June 18, 2024
Did you know you can grow and dry your own tea leaves?
To start I chose two herbs to grow. I purchased an Orange Mint and a Chocolate Mint plant. Next I planted them in a raised garden bed. It is important to know that these herbs are considered intrusive plants that will spread aggressively in your garden. To avoid this, plant them in a pot or raised bed. You can start gathering stems with leaves as soon as the plant is well-established.
Preparing your leaves:
- Use a scissors or your fingertips to harvest 1/3 off the length of the stems.
- Remove any dirt.
- Avoid rinsing with water. This will extend the drying time and could lead to mold growth.
- Remove the leaves from the stems. Discard the stems.
- Position the leaves in a single layer on a plate.
Drying your leaves:
- Method 1- Put them in the microwave for 10 seconds, then let them dry for several hours. It is not advised to microwave your leaves longer than 15-20 seconds. It could cause a fire hazard.
- Method 2- Place them on a paper towel and let them air dry.
- Drying time will depend on the humidity in the air. Be sure they are “crispy” dry.
- Once the leaves are dried out, store them in an airtight container.
- Leaving the dried leaves whole will give you the most flavor. There are oils in the leaves that give them their flavor.
Using your dried leaves:
- I bought tea bags to put my leaves in. I found the tea bags on amazon.com They have a wide variety of disposable loose leaf tea bags to choose from.
- If you have a tea infuser, you are all set!
- Use 1-3 teaspoons of dried leaves per one cup of water. Add more tea if you like a stronger flavor. I read that crushing the tea leaves before steeping/brewing brings out the flavors. I have found this to be true. Try it and see which way you like better.
- Dried leaves will need to steep for 3-5 minutes, depending on your flavor preference.
- Freshly dried leaves have little to no color in the water when compared to store bought teas. Don’t base the infusion time on the color.
I enjoy iced tea any time of the year. Did you know you can cold brew your tea? Put your tea bag/infuser in a glass of water, then refrigerate overnight. Remove your tea leaves and enjoy!
