and Borage as a natural antidepressant.

• 3. Dandelion

  You can use the dried root or the dried leaves. Dandelion acts as a mild diuretic and a powerful detoxifier. It's also a strengthening, nutritive brew.

• 4. Blackberry

  The berries are a treat, but if you've ever had a blackberry bush spring up in your yard, you know what a scourge they can be. I've spent three summers trying to eradicate the thorny little devils from my garden, and they just keep coming back! Anyway, at least I'm getting something out of the deal. Blackberry leaves, fresh or dried, can help to purify the blood and to calm an inflamed kidney. They can also help to relieve diarrhea.

• 5. Red Clover

  Use the dried flowers for overall wellness and purification. Red clover "cleans" the blood and balances the body, helps to regulate hormones, and is great for PMS!

• 6. Nettle

  My favorite! I make nettle infusions daily, from the fresh leaves during spring and summer, and from the dried leaves during the fall and winter. This is a nutritive brew, so it's good for strengthening and building. Nettles are very high in calcium, iron, and other important minerals. Remember, these are just a sampling of the many, many plants that can be wildcrafted, foraged, or harvested, and turned into herbal teas. And <a href="http://www.networx.com/article/5-giant-herbs-you-can-grow-at-home" target="_hplink">don't forget all the culinary herbs</a> as well! Thyme, rosemary, basil, lemon balm, mint, and more - they'll each add an interesting flavor, as well as a nourishing property, to your homemade brews.

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Comments

[Addison Clark]

07:14 AM on 08/28/2012

In the beginning herbs were used in the treatment of diseases when medicines and drugs was not invented. Each herbs contains some chemical compounds which has specific effect on body. Many medicines and drugs were invented, many of them were prepared using herbs. Due to less side-effects of medicine on body herbs were then used mostly in making tea. This tea was known as herbal tea. In the beginning, herbal tea was mostly used in small towns and cities, but its soothing and calming effects on body has made it popular in big cities as well. People are using herbal teas over tea and coffee. The increasing use of herbal tea has started the demand of herbal tea in market. Many companies are providing different types of herbal teas and each type provides different soothing effects to body. Drinking a cup of herbal tea provides soothing effects body which takes away all day tiredness. Some herbal essiac teas provide comfort in small and big diseases.

[dvncmdy]

01:40 PM on 05/15/2012

I have wild peppermint growing in our stream....makes for wonderful tea

[keep it solid]

04:39 PM on 05/14/2012

Very interesting and helpful article.
Apart from being enjoyable beverage(s), herbal tea(s) also has therapeutic significance and, "Several Studies Confirm Drinking Herbal Tea Reduces Cancer Risks and Promotes Longevity"
http://www.prlog.org/10420626-several-studies-confirm-drinking-herbal-tea-reduces-cancer-risks-and-promotes-longevity.html