Growing a tea garden

You have probably heard plenty about growing a garden for cooking herbs. But if you love a cup of tea, why not grow a herb garden with your teapot in mind? Because there are some incredibly easy herbs to grow that make fantastic cups of tea too.

To use herbs in tea, you do not need to dry the herbs if you plan to steep your tea right away. You need just a handful of leaves for a whole pot. If you do dry the herbs first (instructions on air drying herbs and drying herbs in the microwave) you need only about 1 teaspoon of herbs.

Here are some of the best choices for tea making in your garden:

Chamomile
Chamomile is a lovely soothing tea. Chamomile needs part to full sun. Use the flowers and discard the stems. Best dried first.

Chocolate Mint
A mint herb with a definite candy taste to it. Partial shade to full sun is best. Use leaves.

Apple mint
Another mint, this one with a definite fruity flavor. Partial shade to full sun is best. Use leaves.

Lemon verbena
Full sun. Use leaves, and is wonderful both dried and fresh.