Fresh Herbal Tea (12 Herbs to Try)

Fresh herbal tea can have a fantastic impact on your health and well-being. Fresh herbs can be brewed into an uplifting hot or cold tea. An all-rounder fresh herbal tea recipe included.

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Jump to:

• ❓What are herbal teas?
• 🌿List of Herb for Tea
• 🔪Step by Step Guide
• ⭐Tips
• 🌿How to Dry Fresh Herbs 
• ⚙️Equipment
• 🌿Related Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Community

There’s a beautiful and uplifting connection between humans and nature.

Ecopsychology studies prove this.

So it makes a lot of sense to enjoy a cup of invigorating herbal tea.

Fresh herbal tea is a big part of my life, and I am inspired even more so to keep drinking it since undertaking the 369 Cleanse. I wanted to share some simple fresh herb tea recipes with you that I enjoy post yoga.

I enlisted the help of Natasha, a Naturopath, to help outline the benefits of the below list of fresh herbs for tea.

❓What are herbal teas?

Herbal tea also goes by the name of ‘tisane’ and can be made from the flower, seeds, leaves, stems, and or roots of a wide-ranging selection of plants.

Tisanes (herbal teas) can be used for various medicinal purposes such as relaxation, aid with stomach/digestion issues, and strengthening the immune system.

There is no one best herb for tea, as each is used for different reasons and has different flavoring. However, you may find a favorite within this list of herbs for tea I personally love to use.

Consuming medicinal herbs in tea form can be a delicious way of supporting your health naturally.  Depending on your current health concern, you can quickly and easily brew your very own personalized medicine.

🌿List of Herb for Tea

Below is a list of 12 fresh herbs for your consideration to use in your herbal tea recipe.

Lemon Balm

A simple, effective, and pleasant tasting lemon balm tea is a calming beverage that promotes a restful night’s sleep.

Lemon balm is actually a variety of mint (and it looks very similar) but with a lovely gentle lemon flavour and aroma. 

The phytochemicals contained within the leaves act on lowering stress hormones such as Adrenalin that are released when we are feeling anxious - helping us to feel calmer. 

Lemon balm is also purported to have sedative properties and hence makes a wonderful evening beverage. 

Some of the other benefits of Lemon balm are its antioxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.  

Place lemon balm tea/water in the sun to absorb vitamin D. 

A couple of sprigs per person in a teapot add boiling filtered water and allow it to steep for a few minutes before serving.

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Mint

One of the most popular herbs in the mint family would have to be Peppermint which boasts a sweet, cool, and refreshing flavour.  

Mint is not only packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, it also contains the organic compound menthol (which is what gives mint its’ distinctive aroma) and acts as a carminative/antispasmodic, meaning it is wonderful for settling an upset stomach for example. 

Great for iced tea or flavored water (as the flavoring infuses quickly).

Enjoy mint hot or cold.  You can use as many leaves as your tastebuds desire.

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Tarragon

Traditional culinary herbs you may already have in your kitchen pantry can be used for more than just seasoning your food! 

Herbs such as potassium-rich Tarragon tastes like licorice due to its essential oil compounds. 

Tarragon also contains flavonoids and other poly-phenolic compounds that may help with mild pain, indigestion, and nausea. 

Tarragon is also purported to lower blood sugar levels.  

Use one sprig per cup of Tarragon tea.

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Thyme

Thyme is a close relative of the Oregano family and is a small-leafed herb that contains high levels of the essential oil called thymol. 

Compounds such as thymol have substantial antiseptic and antiviral properties. 

If you feel a sore throat coming on, just half a small handful of the herb is all you need per cup to make a soothing Thyme tea.

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Lemon Verbena

Another fragrant, lemon flavoured herb is antioxidant rich Lemon verbena which will help your body to fight free radicals – the main cause of cellular ageing. 

Lemon verbena can also be drunk when you are feeling a little under the weather due to its antiseptic and expectorant properties.

A sprig with a few leaves is great in a teapot.

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Basil

Here’s one that you probably didn’t think of as a herb for tea.

Basil has a strong Basil is very nutrient-dense – in fact just one tablespoon of Basil gives the body nearly half its daily vitamin K. 

Basil has a strong and fragrant flavor, known as a herbal antibiotic, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. 

In fact, Basil may provide an alternative to antibiotics for infectious diseases, including combating certain antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. 

To make Basil tea, use 3-4 leaves per cup.

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Olive Leaf

Olive leaf tea is excellent for the lymphatic, cardiovascular and immune systems due to its main compound called oleuropein. 

Olive leaf has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels, as well as potentially lowering high blood sugar levels. 

Olive leaf is wonderful as an all-around tonic for the body. 

Use one sprig with several leaves on it per teacup.  I like to crush the leaves up with my hands before steeping in boiling water.

Allow the tea to sit for at least 10 minutes before drinking.

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Lemon Grass

Refreshing and lemon-flavored.

This tea fights free radicals as it is high in antioxidants as well as contains the compound citral which works as a natural anti-inflammatory. 

Simply use one section of a stick per cup.  If making a pot of lemongrass tea - use an entire stick that can be smashed at the base of the lemongrass stick and then broken into pieces, tying the leaves around it to hold it together.

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Chocolate Mint

Another lovely herb in the same mint family is Chocolate mint – this has a strong aromatic flavour, which is similar to chocolate & spearmint although some people can’t detect the chocolate part. 

This herb contains various vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and only requires a small sprig per cup.

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Sage

Vitamin and mineral rich Sage has quite a strong flavor and fragrance which is almost lavender-like, but more pungent due to its poly-phenols and essential oil compounds including ellagic, chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids that act as powerful antioxidants and antibacterials. 

Sage is useful to gargle if you have a sore throat for example and can also be used as an antiseptic mouth wash. 

A couple of leaves per cup is all that is required for an aromatic cup of Sage tea.

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Rosemary

Another strongly flavoured herb, Rosemary is such a great all-rounder, it has been used for thousands of years as a food and medicine. 

Rosemary tea boasts antidepressant, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, analgesic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant properties.  Smelling the essential oil of

Rosemary is said to enhance memory receptors in the brain also. 

Use Rosemary leaves as per your taste buds in a cup of tea.

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Oregano

Oregano is a herb that is part of the mint family but has quite a strong flavour, so has been used medicinally & culinary since the time of our ancient ancestors. 

Oregano has anti-fungal, antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-viral properties due to its rich volatile oil compounds including thymol (found in high quantities in Oregano’s relative Thyme). 

Only a sprig or two is needed to make an immune boosting cuppa.

Love cooking with oregano? Learn how to make zaatar a versatile herb blend or fresh oregano salad.

🔪Step by Step Guide

Use this herbal tea recipe with three easy steps to learn how to make tea with herbs;

Step 1 - Pick and wash fresh herbs, place into mug or pot

Step 2 - Pour boiling water and allow to steep for 5-10 minutes

Step 3 - Add your desired sweetener, mix and enjoy.

⭐Tips

Next time you are feeling unwell, rather than reaching for a synthetic pill, try making your own immune boosting tea blend such as Olive leaf, Sage and Thyme, or drinking a calming, digestive Peppermint and Lemon balm tisane after your meals. 

Always remember, the longer you steep your herbs in hot water, the stronger your tea will be as the medicinal compounds have had more time to be extracted.

The herbs listed above are caffeine free so can be safely drunk day or night, hot or cold.  

Fresh herbs - only use herbs that are not browning and wilted. These will yield the best results and flavouring.

Some herbs are better when crushed with your hands such as lemon balm, tarragon, olive leaf, sage and rosemary. Crushing helps to release the oils within.

If desired, use natural sweeteners such as maple syrup, coconut sugar or agave syrup.

Some herbs pair well with lemon, fresh ginger or turmeric - add slices as needed.

Boiled leaves do not stay green, they will turn brown.

🌿How to Dry Fresh Herbs 

To enjoy herbal tea throughout the year pick and wash herbs, allow them to thoroughly air dry by placing them in a sunny spot.

Or pat dry removing as much water as possible, then place them singularly onto a tray and baking in a preheated oven of 150C (300F) until dry.

Cut up the herbs and store them in an airtight container in a cool dry pantry, for up to a year.

⚙️Equipment

• Tea pot (affiliate link) - this is the featured teapot in the top pic
• Kettle (affiliate link) - this is the kettle I use at home
• Spoon
• Tea cup (affiliate link) - to match the teapot

🌿Related Recipes

For a cold all-natural beverage try my homemade chocolate oat milk.

For a filling, drink try dragon fruit smoothie or a blackberry strawberry banana smoothie. Still, wanting coffee? Try this velvety foam coffee.

Try a sweet treat such as Sfouf or Namoura (both are types of sweet semolina cake). Or my gluten-free oil-free dairy-free brownies

Which is your favorite from the above list of herbs for tea? Did you make yourself a herbal tea? Tag @plantbasedfolk on Instagram to be featured via stories. Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating on the recipe card below 

📖 Recipe