If for you tea doesn’t mean only Camelia Sinesis, then drying your own herbs for tea might spark your interest! Let’s talk about how to find the perfect plants, how to harvest and how to dry the herbs to preserve their medicinal properties.
Because I love tea, herbal tea, tisane (ok, I declare myself a tea addict), I sometimes prefer to harvest my own herbs for tea, instead of buying them from the stores. Of course, this is a process that takes time but I love each step that takes me to my lovely cup of tea, including drying my own herbs.
I like to read about the plants that can be used for teas, the ones I can find around. Every time I have the chance, when I am out in nature, I take a look around and check if by any chance I can see any herbs, which can become a flavorful cup of tea.
You get closer to nature and enjoy its benefits straight from the source, without anyone in between you. No stores, no extra packages, no extra money spent. Tea becomes a communion between you and nature.
Just imagine preparing your cup of tea with your own herbs. You’ll remember the places you’ve been, the walks in nature and the connection you feel when you are there.
To give you some ideas for herbs to blend into a calming cup of tea, I have a free cheat sheet for you! Cuddle up and unwind with a lovely cup of tea.
Because I love tea, herbal tea, tisane (ok, I declare myself a tea addict), I sometimes prefer to harvest my own herbs for tea, instead of buying them from the stores. Of course, this is a process that takes time but I love each step that takes me to my lovely cup of tea, including drying my own herbs.
I like to read about the plants that can be used for teas, the ones I can find around. Every time I have the chance, when I am out in nature, I take a look around and check if by any chance I can see any herbs, which can become a flavorful cup of tea.
Why would you dry your own herbs?
Making a perfect cup of herbal tea starts with harvesting the herbs for it. When you are part of the process from the very beginning, you will enjoy even more your cup of tea.You get closer to nature and enjoy its benefits straight from the source, without anyone in between you. No stores, no extra packages, no extra money spent. Tea becomes a communion between you and nature.
Just imagine preparing your cup of tea with your own herbs. You’ll remember the places you’ve been, the walks in nature and the connection you feel when you are there.
Be mindful
Always take care of the herbs you are harvesting, limit your harvest to less than one-third of the plant. This way the plant will keep growing.To give you some ideas for herbs to blend into a calming cup of tea, I have a free cheat sheet for you! Cuddle up and unwind with a lovely cup of tea.
A moment of calm in a teacup
Boost the superpowers of your tea with these calming herbal teas cheat sheet.
Wellness in a Teacup
Starter Guide for Mind and Soul
Wish you could find a ‘me-time’ moment, even on your busiest days?
In today’s hustle and bustle, finding time for yourself feels like a luxury. Let this guide be your compass to a journey where each brew nourishes not just the body, but also the very essence of your being.
When to harvest
If you plan to store your dry herbs for longer, they should be harvested at their peak. This way you will preserve their natural oils and medicinal properties.If you are harvesting the leaves of the plant, make sure to do that before the plant blooms. For harvesting the flowers, the ideal time is right after the flower buds appear and until the flower is in full bloom.
How to dry herbs for tea
Here is how you can dry the herbs you handpicked out in nature:1. Find
Find clean plants, without dust, which can be harvested and do not need washing. Ideally, you will want to find a place out in nature, far from the busy city. By washing the plants you will interfere with the drying process and this is not recommended.2. Sort
Sort the plants you decided you want to dry. You will want to include only the nice looking ones, without any stains or bad leaves. This will help to have a healthy nice tea in the end.3. Drying the herbs
Pick your favorite method and keep in mind that the most important thing is that they get fully dried no matter what option you choose.
Lay flat
Lay on flat the sorted herbs, on a dry surface. The surface can be a paper, a clean towel, a drying screen or something similar. Make sure that you spread the herbs in a thin layer as this will help by shortening the duration of the drying process.Put the herbs somewhere warm and dry and try to avoid direct sunlight. Make sure that you put them away from dust, for keeping them clean. Also if you put them outside check if it is not windy, otherwise your plants will fly all over the place.
Hang dry
If you harvested the herbs with stems in small bunches, the easiest method is to hang them upside down. Tie them together with an elastic and make sure to not put too many in a bundle. Hang them in a warm dry place, away from dust direct sunlight.Food dehydrator
If you have a dehydrator and if you want your herbs to dry faster, use it on low heat to prevent affecting the medicinal properties of the tea.If you want to read more details about how to dry your own herbs, you can check this article https://growagoodlife.com/harvest-dry-herbs/
5. Ready and store
The herbs are ready when they are dry and they crumble between your fingers. Depending on the place where they were stored, the time to get the dried may vary. Make sure they are fully dried before storing them. This way they will last for a longer period.To make sure that the plants are well preserved, they should keep their specific smell even after they are dried. Now that your plants are ready, you can store them in clean airtight jars.
You can store them as they are or you can cut them with some scissors in smaller pieces. This will make the blend easier to use when making tea. If you want them even smaller you can use a food processor.
Label your jars with the name of the herb and the date and store in a cool dark place. They can keep up to 12 months if they are correctly dried and stored.
Now you have your lovely tea ready for you to enjoy!
Unwind
One of my favorite ways to enjoy a cup at the end of the day is to make a calming tea.The perfect companion for unwinding and having a moment of relaxation is herbal tea. There are many varieties of tea that have calming effects.
Get your free cheat sheet with calming teas by clicking the button below. It also contains some tea recipes to inspire you to find your new favorite herbal mix.
What’s the best way to enjoy a cup of tea?
In my opinion, the answer is tea meditation!
Have you ever tried or heard of tea meditation? It is the simplest way to transform your lovely cup of tea into a powerful mindfulness tool. You’ll be able to meditate anywhere while sipping on your tea.
So head over to see how you can try one tea meditation and what benefits you get from this practice.
A moment of calm in a teacup
Boost the superpowers of your tea with these calming herbal teas cheat sheet.
Wellness in a Teacup
Starter Guide for Mind and Soul
Wish you could find a ‘me-time’ moment, even on your busiest days?
In today’s hustle and bustle, finding time for yourself feels like a luxury. Let this guide be your compass to a journey where each brew nourishes not just the body, but also the very essence of your being.
Love,
Mindful Tea Moments
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