While many herbs can be used to make delicious herbal tea and tea blends, there are some that I consider essential in any tea garden. Those six are: Anise Hyssop, Bee Balm, Chamomile, Lemon Verbena, Black peppermint and Pineapple Mint.
Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum). Known to some as licorice mint, anise hyssop is related to mints and hyssop. It delivers a hint of delicious licorice flavor to tea-a tea once enjoyed as a traditional beverage by the Native Americans of the northern plains. Its tall spikes of purple-blue flowers reach 3 to 4 feet high, and the plant is much loved by bees. Anise hyssop is a perennial hardy in Zones 4 to 9 and grows best in full sun with a rich soil. Easily started from seed, it happily reseeds itself but is by no means invasive. Both leaves and flowers can be harvested for tea. It attracts bees in great numbers, especially bumble and honey bees.
Bee balm (Monarda didyma). This hummingbird attracting flower with amazing trumpet -shaped petals comes in shades of pink, red, lavender, scarlet, and mahogany has become one of my favorites in both the garden and in tea. Bee balm-also...
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bee balm, chamomile, gardening, herb tea, hyssop, lemon verbena, peppermint, pineapple mint
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Lemon Bee Balm (Monarda citiodora) also known as Lemon Bergamot, like its cousin Bee Balm has similar whorls of trumpet-shaped flowers but they are lavender rather than rich red. It is easy to start from seed and grows as a full-sun annual. It will self seed, so may believe it is a perennial. It needs good air flow because like all Monarda varieties it is susceptible to powdery mildew. Also they should not be watered from above because moist leaves encourage the mildew. It attracts bees and butterflies and even humming birds, has a bushy round shape and lightly lemon scented leaves. The young leaves are great in salads and stuffing as well as a tea. Native to the Southwest United States, it was originally used by the Hopi People to flavor game and as a tea.
Lemon Catmint (Nepeta cataria 'Citriodora') is a perennial catmint (catnip) with a lemon fragrance. The foliage is a downy green-gray and can get up to 2 feet tall in full sun or part-shade. It grows in zone 3 to 9 and is a member of the mint family. You can always...
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bee balm, catnip, gardening, lemon
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