Do you love mixing your own tea blends? Do you order specialty teas at your favorite café and the barista is wowed by your ideas? Do you store loose-leaf herbs and teas in mason jars on open shelves in your kitchen? Well, I do! I’m going to share my favorite tea combinations with you and I hope you will be inspired to create your own.
1. Earl Grey and lavender
Earl grey is my all-time favorite tea. This bergamot infused black tea is perfect all on its own! Yet mix it with dried lavender and you will find a party in your mouth! Store a fine Earl Grey with dried lavender flowers in a metal tin or glass jar with an airtight lid to have ready at all times. This tea makes an amazing cold tea on its own or with a sweetener. My favorite way to drink this tea is steaming hot with honey or lavender syrup and frothy whipped almond milk.
2. Green tea, lemongrass, and mint
This refreshing tea is best served cold with honey, in my opinion. However, when it’s cold outside and you want the benefits of antioxidants, while warming your hands, serve this delicious tea hot -in your favorite teacup. Green tea has many benefits such as improved brain function, fat loss, and lowering cancer rates. So, drink up and enjoy your green tea in many ways.
3. Ginger and lemon
This is truly a favorite tea blend of mine. I discovered it when I was very sick and my Master Herbalist mixed it up for me. She added garlic, cayenne, and honey to the strong concoction. When I make it, I keep it heavy on the ginger and lemon, with or without honey. I rarely buy ginger in dried form, preferring to use fresh ginger. I use a peeler, removing the outer skin and place slices of ginger in boiling water for 15- 20 minutes. I strain out the tea and add fresh squeezed lemon and honey until I have the perfect taste. If I want a little boost, I will add green tea, steeping for 3 minutes before removing the tea leaves and enjoying this spicy treat.
4. Earl Grey Green
I first tried this specialty blend at a unique tea shop called Marmalade in Boone, NC, while on vacation with my best friend from Asheville. I now make this tea blend myself and enjoy whenever I want a break from the caffeine overload of black teas. Combine loose-leaf green tea with rose petals, dried orange peel, and lavender in whatever combination you desire. Experiment with amounts until you find your favorite!
There is no need to make your own blend of calming herbal tea when you can enjoy Meditative State of Mind. This lovely combination of Mint, Chamomile, Lavender, and Moringa is delicious and soothing. Full of health benefits, this tea is good for your immune system, heart health, and adds digestive support. Steep this tea for 4 to 30 minutes to come up with the perfect flavor for you. Add honey or raw sugar if you prefer. This tea also makes a delicious cold tea with lavender or mint syrup added. Place a slice of lemon or orange in your cold Meditative tea before taking your first sip.
6. Trust Your Gut, Know Your Gut
When you want to be good to your digestive tract, steep and enjoy this You, Me, & Uni blend of red clover, cornflower petals, comfrey leaf, and dandelion. This caffeine-free tea is wonderful for children with tummy aches or as an after-dinner tonic. Drinking hot beverages after meals can be soothing to the digestive system and there is no better tea I can think of than Trust Your Gut, Know Your Gut. Place these dried herbs in a mason jar so you can enjoy the visual beauty of this fine tea daily. The longer you steep it, the more medicinal benefits you will enjoy.
7. Golden Milk
This is a winter favorite of mine. Drink your medicine with this delicious, creamy blend of spices and warm milk. My first experience with this lovely beverage was with using Gaia’s Golden Milk powder, stirred into hot almond milk. This blend contains dates that add the perfect amount of sweetness. When I ran out, I started making my own. You can store these powdered herbs together in a mason jar for ease or prepare one cup at a time. Experiment with your favorite herbs to come up with what’s best for you. I mix turmeric, cardamom, and cinnamon together. After I steam my milk, I add one teaspoon and mix very well. I then add maple syrup for some bold sweetness.
Jennifer Vollbrecht, Master Herbalist, prepares hers differently. She makes a curcumin reduction by peeling the root and chopping it finely before boiling in a small saucepan. She boils until it reduces to a nice thick syrup consistency. She then stores in a mason jar in the fridge. When she is ready for a cup of golden milk, she warms milk with her curcumin reduction and adds a drop of vanilla and lavender with a teaspoon of honey. She loves this at night before bed- it’s delicious and she knows it is wonderful for her heart and nervous system.
8. Chamomile, mint, lemon
When you are not needing a caffeine boost but you would delight in a warm cup of tea in the evening, this blend is sure to relax you. With the added benefit of digestive support, mint will add a refreshing touch of herbal flavor. This tea can be prepared in a tin by mixing equal parts of chamomile and mint. After boiling water and steeping for 3-6 minutes, remove the tea and add fresh lemon juice. If you care to add an extra step, make your own dried lemon zest. Finely shred lemon peel and leave it out on a tray or plate in a sunny window to dry all day. Add these to your tea combo and store it in an airtight container. The zesty flavor that lemon peel adds will delight all of your senses. When served cold, your guests will love this tea with a slice of lemon on the rim of your glass, or a lemon ring floating on top.
9. Earl Grey, ginger, lemon
The citrus scent and bold aroma of earl grey combine beautifully with ginger and lemon. Prepare dried lemon peel shavings as described in #8. Add one-part dried lemon peel to three parts earl grey. Peel, chop and boil ginger root for twenty minutes. Strain the tea into a mason jar and store in the refrigerator until ready to use. Steep your earl grey & lemon peel tea for 3 minutes and add your prepared ginger tea (warmed) in the amount that you love. This tea is best served hot with honey, in my humble opinion.
10. Lavender, green, orange
Lightly caffeinated tea is lovely to have on hand for guests and this one is sure to please everyone. Served hot or cold, this tea is amazing and has many health benefits. Antioxidants, heart health, and calming the nerves are among the few positive effects of drinking this tea. Prepare dried orange peel shavings in advance. Mix one-part orange peel to two parts green tea, and one-part lavender. Store in an airtight container. Steep this tea for 3-4 minutes and enjoy.
Read for more inspiration on making your own tea blends. Purchase Meditative State of Mind or Know Your Gut, Trust Your Gut for two amazing tea blends already prepared for your benefit!
Anastacia Elizabeth Walden
Freelance writer and editor in Gainesville, Florida
