plant a tea garden

I know that I have a serious addiction to coffee and that has been the case for quite some time now, but I am turning the tide!  This Chirtsmas I pretty much scored big time when my sister gave me a beautiful square navy blue tea pot. She wasn't supposed to give me a present but she said she knew I had to have it- the color (my favorite) and the cool shape just looked like it belonged to me.  It uses loose leaf teas to brew and the taste is so pure and simple.  It is going to be hard to go back to bags anytime soon.  Yes, I am now a tea snob.

So here is the idea- plant a garden just for brewing teas!  Here's how to do it.

1. Plant in a sunny spot. Herbs require a sunny location and should receive at least 6 hours of sun a day

2. Locate your tea herb garden in a well-protected area so that drying winds don't wilt newly planted seedlings.

3. Space herb plants appropriate to their growth habits so that they'll have plenty of space to spread out.

4. Mulch around the base of the herb plants to discourage weeds and to help retain soil moisture.

5. For troublesome spreaders such as mint, cut the bottom of the pot out and sink the pot with plant in it, into the ground.

PLANT THESE HERBS!

Mint (Mentha species) is often considered a tea accessory (especially in iced tea), but mint tea is a wonderfully refreshing drink, too. You can experiment with your favorite mint types--try peppermint (M. piperita), spearmint (M. spicata), orange mint (M. aquatica citrata), pineapple mint (M. suaveolens), and a lot of other fun flavors. You use the fresh leaves or dried to make tea. Just steep in boiling water. Add a sprinkle of sugar or honey to sweeten.

Bergamot (Monarda didyma) infuses the sweet, citrus taste that is the distinguishing flavor of Earl Grey tea. Add both the leaves and the flowers of this plant to black tea to make your own version of this traditional English tea.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is one of the most beloved scents and flavors. It has a slighty sweet taste and infuses tea with a flowery flavor. Steep the flowers in boiling water.

Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) makes a tea that tastes like a licorice drop. This anise-flavored plant bears fragrant and tasty leaves. Clip a few off and use about 2 teaspoons in a cup of boiling water.

Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) is the perfect tea for lemon lovers. Clip and cut about 2 tablespoons of the fresh leaves and add to a cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for about 5 minutes.

Tags

tea, Herbs, gardening with herbs, Mint, lavender