Tea is a drink obtained by brewing leaves of a tea bush or any other specially prepared plant material (herbal, fruit, with the addition of dried berries). Tea was first used as a medicine in China, and much later just as a drink.

During the reign of the Song dynasty, leafy and powdered teas began to be drunk, and tea drinking gradually turned into a solemn ceremony with a number of prescribed actions and acquired the name Song Tea Ceremony. Later, the tradition of brewing tea in a special way migrated to Japan, where it was supplemented by truly Japanese customs.

At the moment, the amount of tea on store shelves is striking in the variety of varieties, herbal and fruit and berry additives. But any summer resident will confirm that the purchased one cannot be compared with freshly picked leaves of currant, raspberry, mint or lemon balm. These herbs and shrub leaves can be brewed either on their own or added to the finished brew. The herbs that grow in the garden can be used to make medicinal and delicious drinks that help restore strength, soothe or invigorate.

Tea herbs

Overview of herbs to collect

In the garden and in the wild, there are many herbs that can be used as tea herbs, making up various collections from them that help with colds and other diseases.

In addition to the aforementioned currant and raspberry bushes, for making a tea collection from herbs with your own hands, you can grow:

  • mint or lemon balm;
  • oregano;
  • pharmacy chamomile;
  • sage;
  • echinacea.

Of the wild, tansy and wormwood, and willow tea are noted. Many other varieties can be added to this list.

Important! All tea herbs are medicinal plants. They need to be collected in the forest in a clean area, away from railways and highways.

Herbal teas are used:

  • to enhance immunity;
  • with colds;
  • with kidney disease;
  • to normalize hormonal levels;
  • to strengthen the nervous system;
  • to stimulate the work of the heart muscle;
  • to reduce blood sugar.

And in many other cases.

Most popular herbs

All plants that can be added to drinks have their own characteristics when growing:

Mint and lemon balm

These are the most common plants in summer cottages. For tea lovers who prefer a drink with the presence of fresh lemon notes, they are suitable for growing herbs for tea on their site: lemon balm, lemon mint. A cold drink is especially good on a hot summer day to quench your thirst.

Mint and lemon balm

They are absolutely unpretentious plants. They grow on any soil, but do not like stagnant water, which leads to decay of the roots. They prefer partial shade rather than bright sun. Reproduction is possible:

  • Shoots with rhizomes. In the spring, you need to dig up a young plant and plant it in a separate place.
  • By cuttings. The top of the bush is cut off and placed in water until the roots appear, then the plant is planted in a permanent place.
  • Seeds. This breeding method is very troublesome and less popular than the first 2.

But when breeding mint, you should take into account its very rapid reproduction. It is worth growing it either in a place separate from the garden or in a large flowerpot.

Oregano

It is a perennial fragrant bush that grows from 30 to 70 cm in height.Oregano (oregano) is unpretentious to the type of soil, but loves a sunny place. Breeds well throughout the garden. Can be sown with seeds in a pot on a windowsill or on an area in the form of seedlings.

pharmaceutical camomile

It used to grow in the wild, but is now actively grown in home gardens. Chamomile is a tea herb, which is a small bush from 20 to 40 cm high. Narrow-linear leaves 2-5 cm long. Tap root almost without branches.

Note! The petals of chamomile are directed downward, unlike other types of chamomile.

Sage

The medicinal properties of this herb are used to relieve menopause, treat hemorrhoids. Sage can also help reduce acne.

Echinacea

This perennial herb belongs to the Astrov family. It is ranked as one of the most effective plants for enhancing immunity.

Herbal teas formulations

The benefit of herbal tea is that when brewed, all the healing properties of the herb are transferred into the drink, making it not only tasty, but also useful. Herbal tea is also a source of vitamins, flavonoids, tannins, minerals.

Before collecting plants for making tea in the winter, you need to find information about which herbs can be grown for these purposes, and which not, and in the future, prepare a tea collection from herbs with your own hands. But it should be borne in mind that herbal preparations, aimed either at easing symptoms or curing the disease, cannot be drunk constantly, but only in courses of 2-3 weeks. Then a break is required.

Additional Information! When composing herbal teas, the main rule should be observed so that the main component does not drown out other herbs, but only emphasizes its taste. And with herbs that have strong aromas, you don't need to overdo it.

Recipe for a tonic, soothing tea:

  • raspberry leaves, 2 parts;
  • blackberry leaves, 2 parts;
  • strawberry leaves, 2 parts;
  • peppermint, 1 part;
  • white acacia flowers, 1 part;
  • oregano, 1 part.

For colds, you can use the following tea composition:

  • linden flowers;
  • blackberry leaves;
  • oregano;
  • chamomile.

Take all ingredients in equal proportions.

Chamomile tea is good for every day. It is not for nothing that she is considered the queen of pharmaceutical plants. Chamomile tea is indicated for diabetes mellitus, it helps to improve digestion. It can also be used for colds, for gargling.

Tea with the herb echinacea is drunk with aching bones, colds, as a tonic drink.

Echinacea herbal tea

For constipation, hypertension, carrot tea is indicated. The recipe for its preparation:

  • 2 carrots are grated, squeezed out, and the root vegetable is dried in the sun for 3 hours, then sent to the oven for drying;
  • dried raw materials are mixed with 1 tbsp. a spoonful of black tea leaves;
  • pour 600 ml of boiling water;
  • insist 4 minutes.

Wormwood is translated from ancient Greek as "healthy". The benefits of tea with this herb are manifold. To prepare it, take 1 teaspoon of raw materials per 500 ml of water, and soften the bitter taste with a mint leaf.

For the treatment of the pancreas, the following herbal composition is prepared:

  • tansy flowers;
  • lovage;
  • burnet;
  • plantain;
  • marshmallow medicinal.

Take all herbs in equal amounts, pour boiling water over and let it brew for 10 hours.

Important! Tea is usually drunk with honey.

Procurement and storage of raw materials

Harvesting of raw materials for the winter begins from June to the beginning of flowering and continues until August. Harvesting is done in the morning, when dew drops dry on the leaves. The collected herbs are dried in the shade, laid out under a canopy, on a balcony in a thin layer, or tied in bunches and hung to dry, avoiding sunlight.

If the drying is correct:

  • leaves have a natural green color and smell;
  • the stems break with slight pressure.

Dried raw materials are stored in a hermetically sealed glass jar, paper bags, cardboard boxes or bags made from natural fabrics.

If you properly prepare herbs and berries for storage, learn how to select the compositions when brewing a drink, you can enjoy healthy and healing flower tea all year round.