There’s nothing quite like wrapping your hands around a steaming cup of herbal tea. It’s more than just a drink—it’s a moment of calm, a hug for your body, mind, and spirit.

Whether you're looking for a soothing herbal tea blend for a sore throat or a calming brew to unwind after a long day, making homemade herbal tea is easier than you think. Plus, you can find most ingredients at your local grocery store or from trusted suppliers like Mountain Rose Herbs.

What You'll Need

No need for fancy gadgets—just the basics will do!

• Teapot, tea infuser, or French press – Whatever you have works.
• Kettle – Boiling water is essential for extracting the goodness from your tea leaves.
• Herbs – Fresh or dried, depending on what you have.
• Glass jars – Perfect for storing your favorite herbal tea blends.
• Optional add-ins – Honey, lemon, or even ginger for an extra boost.

Choosing Your Herbs

Herbal tea is all about creativity! Choosing herbs allows you to tailor each cup to your needs. Here are some of my go-to herbs with expanded details:

• Chamomile – A classic herb known for its calming properties, chamomile is perfect for relaxation, promoting restful sleep, and soothing an upset stomach.
• Peppermint – Refreshing and invigorating, peppermint is great for digestion, relieving headaches, and providing cooling comfort, especially after meals.
• Ginger – Warming and spicy, ginger supports the immune system, aids digestion, reduces nausea, and helps fight colds and flu.
• Lemon Balm – Known for its light citrus scent, lemon balm uplifts your mood, reduces anxiety, and helps melt away stress after a long day.
• Hibiscus – With its tangy, vibrant flavor, hibiscus is packed with antioxidants that support heart health, lower blood pressure, and provide a refreshing boost.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match these herbs or add others like lavender, rose petals, or rooibos to create your own signature herbal tea blend.

Sourcing the Best Herbs for Tea

When making homemade herbal tea, sourcing high-quality herbs is key to flavor and benefits. Look for organic, sustainably harvested herbs from trusted suppliers like Mountain Rose Herbs or your local farmers' market.

Choose herbs that are vibrant in color and strong in aroma, as these indicate freshness.

Consider growing your own herbs for the ultimate farm-to-cup experience, ensuring you always have fresh or dried herbs on hand for your next cup of herbal tea.

Growing Your Own Herbs for Tea

Growing your own herbs is a rewarding way to ensure your herbal tea blends are always fresh and full of flavor. Start with easy-to-grow herbs like mint, chamomile, and lemon balm.

Choose a sunny spot in your garden or use containers on a windowsill. Regular watering, well-drained soil, and occasional pruning will keep your plants healthy.

Harvest herbs in the morning when their oils are most concentrated, then dry them in a warm, dark place before storing them in glass jars.

With homegrown herbs, each cup of herbal tea will have a personal touch, straight from your garden to your teacup.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Herbal Tea

1. Boil water – Fresh, filtered water makes all the difference.
2. Measure your herbs – About 1-2 teaspoons of dried herbs or 2-3 teaspoons of fresh herbs per cup.
3. Add herbs to your teapot or infuser – Glass jars work well for storing leftover blends.
4. Pouring hot water over the herbs – Aim for water just below boiling for delicate herbs.
5. Steep your tea for 15 minutes – This gives the herbs time to release their goodness.
6. Strain and serve – Add honey, lemon, or ginger to taste.

Tips for the Perfect Homemade Herbal Tea

• Use high-quality herbs (Mountain Rose Herbs is a favorite!)
• Adjust steeping times depending on the herbs.
• Store your dried herbs in airtight glass jars.
• Don’t be afraid to experiment with new tea blend recipes!

Five Cozy Medicinal Herbal Tea Recipes to Try

Soothing Sore Throat Tea

• 1 tsp dried marshmallow root
• 1 tsp dried licorice root
• Honey and lemon
• Steep for 15 minutes.

This blend helps soothe sore throats and calm irritation.

Immune-Boosting Ginger Lemon Tea

• 1 tsp fresh ginger slices
• 1 tsp dried lemon peel
• Honey to taste
• Steep for 20 minutes.

Supports the immune system and provides warmth and comfort.

Relaxing Bedtime Blend

• 1 tsp chamomile
• 1 tsp lemon balm
• Dash of cinnamon
• Steep for 10 minutes.

Promotes relaxation and restful sleep.

Energizing Mint Hibiscus Tea

• 1 tsp peppermint
• 1 tsp hibiscus
• Lemon slice
• Steep for 8-10 minutes.

Refreshing and invigorating, perfect for a midday energy boost.

Calming Lavender Rose Tea

• 1 tsp lavender buds
• 1 tsp rose petals
• Honey (optional)
• Steep for 5-7 minutes.

Helps reduce stress and promotes calmness.

How Do You Measure Herbs for Your Tea Blend?

When herbs are dried and prepared for a shelf-stable tea blend, they are often in a form herbalists call cut and sifted or garbled.

Since roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits used in herbal tea blends vary in weight and size, it's essential to have a consistent method for measuring and dosing your tea.

You can measure by volume using tablespoons or by weight with a kitchen scale, measuring each herb in ounces or grams. For the warming tea recipe, I used tablespoons to measure by volume.

More than Brewing Leaves

Making a cup of herbal tea is more than just brewing leaves—it's about creating a moment of calm in your day. Whether you're whipping up a new tea blend recipe or simply pouring hot water over your favorite herbs, the process is soothing in itself.

Next time you're at the grocery store, grab a few fresh or dried herbs and start your homemade herbal tea journey. I’d love to hear about your favorite blends in the comments below. Cheers to a warm, comforting cup every time!