Drinking herbal tea is an exceptionally guilt-free experience for me because it has no caffeine, no tannin, no calories; it tastes delicious and is relatively inexpensive. If drinking it doesn’t come natural to you, you can quickly start a daily routine of tea drinking by adding it your breakfast or early morning snack.

Some people have been brewing herbs to cure ailments for 100s of year. Each herb has its own special benefits. While some can help with your nerves, others can wake you up. One herb can ease an uneasy stomach while still other herbs can ease your mind.

Whether it’s summer iced tea or hot winter tea, by growing a few beds of of your your fave tea herbs, you’ll have enough yummy tea to make it in either case.

An added benefit of making your own herbal tea is the smell. Pluck off a few leaves from your favorite tea herb like chamomile, peppermint, spearmint or fennel and you’re all set.

Brewing your own herbal tea is uncomplicated. If you use dried herbs, use one teaspoon for each cup. If you’re brewing a whole pot use one teaspoon per cup (plus use an additional teaspoon for better results).

If you are making your tea with fresh herbs, you will need to use 2 to 3 teaspoons for each cup because the fresh herbs are not as concentrated as the dried herbs.

You can make your own customized tea mix from different herbs, which I think is better than only using one. Add lemon verbena or calendula with your chamomile for an extra tart flavor.

You can use all of these herb plants in your herbal teas:

• Beebalm: Although beebalm is a member of the mint family, it has a light, citrus scent that is reminiscent of me of oranges. This herb, which was first brewed by Indians in Canada, is also known as Oswego tea and is thought to help with an upset stomach, soothe a cough and sore throat, help with menstrual cramps and end flatulence and nausea.

• Hibiscus: There are many kinds of hibiscus to choose from when you plan your garden. If you’re planning your herb garden for tea, I suggest the rose mallow variety because it has a slight hint of oranges and lemon. There’s also the marsh mallow variety (think marshmallow in taste). This particular type can help you with your sore throat or benefit you if you are prone to ulcers. Regardless of the type of hibiscus herb you use in your tea, the petals are all you need.

• Lemon Verbena: If you love lemon like I like lemon, then you’ll love lemon verbena, which has the armoa and taste of lemon whether you make it with fresh or dried in your hot or iced tea. This herb also adds flavor to other teas. I use a leaf or two of lemon verbena to my morning black tea–otherwise it just wouldn’t taste as great.

• Rosehip: The fruit of the rose plant has been thought to be among the most valuable herbs around due to its high vitamin C content. You can steep the rosehips to keep away colds and the flu.

You will likely also enjoy one of the mints, lemon balm, or lemongrass in your next pot of tea.

Be aware that herbal teas make nice gifts—it doesn’t cost much and your friends and family members will certainly appreciate it.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Tea Herb Gardening. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.

If you have a sunny window in your house or apartment you can start your herb garden there. Keep in mind that your herbs are going to require a lot of sun. A south-facing window is better. If you do not have a nice window or spot, you can purchase a grow light. This is more expensive than sunlight, but whatever works for your herb plants is best!

This may be obvious to you, but don’t put your herbs too close to your heater or heating/air conditioning vent because heat as well as hot and cool air will harm your herbs.

I’ve tried many times to bring my herbs in during winter months, but they haven’t always fared so well, so you may find it easier to get small herbs at a green house or even at the grocery store and work with them. Just because I do not love mixing my herb plants doesn’t mean that you cannot do it though.

Another thing to keep in mind about inside herbs is that they tend to get a little leggy. You’ll know that they have done this because they will get tall without growing many leaves. To help with this, snip off the top of the herb and that can trick the plant into growing more full.

With any plant, you’ll want to match the container with the herb and make sure that it will thrive in your indoor herb garden. Many herbs have a number of types and with some research; you’ll find the one that can do best in your garden.

These are some herb plants that I’ve had success with growing inside. Not only will these bring a fabulous smell to your house, they have a lot of uses.

• Sage: Just smelling the strong scent and silver leaves of the sage herb makes my mouth water. It is an excellent herb for your indoor garden. Here’s some sage advice: snip a few leaves from the lower branches to add them to your next meal.

• Thyme: With all the tastes and types, you may have a hard thyme choosing the right one for your indoor garden. Not to mention how great it smells as it grows.

• Mustard: Turn up the spice for this herb. Experiment with some of the different varieties of mustard, keep in mind that all the taste of the herb is in the foliage and the seeds. You’ll need to cook the leaves thoroughly before eating because they have a texture. The typical mustard herb can get rather large, so be sure that when you go to buy your mustard plant, be sure that you purchase a smaller kind.

• Angelica: This plant is phenomenal in its appearance and its course texture makes it a unique addition to your indoor herb garden. Trim off a few stemmed flowers for your bouquets. Like mustard, it can also get pretty high unless you grow a kind that you can maintain inside.

Choose a container that will provide for good drainage. That is crucial to your plants’ health. But be careful where you put your containers (you do not want them peeing all over you countertops, window sills or kitchen table). All my potted herb plants sit on a tray on my kitchen table. The tray keeps my herb plants together and catches the draining water. I like using the tray because I can quickly move all my herb plants at once, or turn the tray so that my plants get the best sunlight.

Good luck with your herb gardening. Be sure to let me know how your herb garden grows.

Here is more information on Mini Herb Garden. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Herb Gardens.