Brewing a cup of tea is a daily ritual, and where you get your tea can significantly affect its taste and your overall experience. For store-bought options, loose-leaf tea is always the best choice, but what if you could grow your own herbal tea at home and brew it whenever you want?
Growing your own tea allows you to customize your flavors, and the quality is unmatched. If you’re as passionate about tea as we are, keep reading to learn how you can establish a tea garden on your windowsill at home and enjoy the long-lasting benefits of freshly brewed tea.
The Best Herbs to Grow
When it comes to choosing herbs for a windowsill tea garden, it’s important to think beyond flavor and fragrance. Since you have limited space, choose plants that thrive together under the same light and watering needs.
Laura Root, senior merchant for live plants and hard goods for Jackson & Perkins, Park Seed, and Wayside Gardens, shared the best herbs to grow for a windowsill tea garden. Below, she shares varieties that are compact, rich in essential oils, thrive with regular harvesting, and bring on the flavor:
Basil: Basil isn’t just for cooking—in fact, it makes a surprisingly refreshing tea when paired with fresh lemon or lemon-based herbs. It thrives in warm, sunny places, making the windowsill a great location. Basil can be frequently harvested, which encourages bushier growth so that you always have more than enough on hand.
Lemon Balm: If you decide to grow just one herb for your tea garden, let it be lemon balm. It’s one of the most beloved tea herbs for its citrus aroma and calming qualities. It grows quickly in rich, moist soil and brightens blends when paired with mint.
Mint: Mint is a staple for any tea garden because it can stand alone. It’s known for spreading aggressively, so it’s best to keep it in its own container. Its bold and refreshing flavor makes it the perfect tea for after a meal.
Chamomile: Chamomile is known for its soothing qualities, and it brings a sweet flavor to tea blends. It produces delicate daisy-like blooms that will also brighten up your windowsill. Chamomile thrives in bright light, well-drained soil, and regular harvesting. It’s a versatile herb that pairs well with mint and lemon balm.
Thyme: Thyme is often used in cooking, but it also makes a great addition to tea blends. It’s a drought-tolerant perennial that thrives in drier indoor conditions, making it a great choice for a windowsill tea garden.
Tea vs. Tisane: While we refer to herbal infusions as “tea,” in this story, technically, tea refers to the infusion of the Camellia sinensis plant. Herbal teas are tisanes, which are infusions of any other plant material, like herbs, flowers, roots, or fruits.
How to Plant a Windowsill Tea Garden
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Before you set up your windowsill garden, find a place in your home that receives the right amount of sunlight for your chosen herbs. Choosing the right container size, keeping the soil evenly moist, and providing the right amount of light are essential to a healthy windowsill tea garden.
Setting Up the Garden
Containers: Choose small to medium pots with drainage holes, says Root. Terracotta, ceramic, or glazed pots not only look the best, but they also help balance the moisture in the soil.Potting mix: For herbs that need moisture, like lemon balm, use a sterile, medium-weight soil that is enriched with organic matter. For varieties such as thyme, go with a lighter mix that drains quickly.Drainage: Always select pots with drainage holes and pair them with a saucer to protect your windowsill from water damage, says Root. Good drainage will prevent root rot and fungal problems.Watering: Water your plants in the morning, and only if the top inch of the soil is dry. This helps plants absorb the moisture and will minimize the risk of fungus growing.Sunlight: Most tea herbs need six or more hours of bright light each day. A south- or southeasy facing window is ideal, but if sunlight is limited, Root suggests getting a small grow light to keep your plants thriving.
How to Harvest Your Tea Herbs for a Fresh Brew
Harvesting herbs at the right time and the right way preserves flavor potency while keeping plants healthy. “Another advantage to using windowsill herbs this way is that you can harvest small amounts at a time, and have the plant stay bountiful for longer,” says Maria Geyman, certified naturopathic doctor and founder of the Masha Tea brand.
Tools: Use clean, sharp scissors, cutting just above a leaf node. This promotes new growth and prevents stress on the plant, according to Root.
Timing: The best time to harvest is in the morning when the plants are well-hydrated and the leaves are firm—harvesting immediately after watering can bruise the leaves. This also helps establish a routine for the plants to reduce stress from sudden leaf loss, according to Root.
Frequency: Harvesting a few sprigs at a time encourages bushier growth. A rule of thumb is to avoid removing more than one-third of a plant’s foliage at any one time.
Tea Herb Harvesting Tips
While most herbs require the same basic harvesting process, each has its own nuances that can enhance the flavor and yield growth. Root shares with us some simple tips for harvesting the following tea garden herbs:
Basil: Pinch the leaves just above a leaf pair—this encourages branching and delays flowering.Mint and Lemon Balm: Pick young, tender leaves before the plants start flowering for peak flavor.Chamomile: Gather the flower heads once they’re fully opened—they can be enjoyed fresh or dried for later.Thyme: Trim non-woody stems and strip off the leaves just before brewing or drying.
Using Fresh vs. Dried Herbs for Tea
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After you have harvested your herbs, there are a couple of ways that you can make the tea. Brewing tea with fresh herbs boasts a mild flavor, says Root, but it’s ideal for immediate use. For a strong tea blend, air-dry the herbs in small bundles.
You can air-dry the bundles by hanging them upside down in a dry, well-ventilated area. Once they’re crispy, store them in an air-tight container out of direct sunlight.
If you want a more consistent flavor in your brewed tea, use the dried tea herbs as the base and the fresh herbs for added flavor and beauty. “For example, you can make a black tea or even a dried mint tea, and then add a few sprigs of lemon balm for flavor,” says Greyman. “This is also a gorgeous way to serve the tea for guests.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Growing an herb tea garden has some challenges, even with careful planning and knowledge. Here are the common mistakes gardeners make that are easy to avoid with a little guidance from our experts:
Crowding plants: Fast-spreading herbs like mint can quickly overtake neighboring plants. Give them their own container so they have space to spread out.Overwatering and poor drainage: Roots left sitting in water will rot. Always use well-draining pots and avoid overwatering.Not enough sunlight: Without enough sunlight, herbs will become weak. Bright, direct light is essential for plant health and flavor.Skipping pruning: Allowing herbs like basil to flower reduces leaf growth and essential oils. Routine pinching encourages bushier growth and stronger flavor.Mixing herbs: Pot herbs that need similar care together, like moisture-loving mint and lemon balm or drought-tolerant thyme and lavender, to simplify your care routine.
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