As an Englishman I do enjoy a good cup of tea although I must admit I disappoint my mother who is simply dumbfounded at my choice of tea with no milk or sugar! The tea we drink comes from a camellia plant – Camellia Sinensis. It’s a native to China and can be grown in many of our gardens, it is tolerant of the cold and will require plenty of water in summer if grown in full sun. The fresh tips of the plant are plucked, dried and then brewed. To make enough tea for a constant supply you might need to rip out your whole garden and start a tea plantation so why not try growing a herbal cup from the plants below.
Lemongrass is a highly aromatic herb used in many Asian dishes and can easily be incorporated into many planting schemes as it adds a tall grass like vertical accent to a bed. Although you may buy this plant as a small sprig of grass you should give it a good square meter to grow so it doesn’t bully out any smaller plants as it matures. Growing in full sun will have the best results and give you the fattest stems to harvest. Simply cut down as low as possible and remove the green leafy part before crushing and boiling. This can also be combined with garlic for a cold and flu remedy.
Ginger can be added into the mix of lemongrass and garlic or be used alone for an uplifting and energizing cup of tea. Ginger matures much quicker and gives bigger roots if you give it plenty of water. The one thing Ginger doesn’t like is wet feet, so you need to grow it in free draining soil or potting mix to ensure this doesn’t happen. A semi shaded spot is best with protection from the hot afternoon sun. To Harvest dig up the whole plant or cut a section away from large specimens and then remove all the leaves leaving just the tuberous roots. It’s these rhizomes that have all the flavor.
Mint makes for an excellent cup of tea and one of the easiest to harvest as you simply snip away the leaves and its ready to be boiled. Mint can be invasive, so grow it in its own garden bed or one that is contained to prevent it from taking over. A pot works well but it does like moisture so you will need to keep it well watered in summer if grown in a vessel. Mint loves hot baking sun so it’s a great ground cover for many spots and I like to grow different varies, such as peppermint, spearmint and chocolate mint that can be drunk by themselves or in a combination with other mints for a layered flavour.
Chamomile is a lovely groundcover plant that loves to sprawl over hot paths, making it a great choice as the soothing scent is released when stepped upon. The flowers are used in making tea known for relaxing and reducing inflammation – perfect for before bedtime. Like the mint it’s easy to harvest picking only what you need when you need it. You can also brew the leaves but steer clear of the roots and woodier stems as they have a bitter taste to them.
The rose is a garden classic with its beautiful blooms, but you can add the petals to freshly boiled water, leaving them for 20 mins (turn the stove off when the petals go in the water) to steep. The sweet water left is a great way to relax in the garden with a rose water tea. If you leave your flowers on the plant, they will grow seed pods known as rose hips which can also be used for tea. These hips are high in vitamin C and believed to boost immunity helping to fight colds and flus. Roses like full sun to flower enough to sacrifice a few for a good cuppa and enrich the soil with plenty of compost to increase water and nutrient holding abilities.
If you’re a good weed grower, like most of us, or you just want to enjoy some additional health benefits then turning your dandelions into tea might be just the thing for you. It’s said the benefits include reducing water weight, improved liver function, soothing stomach aches and even as a coffee substitute! Dig up the dandelion, flowers, leaves, tap root and all and leave it to dry out, cutting each part into smaller pieces to ensure even drying times. Once dry crush the dried plant so you get an even consistency and place one teaspoon in a tea ball or strainer and steep in boiling water for 5-10 minutes.
All these plants are easy to grow and will give you an aromatic boost to your day, why not try growing more than one and combining it for your very own signature blend.
