There are many reasons to grow an indoor tea garden. According to a popular Chinese legend, brewing tea began as an accident one day around 2737 BC, when a few leaves from a nearby tree fell into Emperor Shennong’s boiling drinking water. The emperor took a sip of the water and was pleasantly surprised to find it full of flavor and restorative properties.
In another legend, Bodhidharma, the founder of Chan Buddhism, accidentally fell asleep after meditating one day. When he awoke, he was so disgusted with his weakness that he sliced off his eyelids, which fell to the ground, took root, and grew into tea bushes.
In reality, as with most myths and legends, the true history of tea’s origins lies somewhere in the middle. Somebody threw a bunch of plants in boiling water, and what didn’t hurt or cause illness made it onto the “okay to eat and drink” list.
But that’s not nearly as fun a story to tell, is it?
Regardless of which origin story you choose to believe, we can all agree that drinking tea is delicious and offers many therapeutic benefits.
Here is your guide to creating your own indoor tea garden that is sure to keep you healthy and well-hydrated all year long.
Chamomile
Chamomile (American English) or camomile (British English) is the common name for several daisy-like plants. German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum mobile) are commonly used to make what we know as chamomile tea. However, it’s German chamomile that is most often used and is the only one needed to make a cup of chamomile tea.
Chamomile is also used as a flavoring agent in foods and other beverages, as well as mouthwash, cosmetics, soaps, and even beer and ale. A fantastic addition when you are looking to grow an indoor tea garden.
Flavor and Benefits
Many people drink chamomile as a soothing beverage. It’s an herbal tea, which means it’s free of caffeine, and it offers a silky, clean mouthfeel. The flavor of chamomile is considered earthy, with hints of apple and a honey-like sweetness.
Chamomile tea is said to offer a variety of health benefits, including:
- Improving sleep quality
- Promoting digestive health
- Protection against certain types of cancers
- Lowering inflammation
- Controlling blood sugar
- Improving heart health
- Boosting immunity
- Relieving anxiety and depression
- Improving skin health
- Preventing bone loss
Note: While these claims are based on various health studies, they each require more scientific evidence to prove.
How to Grow Chamomile Indoors
For making your own chamomile tea, you’ll need to get ahold of German chamomile seeds, which can be found online or at nurseries.
To grow chamomile from seeds:
- Start seeds indoors about six weeks before the last expected frost date.
- Fill a seed tray or pot with a well-draining potting or seed starting mix.
- Scatter a small pinch of the tiny seeds onto the surface of the soil and lightly tamp down with your finger or water with a light mist.
- Do not cover the seeds with soil after tamping down.
- Lightly mist to moisten the soil.
- You can also sprinkle vermiculate on top of the seeds if you’re unsure about the seeds growing or getting enough moisture.
- Place the seeded pot or dish in a bright, sunny area and keep the soil moist.
- Once the seedling has grown about one inch, thin the seedlings out to be about 2 to 4 inches apart and replant as necessary.
- Chamomile likes a lot of sunlight and prefers warmth, though it can tolerate high heat.
- Water chamomile regularly. Even use a mulch to help maintain moisture.
- One or two chamomile flowers can quickly turn into a bunch, so choose your pot wisely.
German chamomile will grow 1 to 3 feet tall and produce white flowers with yellow centers.
How to Harvest
After about 6 to 8 weeks, chamomile flowers can be harvested. It’s best to harvest in the early morning. The bloom should be full of white petals, with little to no space between each petal. You can snip off the flower heads or just pull them off by hand.
You can use the freshly plucked flowers for your chamomile tea, but drying them out first will provide a more robust chamomile flavor.
How to Dry Chamomile Flowers
To dry chamomile flowers, simply place them in a lidless container and leave them in a cool, dry place for 1 to 2 weeks. Drying them in the sun can cause the color and flavor to weaken. You can also use a dehydrator at 95 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 to 18 hours.
How to Make Chamomile Tea
Once your flowers are dry, the amount to use is up to you. Start with one tablespoon of flowers and work your way up if you’d like it more potent. Boil your water to about 212 degrees Fahrenheit and place it in a mug containing your chamomile flowers. Steep for about five minutes and enjoy!
How to Store
To store chamomile tea flowers, place them in a sealed, airtight container in a cool, dark area. Most dried chamomile will keep for about a year.
Mint
Mint tea is a herbal tea made by infusing mint leaves in hot water. Several types of mint are widely used, including spearmint and peppermint. However, the mint family contains over 30 different species after being part of the culinary world for thousands of years. The origins of mint tea are mainly associated with Morocco during the 18th and 19th centuries.
In Morocco, drinking mint tea became a symbol of status, ceremony, and politics. During times of famine, it was used as an appetite suppressant and emergency calorie substitution. Today, mint tea can be found worldwide and is lauded for its medicinal properties. An amazing addition when you grow an indoor tea garden.
Flavor and Benefits
Mint tea is often described as refreshing, which is why it’s found widely in toothpaste, mouthwashes, and other hygienic goods. Mint tea offers a fresh, cool flavor that includes a slight tingle on your taste buds. Different types of mint will also provide some fruit and vanilla notes.
The benefits of mint tea include:
- Soothing an upset stomach
- Improving digestion
- Treating bad breath
- Combating colds and flu
- Reducing fevers
- Improving mental awareness and focus
- Preventing nausea
- Reducing stress
- Promoting healthy skin and hair
There are some side effects for people to be aware of with mint tea, including its impact on allergies and acid reflux. Pregnant women should also monitor and limit their intake.
Types of Mint
For growing mint indoors for tea, you have several options to choose from (or just pick them all if you wish!). The most popular mints to use are spearmint, peppermint, chocolate mint, apple mint, and orange mint. Each offers its own unique properties and flavors.
Here’s a brief description of each:
- Spearmint is more mellow because of its lower menthol content, and it is naturally sweet. It works great by itself or complements other tea flavors.
- Peppermint is mildly sweet and leaves a cool sensation in the mouth. It offers a little more “bite” than spearmint.
- Chocolate mint is very fragrant and has a hint of chocolate flavor that reminds some people of mint-chocolate candies.
- As its name states, Apple mint offers a hint of apple to go along with the freshness of mint flavor.
- Orange mint is a bit more peppery than other mints, with a hint of orange citrus flavor.
Of course, there are many other types of mint that you could try as well!
How to Grow Mint Indoors
Mint is a perennial herb that is very fragrant and, depending on its type (peppermint, spearmint, etc.), offers different colors and leaf shapes. Most mint leaves are toothed or jagged and bloom tiny purple, pink, or white flowers.
Growing mint indoors is easy. Here are the steps:
- Start with a small well-draining pot filled with good quality potting mix. You can also use a blend of equal amounts of sand, peat, and perlite.
- Moisten the soil.
- Spread a thin layer of mint seeds across the top of the soil.
- Cover the seeds with a quarter-inch layer of the same potting mix or perlite.
- Tamp the soil with your hand to firm the seeds down.
- Gently water the seeds.
- Place your pot in a sunny area that receives about 5 to 6 hours of indirect sunlight a day.
- The best temperature for mint is around 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
After a few weeks, you can begin harvesting your mint leaves by pinching them off the stems.
How to Harvest
Mint can be harvested as soon as leaves begin appearing, or you can wait until the full bloom, giving a stronger mint flavor. Consistent harvesting will promote regrowth. To harvest, simply pinch off the leaves individually.
How to Dry
You can quickly dry mint using a dehydrator or oven set at a low temperature. Or, in warm climates with low humidity, you can let mint airdry over a few days. If drying in a cool environment, be careful to avoid mold. To air dry, you can wrap the mint in bunches and hang them in a shady, warm, and well-ventilated area.
How to Make Mint Tea
Whether from the dry leaves or fresh ones, boil water for your tea and place a couple leaves (to taste) in the water to seep for about five minutes. Mint makes a great companion for other teas or herbs (for green tea especially!) or by itself.
How to Store
Store mint in an unsealed plastic bag that allows air circulation and place in a cool, dry place or in the freezer. You can even store mint by freezing the individual leaves in an ice cube tray and filling it with water. Mint will stay fresh in the freezer for about three months.
Dry mint can be crushed and stored in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, away from light and moisture.
Lavender
Lavender is a flowering plant from the mint family. It’s known for its distinctive purple flowers and floral fragrance. Its believed to date back more than 2500 years, developing first across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and India. Lavender has been used for centuries to wash with and add freshness to bedding, baths, clothes, and hair. You can find lavender in countless products today, including oils, candles, lotions, shampoos, and foods.
Flavor and Benefits
Lavender has a floral flavor, with hints of mint and rosemary. It’s slightly sweet, with a bitter aftertaste.
Lavender offers many health benefits, including:
- As a disinfectant and antiseptic
- Soothing and healing insect bites, sunburns, and minor cuts
- Offering anti-inflammatory properties
- Aiding indigestion or heartburn
- Freshening air or linen
- Uplifting moods or aromatherapy
- Boosting sleep
- Soothing menstrual cramping
- Improving skin health
- Detoxifying the body
- Aiding respiratory health
- Boosting immune health
And much more! It is worth noting that not all claims are backed by scientific evidence.
How to Grow Lavender Indoors
To grow lavender for tea, be sure to purchase or find culinary lavender. Lavender prefers to be grown outdoors, but under the right conditions can be grown inside.
- Choose a pot about 12 to 16 inches across and equally as deep.
- Fill it with quick-draining potting soil. Lavender does best in a rocky medium.
- Scatter the lavender seeds across the soil and gently push in about a quarter of an inch.
- Water gently.
- Place the lavender pot in a hot, sunny area, preferably a south-facing window.
- Do not over-water because it is prone to root rot.
- However, don’t let the soil become too dry either. It’s a delicate balance, so constantly check lavender for too wet or dry soil.
- Lavender can grow from 1 to 3 feet tall. Once established, it requires less watering.
- You can store your lavender plant in a dry area that doesn’t get cold drafts during the winter months.
To help your lavender along, you can feed it with fertilizer or crush eggshells into the soil for extra nutrients.
How to Harvest
To harvest lavender, snip the stems just before the flowers open up. For tea, you will want to use the purple buds only.
How to Dry
To dry lavender, bunch together stems and tie with string or a rubber band. Hang dry lavender upside down in a dry, dark, and warm spot. Keep it away from the sun to keep its color. You may also want to put something under each lavender bunch to catch buds that fall off. After about 7 to 10 days, your lavender should be dry. You can use it for your tea or store the buds in an airtight container away from light, heat, and humidity. Dried lavender will keep its flavor and fragrance for about a year.
How to Use in Tea
To use lavender in your tea, boil water and place about four teaspoons (or to taste) of fresh lavender buds in the water. Steep for about 5 to 10 minutes.
How to Store
Lavender can be stored in airtight containers. It can keep for about a year. To avoid rot, you’ll want to store the container in a warm, dry, and dark spot.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm holds an important place in Greek culture. The ancient Greeks believed that lemon balm tea led to a long life. Prince Llewellyn, the last prince of Wales, was said to drink lemon balm tea every day, and he lived to be 108 years old.
Lemon balm (or balm mint) is an herb in the mint family. It is often used in teas, especially for calming, and can be used with or replace traditional mint.
Lemon balm has a very fresh and floral aroma that can be used in salads and cooking. It also makes a great addition to homemade household cleaners and remedies like pest deterrents, lip balm, bath bombs, and soap.
Flavor and Benefits
Lemon balm is considered a light flavor, with both its stems and leaves offering a slight sweetness that packs a citrus lemon taste with hints of mint. It is a herb, which means it is free of caffeine. Many people drink lemon balm tea to soothe mild ailments and to help them relax before bed.
Lemon balm tea is said to offer a variety of health benefits, including:
- Improving sleep quality
- Supporting brain health
- Promoting digestive health
- Treating mild infections and cold sores
- Improving heart health
- Reducing stress and anxiety
- Treating nausea
- Minimizing muscle and menstrual cramps
Note: While these claims are based on various health studies, they each require more scientific evidence to prove. If you are pregnant, speak to your doctor about whether it’s okay to use or ingest lemon balm.
How to Grow Lemon Balm Indoors
Under the right conditions, lemon balm plants can live for up to 10 years.
- Fill a well-draining pot or container with pre-moistened soil about ¾ of the way. Note that lemon balm will grow to the size of its container, so choose wisely.
- Spread lemon balm seed across the top of the dirt.
- Use pre-sifted soil evenly across the top of the seeds.
- Pat the soil down using your hands.
- Water lightly.
- Place your pot or container in a bright window that provides lots of sunlight throughout the day (about 5 to 6 hours). However, it needs to be kept cool, so choose a spot that doesn’t get too hot.
- You should not over-water lemon balm. The top of the soil should dry before watering again. It’s better to under-water than to over-water.
- After just a few days, you should see sprouts. After a few weeks, those sprouts begin to bunch together and grow larger.
- If your lemon balm blooms flowers, it has “bolted” and should not be used.
- If after 14 days you do not have sprouts, then the area you have them in is too cool.
- In either of these last two cases, simply start over from seed or start from a cutting.
How to Harvest
As the leaves of your lemon balm mature, you can snip them just at the stem. You shouldn’t harvest more than ⅓ of the plant at a time. Harvesting often will encourage regrowth.
How to Dry Lemon Balm
To dry lemon balm, you can collect your leaves and bunch them together, then hang them upside down to air dry. However, for tea, lemon balm is best when used fresh. So do not dry out your lemon balm entirely.
How to Make Lemon Balm Tea
Place a quarter cup (or to taste) of fresh lemon balm leaves in boiling hot water. Let steep for 5 to 10 minutes. Add honey or other herbs, or drink it as is. Lemon balm adds a bit of freshness and a citrusy flavor to chamomile and mint.
How to Store
Lemon balm is best used fresh. If you decide to store it long-term, dry it by hanging it in a warm, dark place for several weeks. Then store it in paper bags or glass jars in big pieces to help it retain as much flavor as possible. It’s best to avoid plastic to help reduce condensation.
Growing an indoor tea garden can be a very rewarding experience. On nights when you can’t or don’t feel like going out, simply pop some leaves into boiling water, and it’ll be like you’ve been whisked away to a fresh garden across the world.