The Best Plants For Fresh Tea -- Grow a herb garden for tea!

Growing a tea garden is a beautiful and delicious way to make healthful herbal teas at home. Shannie McCabe brewed up some of her favorites here at the Baker Creek apothecary and shares her top picks. We'd love to know about yours! Go to rareseeds.com to order seeds and learn more!

[@apaulinaria]

In case anyone needs a list: 1. Thai Mint 2. Golden Lemon Balm 3. Mountain Mint 4. Fennel 5. Echinacea 6. Chamomile 7. Navajo Sunset Agastache 8. Spilanthes (Toothache Plant) 9. Marigold Leaves (Calendula?) 10. Bee Balm 11. Blue Spice Basil 12. Anise Hyssop 13. Thai Basil 14. Rose Mint Agastache 15. Butterfly Pea 16. Stevia

[@drathmor1401]

appreciate it

[@ericavivienson3717]

Where i can order tea seeds? To start my tea plants garden

[@apaulinaria]

Erica Vivien Son Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds rareseeds.com

[@barbgreen7350]

💗💗💗

[@barbgreen7350]

Thanks for the list, LOVE IT💗🌱

[@allisonp7041]

Chamomile combined with lemon verbena is a wonderful combination

[@jonni2317]

"This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!" - Uncle Iroh

[@SolidAtom]

This guy gets it.

[@gracefagan4860]

"uncle that's what all tea is" -Prince Zuko 😂

[@georgelackey622]

Yeah! That's not tea, just some mildly steeped erbs!

[@callikohl7603]

I like how some of these comments come off as, they have a secret to how to really make tea, but they aren't about to share it. If they really knew, they would share.

[@livingtherufflife]

Every time I watch Shannie’s videos I. want to order every seed packet & esp all these teas, this is great!!!

[@vmcshannon]

I really like Shannie! She is a great presenter. Thanks for the tea ideas.

[@barbgreen7350]

Yes, this is my favorite "Shannie" video, thank you, Shannie, it's a pleasure to meet you💗

[@AselflimitedcapitalisemW0mamon]

I don't know how many different types of teas there were total - but they really should offer variety pack deals of at least six different tea seed packs - of different teas per variety pack And even better yet - they should offer a variety pack of variety packs - meaning every different tea seed they sell - in one multi variety pack deal - all for 1 great savings price - it would sell a million.

[@dianafm9733]

I didn’t find her top 3 in on baker creek store. Zero results

[@mattlocation]

One of my favorite teas: catnip! Soothing, refreshing. Also stinging nettle. Good job Baker Creek team.

[@mrjones4249]

Do you mix those with something or drink them by themselves?

[@1Lightdancer]

I love nettles! For tea, a great combo my daughter's midwife suggested for supporting healthy pregnancy: a handful each (if dried) nettle, alfalfa and raspberry lean in a quart hart, cover and steep overnight! We usually added a spoonful of honey, and a bit of mint or other more flavorful (and safe during pregnancy) herb! Anise hyssop, fennel, any of the basils, lemon balm, ...

[@radfem2010]

@@mrjones4249 I am sensitive to it so drink it alone. Ditto with Lemon Balm. But there are sleep teas that include it with valarian and passionfruit

[@Teofane]

An iced herb tea on a hot day sounds delicious. Thanks for an interesting video!

[@colleenforrest7936]

I do a lot of cold brewing with these. Just drop them into a glass of water, no heat. Gives a mild flavor to the water and you can keep adding water. I LOVE Blur Spice Basil tea. Glad it made the list

[@Just-Nikki]

I grow blue spice every year. I constantly get asked by family members to make it into tea.

[@samv7487]

Yes I love Blue Spice also, it smells amazing.

[@redpanda_ann]

I still love drying things out for my teas

[@culdesacgrocerygarden]

Thank you for a great video! Three years ago I googled growing a tea garden and only could find Japanese tea gardens, which are beautiful places to be but not what I was looking for. You gave me some new things to add to my balcony tea garden.

[@anniewolfer4781]

What a great idea to have a Tea Tasting video! It certainly helped me prioritize my list of plants to grow first.

[@VagabondAnne]

In 2 hours you're all sold out! No more agastache. And no listing of Mountain Mint! Best hustle, Baker Creek!

[@SailorsMrs86]

Yeah, I can't find Mountain Mint either.

[@dakotadarling8760]

It’s funny that I bought 95 % (for the 1st time) of what she mentioned. I can’t wait to grow and drink the teas. I’d purchased Stevia seeds several years ago and grew my own sweetener and dried it. It’s so nice to tell folks that I have my very own sweetener. I used to be a beekeeper years ago and still have my very own honey. I am diabetic so I eat honey rarely because I really do love honey. I’d rather eat it sparingly so I can have real thing. But stevia can used more often. I just find I don’t need sweetness that much. But it’s awesome. It does have a little “bite” at the end. LOL!

[@cathleencaratan3373]

Put it on a list for later. Not all things are available every year.

[@kuriouskat1490]

I love your videos. I was thinking to start a tea garden next to my vegetable garden and you have given me some great ideas about what to grow. I already have rosemary, lemon balm, and Mexican marigold. I'm very interested in the marigold tea you had, I didn't know you could make tea from the leaves.

[@roslynwilliams9420]

Thanks for the information, but can we buy all of the tea's in bundle?

[@skada3242]

Totally excited to try these!

[@naturallybalancedfarms]

What a fun video! Thank you for the insight 😊

[@emmakelley744]

Love this video! I'm growing a lot of those and now I have more ideas to add to my tea garden next year. :)

[@fatboysfarm3607]

I use Blue Spice Basil to bring pollinators into my garden. The bees love it.

[@max15398]

Yes! I dried the tea and enjoy it.

[@ashelymichael5808]

Girl im gonna need a bigger garden 😆. Im on a mission to buy all your seeds

[@rayodelsol80]

What a cool video! I had no idea you could have a tea garden. I want one now!

[@hardnackfarms1736]

This is beautiful!

[@heatherfulcher1794]

Thank you for the awesome information! I am going to be growing most of those plants now.

[@LaJ-cs4dt]

I'm planning on make a small tea garden and culinary garden for my house. I can't wait to try some of these.

[@lovefalcon1111]

That was fun! Thank you so much!!🌱

[@MC-qb1jg]

What a great tutorial as I plan on growing several of your selections.

[@jellybean4477]

Thank you so so much for this incredible video. I want to start a garden for the purposes of enjoying tea and making my own blends!

[@Howto-uy7vo]

Fantastic tea testing!! I am deciding what to grow in my tea garden, but I don't have the time and resources to test everything my self, but this was amazing. So many plants here I have never heard of.

[@jeregettle3562]

Great job Shannon

[@Thankful_.]

I’m not tried fennel tea, yet! I’m glad u suggested it. Great video!

[@Mote.]

I have one of those same glass bottles with the wooden top. Funnily enough I was just using mine while watching this.

[@callikohl7603]

Ibwill be adding some of these to my tea garden. Thank you.

[@krobes4289]

Thank you so much for making this, I was having trouble finding anything about rose mint agastache and this was super helpful!

[@ptrainingbytim]

What a beauty you are and I can’t thank you enough for making such a cool vid as this. Blessings from northern california.

[@margaretbrandrick1023]

Dear Shannie, I love your informative and beautiful videos. You are a wonderful presenter with such a bright, bubbly personality. I wish I could buy Baker's Creek seeds here in Queensland, Australia as some of the varieties you show are not available here. I can watch you in awe - but I do learn so much from you. Thank you.

[@GingerSnapVizsla]

Thank you for this video! It was so informative! I actually have been to an herb and tea class last year and you did a much better presentation! Lots I will try!

[@mommyteresa01]

I love that you said you have a crush on a plant...thats what happens to me too. Im gonna borrow that one!

[@ShirleiBarnes]

This was helpful, thank you.

[@marithag2319]

So many ideas!!

[@loveshoonya388]

Thanks this video is exactly what I was looking for 💚🙏🙏🙏

[@dawnmorris3252]

I just love this video...I have been looking for different ways to make teas💚

[@RareSeedsBC]

Thank you Dawn! Yes, we love to make tea here, and now that its chilly, it is perfect tea season!

[@crystaldawson7855]

We are going to create a tea garden for my daughter and this video helps so much! We are in zone 7a in high desert! Thank you for your videos!

[@barbararoyal6139]

Beautifully done 🕊

[@mlevari]

always awesome! :) thankyou

[@shesgonecountryfarms6281]

Thank you. Very informative.

[@bellstewart5687]

I truly enjoyed this educational visit with you. Thank you so very much. Lady Bell

[@bossman6627]

The lady and i have started going to the london tea room in st lou to pick up some favorite black teas. The stevia has peaked my interest as well as the types that attract the pollinators. Im aiming for a sanctuary of sorts as well as eventually being able to produce larger amounts of vegetables as time goes on.

[@amyziesmer5189]

We love Thai Basil...my 3 and 4 year old grandbabies will pick it to the nubs if I let them and eat it straight in the garden...so I propagated it EVERYWHERE!!! They love it in their Ice water! In fact the 4 yo...will sneakily load her cup with it and after drinking her water she eats it! Great taste and healthy! Thanks for the extra taste testing!!! 💗

[@carolburnett8372]

wow, how cute. does the plant return year after year then, Amy Ziesmer?

[@amyziesmer5189]

@@carolburnett8372, not to my knowledge but we can bring it in the house and overwinter...if I can keep lil miss out of it. LOL It propagates very easily in water and in dirt if kept moist.

[@bakeneggsdesertgarden5068]

You're amazing Shannie!!

[@greg6107]

yes yes

[@lisakruger5289]

I actually grew the agastache rose mint this year - but for pollinators purposes and because I love all things rose scented! Thanks for sharing the taste testing, because this year I'll be sure to make some tea with it too! :)

[@masuganut2082]

I’m growing lots of those. Don’t have enough for tea yet Rough weather But I’m looking forward to it Some stuff just didn’t come at all sadly but I’m still trying ❤️😄 Thank you guys!

[@jingles1963]

Fun! I’ve just discovered the enormous satisfaction and flavor from making tea from the plants in my own garden. This is so helpful! I’ve made a list of what I’ll be growing in my tea garden next year. Thank you!

[@max15398]

Which ones did you try?

[@jingles1963]

@@max15398 Lemon Balm, Holy Basil, (my favorite) and peppermint. This year I’ll add to the list. :)

[@max15398]

@@jingles1963 I grew holy basil but read it wasn’t safe to drink, so didn’t harvest anymore. I read conflicting things. Did you drink it often? Any negative effect?

[@jingles1963]

@@max15398 I drank it all summer with no problems. I had no idea. Will definitely have to read up on that. I’m surprised it is edible but not drinkable?

[@max15398]

@@jingles1963 that is good to hear. I read it was edible but that large quantities could cause potentially cause an issue. I think web md said consult your doctor before adding to daily routine, so I just didn’t drink after the one cup. I still have more seeds and may grow again. Nice chatting with you. Happy gardening! :)

[@gratituderanch9406]

Lemon balm is also anti anxiety and super good for racing thoughts. My ND has me on it.

[@crystaljordan7318]

I loved my "salad bar" I grew in my greenstalk last year! It was super fun to cut our own lettuce for daily salads! I am starting about 6 new varieties of basil and camomile and calendula for the first time this year. I was shocked to see my Cherries & Berries mint, mountain mint and oregano still green out there. They survived the winter! Huzzah! I am here for every video! Thanks for the great content! ♥

[@reneezancewoman]

I'm growing the apache sunset agastache, anise, marigolds, toothache, and gomphrena. I've been planning to add the blue pea and camomile, too. Can't wait to make my own blends!

[@norweavernh]

How could you leave.out Holy Basil /Tulsi tea! An adaptogen, beautiful scent and amazingly tasty.

[@olgamunroe1408]

I was thinking the same thing! It is amazing❤

[@callikohl7603]

I have never seen Holy Basil. I'll be looking for it. Thanks.

[@marthaleone584]

Wow Thanks informative & very educational; appreciate it thank u 🙂

[@hiltonhillfarms5995]

I'm doing my first medicinal/tea garden this year and so excited! I have several of these from Rare Seeds planted but absolutely want to get all the others now. The Stevia is not growing well at all, i planted 15 and only 2 are coming up, so not sure what I'm doing wrong with it, but hopefully some of the others will eventually come up! Loved your video and thank you for sharing with us all!

[@laneeacannon1450]

Add cold brewed purple shiso! It's very healthy and turns your water pink.

[@saddleridge4364]

I make mint tea, but I tear up the leaves in smaller pcs than she has done, and I make a big pot of it , boil for a few minutes, cool down, scoop up the leaves by hand and squeeze every drop out of them. Filter through a strainer and refrigerate in a glass jug. Good information on what each herb is good for. I'm starting new herbs this year, but I want the real hyssopus officinalis, ( Blue Hyssop) not the agastache. The hyssop is great for immune, colds, coughs.

[@hannarae4311]

Mountain Mint with lemon balm would be amazing flavor combo!

[@utubemouse]

We really enjoyed watching this video a couple years ago and have grown agastache a couple of times just to try the tea. We enjoy it. Thank you!

[@estebanvlasc8546]

Here in Ecuador one the best tea is Guayusa!👌👌

[@karicollett]

I like Holy Basil (Tulsi) tea.

[@bellesparks4374]

This is awesome:)! I want to go make tea:)!

[@CFume]

Anise Hssop, beauty of a plant

[@shikinsaerah]

U should try roselle too. It's from hibiscus family & has sour taste like current ❤️

[@TamNguyen-ow2fu]

Thai Basil in VietNam have name is “ Húng Quế” . Sping roll from Vietnam too. I love spring roll

[@jawjagrrl]

I've started a little patch in my garden for medicinal type plants and included zloty tan chamomile. I had been harvesting just the flowers and drying for tea... didn't know you could use stems and leaves too? Need to learn more about making tea...

[@KimClark-1]

Wow! This is exactly what I was looking for! Building a food garden now and wanted teas as a contributor. Perfect presentation with cuttings straight out of the jar! So helpful and fun. Will be ordering these seeds from you guys soon.

[@carolburnett8372]

Which of these plants are the easiest to grow? And, which ones return? Thanks for your knowledge and for sharing it......

[@bentley1960]

In your butterfly pea tea, squeeze a slice of lemon in it and watch it turn from blue to purple

[@Pendantlady]

Dear Shannie we are having fantastic success in our community garden especially for children with the lettuce that is purple and green called forellenscluss . it has been 107 last week and this lettuce has not bolted.. St. George. Ut

[@RareSeedsBC]

That is amazing to hear! I am also a member of a community garden and I know how rewarding it is to get children involved, I am so pleased to hear of your success! Also, great job with the lettuce! --- Shannie

[@yp1318]

Very useful 👍

[@alexnichols8262]

My excitement this winter has been figuring out all the benefits of more flowers next year. Didn't even think of the tea possibilities! I'm obsessed and proud to support a Missouri business living in KC, and I have multiple packets of some of this list! So making tea is possible from just steeping fresh clippings in water? And drying clippings will result in similar flavor profiles for cold season use? Is there a favorite resource which types of plants use which part of the clippings for the tea? Just saw a chamomile video that stated flowers are needed for the tea, but it looks like you've lumped every part of it. Looks like I have a lot of learning to do while I wait for seed propagating time!

[@michellem5997]

What variety of marigold food you use? If you like licorice try purple ruffles basil tea. ❤

[@holly_kay5570]

Fascinating--thank you! I have no idea about freshly grown tea, so this was just what I needed. I am curious--did you just pour hot water over the leaves, flowers, or... If grown at home, is that how one should make it? Also which ones are perennial plants? And is the Mountain mint invasive? I could not find that variety, Mountain Mint, on your website--any idea where I can find that one? Any other tips are welcome!

[@charitysmith5245]

I was cringing for you when you tasted the spilanthes lol it really gets the saliva going.

[@amyjones2490]

Me too. I chewed some leaves and really numbed my mouth.

[@vivianvivian4672]

Love this! Is there a difference between Thai Mint and Thai Basil?

[@Martty55]

Mullen actually makes a great tea and it is a little sweet I do add a dropper to a honey but if you are out of honey and didn't want to use sugar you could drink it by itself if it's good quality MULLEN

[@amamalala]

With so many different varieties in one setting did you have any type of energy changes? Contact buzz, a great afternoon nap? How did you feel afterwards? That was alot of tea profiles!🤗

[@d.b.sorensen827]

you forgot one of MY favorites Rosemary tea ! good for what ails you

[@1Lightdancer]

Oh, yes! I love pairing rosemary with lemon balm, a sprig of chocolate mint, and a bit of artichoke leaf (bitter - so just a small piece!)

[@paigeproffitt4488]

💚💚💚

[@bearsbreeches]

My favourite is lemon verbena

[@suereaume97]

That is my favorite too. It is the prize in my tea garden. Everyone I show that to is amazed at the lemon smell.

[@sarahdawson5349]

Which marigolds are edible?

[@tanzimelton5532]

Great Video, I learned a lot....and got a bit of a shopping /swapping iso list going. I've begun harvesting a "chocolate" mint variety and I really like the tea, I also have been harvesting a lot of rasberry leaves for tea, they blend really well with the mint as the flavor by themselves is kind of bland. Looking forward to trying Marigold tea (who knew??) and I've heard that marigold is used as a "spice" in Georgian Cooking (Russia not US)..anyone have experience with that?? Lastly I've got Tulsi aka Holy Basil growing this year and am really looking forward to that! Thanks again for a great video!!

[@mrjones4249]

I didn't know the raspberry leaves could be used for tea and that chocolate mint sounds interesting.

[@suereaume97]

Love chocolate mint. So refreshing

[@annamiller3479]

How long do you steep each one? 🍃🌼

[@ingekaivola4685]

I have Agastache Pink Arcado .... can I make tea with that?

[@georgialandau6870]

Great

[@carolburnett8372]

I have a big saw palmetto bush growing and it is towering with the seeds......I have trouble getting then to germinate, But, could they be used in some kind of tea possibly? Anyone know ? Ideas ?

[@ChaplainDeanna]

My favorites: Black hollyhock Chocolate mint Stocks

[@tawanajeffries3610]

Is blue spice basil also called African blue basil?

[@amyjones2490]

Does rozelle flowers nake a tea also?

[@kimwilliams7051]

Good video

[@cathiegalbraith475]

Do you sell the seeds for all of these plants?

[@hughcard3799]

That w as great - what about valerian?

[@lovelifelivelife9225]

I didn't see hibiscus tea on there do you grow hibiscus

[@erikaDzul]

When is a good time to start sowing these? I just got a bunch but idk of it’s the right season to start the seeds.

[@RareSeedsBC]

You would start most of these in spring!

[@xXxKingjonxXx]

Could you put in the description the processed you used to make all of the teas here?

[@gabbyrico4877]

Mexican mint marigold is delicious it has a licorice flavor, it's a perennial, and it reseeds.

[@carolburnett8372]

Gabby, where can we buy it ? (Mexican mint marigold)

[@landdesigner4195]

Many of us refer to it as Mexican Tarragon. We don't have the soil to grow Fresh Terragon, and Mexican Terragon is an excellent substitute for it.