14 Herbs to Grow if You Love Drinking Fresh Teas & Tisanes

Growing your own herbs is a lovely way to enhance your garden and kitchen alike, especially if you’re a fan of herbal teas and tisanes. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, cultivating these 14 herbs will allow you to brew your own fresh and flavorful beverages right from your backyard.

What Is a Herbal Tea or Tisane?

Herb garden. — Photo Credit: Envato Elements.

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Despite the commonly used term, herbal tea is not technically “tea” as these herbal drinks do not contain the leaves of the tea plant Camellia Sinensis.

Herbal tea beverages are tisanes, blends, or infusions of dried herbs, flowers, spices, or fruits.

And now you know.

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm, with its citrusy aroma and mild flavor, is an excellent choice for herbal tea enthusiasts. It’s often used to promote calmness, reduce stress, and improve sleep quality. Lemon balm tea can be enjoyed both hot and cold and pairs well with other herbs like mint or chamomile.

Tea Blend: Lemon Bliss Blend
Complementary Herbs: Lavender, ginger
Instructions: Mix fresh lemon balm leaves with dried lavender flowers and ginger slices for a calming and aromatic tea blend. Steep in hot water for 5-7 minutes and strain before serving.

Chamomile

Chamomile is renowned for its calming and sleep-inducing properties, making it a popular choice for bedtime teas. The delicate, apple-like flavor of chamomile flowers creates a soothing and aromatic infusion that’s perfect for winding down at the end of the day.

Tea Blend: Serene Chamomile Infusion
- Ingredients:
  - 1 tablespoon chamomile flowers
  - 1 teaspoon lavender buds
  - 1 teaspoon fresh mint leaves
- Instructions: Place the herbs in a mug. Pour hot water over the mixture. Steep for 5-7 minutes, and sip.

Lavender

Lavender’s floral aroma and subtle flavor make it a delightful addition to herbal teas. Lavender tea is prized for its relaxing and stress-relieving effects, making it an ideal choice for moments of relaxation and self-care. Use dried lavender flowers sparingly to infuse your tea with their fragrant essence.

Tea Blend: Lavender Dream Tea
- Ingredients:
  - 1 tablespoon lavender flowers
  - 1 teaspoon lemon verbena leaves
  - 1 teaspoon rosemary sprigs
- Instructions: Mix the herbs in a mug. Add hot water. Steep for 5-7 minutes, and enjoy the floral aroma.

Thyme

Thyme, particularly the lemon thyme variety, is an excellent herb for both culinary and tea-making uses due to its citrusy undertones that enhance flavor profiles. Ideal for gardeners who appreciate a dual-purpose plant, lemon thyme thrives in well-drained soil and full sunlight, making it relatively easy to grow. It can be harvested as needed and used fresh or dried in teas and soups. When brewing thyme tea, using fresh lemon thyme leaves can help soothe sore throats and boost immunity, offering a fragrant and therapeutic experience.

Thyme flowers are also extremely flavorful if the plant is allowed to bloom.

Tea Blend: Tangy Thyme Tisane

Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon balm leaves
- Honey and lemon juice to taste
Instructions: Combine the herbs in a mug. Pour hot water over the mixture. Steep for 5-7 minutes, and savor the refreshing citrusy flavor.

Recipe: Chicken Feet Bone Broth Stock {Stove Top or Instant Pot}

Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena is prized for its intense lemony fragrance and flavor, which adds a bright and citrusy note to herbal teas. It’s often used to aid digestion, relieve anxiety, and uplift the mood. Lemon verbena tea can be enjoyed on its own or blended with other herbs for a refreshing and aromatic brew.

Tea Blend: Zesty Lemon Infusion
- Ingredients:
  - 5-6 fresh lemon verbena leaves
  - 1 teaspoon fresh lemongrass stalks
  - 1 teaspoon fresh spearmint leaves
- Instructions: Combine the herbs in a mug. Pour hot water over the mixture. Steep for 5-7 minutes, and savor the citrusy flavor.

Holy Basil (Tulsi)

Holy basil, also known as tulsi, is revered for its adaptogenic properties and medicinal benefits. It has a slightly spicy, clove-like flavor with hints of citrus and peppermint. Tulsi tea is prized for its ability to reduce stress, boost immunity, and promote overall well-being.

Tea Blend: Sacred Tulsi Harmony
- Ingredients:
  - 5-6 fresh holy basil leaves
  - 1 cinnamon stick
  - 2 cardamom pods
- Instructions: Combine the herbs and spices in a mug. Pour hot water over the mixture. Steep for 5-7 minutes, and sip the comforting brew.

Dandelion

Dandelion roots are commonly used to make herbal tea with a slightly bitter and earthy flavor. Dandelion tea is prized for its detoxifying properties and potential health benefits, including liver support, digestion aid, and kidney health. It can be enjoyed on its own or blended with sweeter herbs to balance its flavor.

Make tea from roots: Dig roots up in fall, scrub them thoroughly, and let them dry before steeping in boiling hot water for 15 minutes.

Calendula

Calendula, also known as marigold, produces vibrant yellow or orange flowers that can be dried and infused to make a soothing and aromatic tea. Calendula tea has a mild, floral flavor with subtle hints of spice. It’s often used to support skin health, reduce inflammation, and promote relaxation.

Tea Blend: Calendula Sunshine Tea
- Ingredients:
  - 1 tablespoon dried calendula petals
  - 1 teaspoon dried lemon verbena leaves
  - 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers
- Instructions: Place the herbs in a mug. Pour hot water over the mixture. Steep for 5-7 minutes, then delight in the sunny flavor and calming properties.

Echinacea

Echinacea, also known as purple coneflower, is prized for its immune-boosting properties. While commonly used in herbal supplements, echinacea leaves and flowers can also be infused to make a fragrant and medicinal tea. It has a slightly bitter taste with hints of floral and earthy notes.

Tea Blend: Immune-Boosting Infusion
- Ingredients:
  - 1 tablespoon dried echinacea flowers or leaves
  - 1 teaspoon dried elderflower
  - 1 teaspoon dried rose hips
- Instructions: Combine the ingredients in a mug. Pour hot water over the mixture. Steep for 5-7 minutes, then enjoy the immune-boosting benefits.

Rosemary

Rosemary’s robust flavor and aromatic qualities make it a unique addition to herbal tea blends. It has a woody, pine-like taste with hints of citrus and mint. Rosemary tea is believed to improve cognitive function, enhance mood, and support digestion.

Tea Blend: Rosemary Elixir
- Ingredients:
  - 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary sprigs
  - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  - 1 teaspoon fresh sage leaves
- Instructions: Mix the herbs in a mug. Add hot water. Steep for 5-7 minutes, and enjoy the robust infusion.

Fennel

Fennel is known for its distinct anise-like flavor and aroma. Both the seeds and the feathery fronds of the fennel plant can be used to make tea. Fennel tea is valued for its digestive benefits, helping to relieve bloating, gas, and indigestion. It has a slightly sweet and licorice-like taste that pairs well with other herbs like peppermint or chamomile.

Tea Blend: Digestive Delight
- Ingredients:
  - 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  - 1 teaspoon dried peppermint leaves
  - 1 teaspoon dried chamomile flowers
- Instructions: Place the ingredients in a mug. Pour hot water over the herbs. Steep for 5-7 minutes, then savor the soothing and digestive properties.

Ginger

It’s not an herb, obviously, but I’m including it because it’s really easy to grow in pots and so flavorful.

Ginger adds a warm, spicy flavor and a subtle heat to herbal tea blends. Known for its digestive and anti-inflammatory properties, ginger tea is often used to soothe upset stomachs, relieve nausea, and promote overall digestion. To make ginger tea, simply steep fresh ginger slices or grated ginger root in hot water for a few minutes.

Try combining loads of ginger with lemon and honey when you’re congested; we drink loads of that during the cold and flu season.

Tea Blend: Ginger Spice Infusion
- Ingredients:
  - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger slices
  - 1 cinnamon stick
  - 1 teaspoon dried orange peel
- Instructions: Combine the ingredients in a mug. Pour hot water over the mixture. Steep for 5-7 minutes, then enjoy the warming and aromatic blend.

Sage

Sage is prized for its earthy flavor and aromatic qualities, making it a versatile herb for herbal teas. Sage tea has a slightly bitter taste with hints of pine and citrus, and it’s valued for its potential health benefits, including cognitive support, sore throat relief, and antioxidant properties. To make sage tea, steep fresh or dried sage leaves in hot water for 5-10 minutes, then strain and enjoy. Sage blends well with other herbs like lemon balm, thyme, or lavender for added complexity and flavor dimension in your tea.

Recipe: Fresh Sage Herbal Tea {Hot or Iced}

Mint

Mint is perhaps one of the most popular herbs for tea-making due to its refreshing flavor and soothing properties. Common varieties include spearmint, peppermint, and chocolate mint. Mint tea aids digestion, relieves nausea, and promotes relaxation.

There are so many varieties of mint to grow, including ones that taste subtly like chocolate!

Recipe: Easy Fresh Mint Tea {Hot or Iced}