The second-most-consumed drink in the world is tea and it’s a perfect solution for many occasions – as a cool drink on a hot summer day, a great addition at a fancy brunch, and a welcoming remedy for a sore throat on a cold winter evening.
From its beginnings in China some 4000 years ago, tea has found its way across the globe and settled into the hearts and homes of people everywhere. As it gained popularity, new ways of preparing it have emerged. Some people love serving it hot and brewed with mint or lavender whereas others create their own blends from herbs grown in their gardens.
If the latter is what you’ve got your heart set on, here are the most important points regarding choosing the best plants for your garden.
Choosing the Location of Your Tea Garden
Your first consideration when deciding to grow your tea garden is choosing its location. If you have room in your yard, planting a garden bed is a perfect choice next to your flower and veggie garden. If that’s not the case, you can consider creating your tea garden on your deck or balcony in planters or containers.
If you’re going with the in-ground garden, you should get to know your land from the plants’ point of view. This means that the plants require good-quality soil with good drainage. The conditions don’t have to be ideal, but it’s important the plants’ root system isn’t “soggy.”
It’s also crucial that plants get at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day to thrive and have a rich flavour. Good airflow is another important element as it helps stems and roots of fresh seedlings grow stronger and it prevents diseases and mould from developing.
However, if you live in an apartment, the best solution is growing your tea herbs in containers. You can opt for window boxes or classic floor planters. As long as your plants receive plenty of sunlight, have good quality soil, and sufficient water, the sky’s the limit for the type of planters you can use and the choice of plants you can grow.
Planting Your Tea Garden
Once you’ve picked your location and made all the preparations, it’s time for the fun part – choosing the plants you want to grow. It’s all a matter of taste and preference, but there are several plants that always make the essentials list.
One of the most popular choices is mint with its sweet, menthol flavour. It can be used on its own but also mixes perfectly with many other herbs. Its benefits include indigestion and pain relief, it helps reduce stress and nausea, and promotes healthy hair and skin.
For many people, the ultimate herbal tea is lavender. Its mint-like flavour is accompanied by a delicate floral aroma which makes it ideal for a bedtime drink. Lavender helps relax your nerves, reduces anxiety, eases you to sleep, boosts your immunity, and reduces inflammation.
Chamomile is a lovely-looking plant that always adds a delicate touch to its surroundings. It’s also a perfect tea plant with its grassy, apple-like flavour that combines well with honey. It grows tall and wide so it needs plenty of space, water, and sunlight. Medicinally, it’s excellent for relieving migraine, easing stomach cramps, boosting immunity, and aiding restful sleep.
Another great addition for your ultimate tea garden is lemon verbena, a tall perennial plant that can reach 6 feet in height and has a strong lemony scent. It’s good for reducing inflammation, suppressing your appetite and cravings, helping indigestion, and easing sore muscles.
For a fully diverse tea garden, consider adding jasmine, ginger, lemongrass, stevia, echinacea, calendula, lemon balm, and rose to your tea garden. It’s best you start with a smaller number of your favourites and then expand as your taste and expertise do as well.
Growing your own tea garden can be a source of tremendous pleasure – you’ll get a lot of product for a minimal cost, you’ll have the pleasure of mixing your own blends, and you’ll reap the health benefits they have to offer. Happy planting!
Sofia is a passionate writer from Sydney. She also enjoys decorating houses and engaging in home renovation projects. That is why she loves sharing her experience and advice with other people through her writing. Besides this, she loves technology and gadgets which can help us get through a busy workday.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sofilockhart
Photo “Red Glass Teapot” is copyright under Free Use No-Attribution License to the photographer samer daboul and is being posted unaltered (source)
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Photo “Tea Bag in Teacup” is copyright under Free Use No-Attribution License to the photographer Leah Kelley and is being posted unaltered (source)
Photo “Gold Kettle Pouring Hot Water on Cup of Tea” is copyright under Free Use No-Attribution License to the photographer Nikolay Osmachko and is being posted unaltered (source)
