"Creating Your Perfect Cup: A Basic Guide To Blending Your Own Teas"

Now that the season is cold, we seek warmer comfort. Perhaps you have some extra dried herbs left over from your garden this year and want to explore some creative flavors. Tea blending can be therapeutic, creative, and makes wonderful gifts.  Blending tea takes experimentation and learning over time to find the right flavor capabilities and profiles.

Teas are similar to an infusion of herbs. Measuring herbs anywhere from 1-3 tablespoons depending on potency are then steeped in hot water anywhere from 5-15 minutes. The herbs themselves are removed and discarded while the liquid is left for consumption.  Keep in mind when blending how you would prepare this blend. Some herbs can become overly tannic if steeped too long or used in high concentrations. Others can have an overpowering smell or flavor such as Valerian root.

How do you choose the right herbs for the right flavor profile? Several questions you should ask yourself before blending. Is this blend going to be therapeutic or for treating an ailment? Do I want caffeine in my blend or have it remain caffeine-free? Who will be consuming this and do they have any allergies?

If you are going to utilize your tea for therapeutic reasons you can use the appropriate herbs for that ailment. For example, if I wanted to make tea for sleep before bed I would use herbs that have sedative effects such as Passionflower, Valerian root, Chamomile, or Skullcap. I would choose 1-2 of these as my base herb. The base is the primary herb in your blend, used for its main purpose and in the highest ratio. If I wanted a bit of additional flavor, orange peel or other dried fruits could be added, for a softer floral tone, lavender buds are a great option. Looking for a cooling effect? Use spearmint or catnip which also constitute as a supporting herb. These would support my base herb but not make up a large portion of my ratio with the blending.

Some herbs and teas contain caffeine such as Yerba Mate, Guarana, and Citrus Flowers. Some citrus plant flowers and leaves can contain trace amounts of caffeine, ranging from 6 to 50 parts per million (ppm). However, these levels are so low that they typically do not cause a noticeable energy boost.  All teas such as green, black, white, and oolong teas contain caffeine.  You may want to avoid those if you are a caffeine-sensitive individual or have any triggering medical conditions from it. There are a lot of herbs to choose from with or without caffeine. Don't feel limited.

Whether you make your blend for yourself or for someone else it is always wise to be conscious of allergies. For example, someone with ragweed allergies would want to avoid chamomile or blends with chamomile in it. This could cause a potential reaction. Doing some herbal research is always best and key, prior to creating some blends. Some herbs are not always meant for consumption even though they were grown in your garden or someone else's.

Last note for tea blending, make sure you use only herbs that have not been sprayed with chemicals. Avoid herbs that were grown near busy roads and high-traffic areas. Someone is consuming this so it is always important to ensure you have no contaminants. Purity is key.

Be creative and have fun with your adventure! Journal which blends and ratios you have experimented with. Make notes of flavor profiles and how your teas have tantalized your taste buds. Share your fun creations with friends. Great gifts are those made with love from others. The energy put into growing your plants and passing through something created by you makes this gift even more treasured.

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Stevie Van Halen is a Master Herbalist who has a n educational background in Nursing and Holistic Health. She enjoys research data and articles of health, whole food, herbs, and gardening. All articles on this blog are written by and her. All  information and resources are sited and referenced. 

All health content on juniperrosegarden.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local health care provider.