I'd like to grow some things for use in herbal teas. So far my list includes the following (though not tried them all yet!):
mint
nettles
strawberry leaves
blackberry leaves
blackcurrant leaves
raspberry leaves
rosemary
sage
thyme
parsley
lemon balm
lemon verbena
burdock
red clover
rose petals
rose hips
violets
valerian
dandelion
chickweed
ginger
scented leaf geraniums
Any other ideas?
Or any ones you like, or any ones you think I should avoid? ;D
camomile
fever few is said to get rid of headaches and is V V bitter. be careful of doseage, too. It also explodes seeds across the garden and can be considered a weed.
try getting as many types of mint as you can for mint tea variations.
calendula, cornflower.(use petals)
yarrow.
telboy reckons borage leaf tea gives you a 'lift', will be growing it for the purpose this year (my flat is up three flights of stairs)
Since I'm up two flights, I just wish it did give the power of levitation! Anyone know where I can find a reliable used magic carpet dealer?
Camellia sinensis
Good one!! ;D
Perhaps then I should have said... "other than usual tea" ;) ie I'm especially thinking caffeine free? (I get far too much of that from my coffee habit ::))
Elderberry flower tea? I've not tried it though. :-\
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,163,135179-248196,00.html
Take it easy on the valerian! Start with small amounts. Think about adding lemon or orange zest to any of them and maybe honey if you like your tea sweet.
Valerian officianalis also self seeds like mad. Keep rooting out seedlings out of pots. Expecting something else to pop up and there you have a Valerian. Tall plant with purpleish leaves when young and white to pink unbrel flowers
They use the root medicinally I believe, no experience of it
i grew camomile for tea but it was incredibly bitter...
I've only ever grown mint for tea and it tastes so much nicer than the stuff you get in tea bags. Have been meaning to try growing chamommile, and collect rosehips, but so far haven't got around to it. But your post has inspired me, so I shall make an extra effort this year.
How about
fennel (seeds)
Catnip
Lemongrass (these last 2 appear as ingredients in one of my bought teas)
lavender
Hyssop (though I've never tried it, I use it to deter cabbage white butterflies)
Expectorant, diaphoretic, stimulant, pectoral, carminative. The healing virtues of the plant are due to a particular volatile oil, which is stimulative, carminative and sudorific. It admirably promotes expectoration, and in chronic catarrh its diaphoretic and stimulant properties combine to render it of especial value. It is usually given as a warm infusion, taken frequently and mixed with Horehound. Hyssop Tea is also a grateful drink, well adapted to improve the tone of a feeble stomach, being brewed with the green tops of the herb, which are sometimes boiled in soup to be given for asthma. In America, an infusion of the leaves is used externally for the relief of muscular rheumatism, and also for bruises and discoloured contusions, and the green herb, bruised and applied, will heal cuts promptly.
The infusion has an agreeable flavour and is used by herbalists in pulmonary diseases.
It was once much employed as a carminative in flatulence and hysterical complaints, but is now seldom employed.
A tea made with the fresh green tops, and drunk several times daily, is one of the oldfashioned country remedies for rheumatism that is still employed. Hyssop baths have also been recommended as part of the cure, but the quantity used would need to be considerable.
Quote from: sweet-pea link=topic=18642.msg192660#msg192660and collect rosehips, but so far haven't got around to it.
lavender
Rosehips make the best jelly in the world, I never have any left for tea.
Haven't used my grown herbs for teas, but have used raspberry leaf tea - was recommended to me by midwife in third trimester of pregnancy: awful stuff but I got used to it - was good for milk production.
Definitely lavender! I've tried that with lemon verbena and that worked pretty well.
Ooh, can't wait for my next lavender harvest.. Lavender wine a-plenty!
Melanie
What about comfrey, it was known as Knitbone.
Why not put some of your listed leaves into sugar and leave in jars, they make beautiful custards or additions to shortbread recipes.(Rose shortbread, lavendar shortbread.......)
You can also add to rock salt to infuse in jars, these are traditional bath salts. If you leave a sprig and tie with colour coordinated ribbons they make brilliant sellers at fetes etc.