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Flowers for tea can be a gardener’s delight. The ritual of making a good hot cup of tea is almost as soothing as the tea itself. Not only is tea delicious, but depending on the variety it may have health benefits. Plus, when you grow your own flowers for tea, you’re also encouraging our necessary pollinators – a win/win.
If you want to grow your own herbal tea garden, you need to know what flowers are used in tea. Some of the more common types of flower tea are chamomile and hibiscus, but there are many other blooms that can be used by themselves or combined with black, white, oolong, or green tea.
About Floral Teas
Floral teas are essentially tisanes, or infusions made from dried flowers steeped in hot water. Sometimes only the infusion from the flower is used and sometimes it‘s combined with a base tea as above.
Many floral teas have added benefits from stress relief to anti-inflammatories. They may help with stomach ailments or menstrual cramping or treat the common cold.
Keep in mind that not all floral tisanes have scientific research verifying their medical claims. Sometimes they were used for hundreds or thousands of years but fell out of favor and sometimes, the claimant is in error. So do your research if seeking relief from ailments by using floral teas.
Best Flowers for Tea
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The best flowers for tea will likely depend on your taste buds. For some, floral teas are too much. They taste too, well, flowery. Sampling different varieties is a good way to decide what plants you would like to include in your tea garden. Also, if you want to use teas medicinally, do some research on the various flowers and herbs and ask your doctor if there are any interactions with any medications you are already taking.
Now, onto your floral options for tea.
- Hibiscus and chamomile have already been mentioned, but rose is also another common tea flower, often paired with white tea or elevated even further as a creamy rose tea latte.
- Lavender and calendula make lovely teas, as does vitamin C-rich chrysanthemum or elderflower tea which is purported to boost the immune system, treat allergies and reduce fevers.
- Blue cornflowers have a mild flavor and are often used in herbal tea blends for a pop of brilliant blue that is said to treat a multitude of medical ailments. Linden flower is an old herb that has been used to treat dozens of medical maladies for centuries.
- Jasmine tea is more commonly made up of the dried green leaves that have been scented with the aromatic flower. This is another tea steeped in history that has been used for various ailments through the centuries.
- Butterfly pea flower tea is said to reduce inflammation amongst other ailments. Delightfully, with a single drop of citrus, a cup of butterfly blossom tea turns bright pink.
Additional Plants for a Tea Garden
Raspberry, bergamot, prairie rose, red clover and anise hyssop all make delicious pollinator beckoning floral teas. Tea can also be made from echinacea, passionflower, and even dandelion.
Herbs such as lemon thyme, borage, lemon verbena, and mint all make excellent tea on their own or combined with other florals.
While you’re growing your tea flowers, add in a stevia plant. Added to the teapot, this plant’s leaves will sweeten up your tea naturally and is low in calories as well!
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