HERBAL TEA GARDEN - A HOW TO ON TEA

    In these hard times, it is a good idea to find ways of making things without having to purchase so many expensive items.  Take for example "tea." 

    We have discovered that a box of Celestial Seasonings teas costs from $1.99 up.  The $1.99 was the last sale price I saw.  If this tea is purchased in "organic quality" the cost goes up considerably.  If purchased from a health food store, you will pray a much higher price.  Here is a little excerpt from one of our favorite books, Herbal Tea Garden by Marietta Marshall Marcin, 1994 edition (or 1993).   Here is the quote:

    Twenty plus years ago, the industry leader, Celestial Seasonings, Inc., wasn't even in business.  By 1975, five years after it began marketing colorful little boxes of herbal teas through health food stores, the company broke the $1 million mark in sales.  Sales doubled in 1976 and by 1981, gross revenues had risen to over $23 million.  [Ed. Note: They are now owned by, I believe, the Coca Cola Company or one of the larger corporations.]  Along that time, Lipton and Bigelow, sensing a sharp inroad into the China tea market, jumped onto the herbal tea bandwagon.  Today Celestial is still the largest producer of herbal teas.  It is estimated that the combined gross sales of herbal teas by Celestial, Lipton, and Bigelow alone now running around $200 million yearly and are continuing to grow.  [Remember, this book was written in 1994]

    Here is a little more about the Herbal Tea Garden book.  Marcin gives a brief history of tea, a guide to cultivating herbs, planning your garden outdoors or in, drying freezing and storing, how to brew herbal teas, creating tea blends, and a compendium of herbs, a great reference chart and sources and some simple recipes. Is that not worth the price? 

    Another thing to consider is that additives are being placed in grocery/health food store brand teas.  That's right.  It is the old "natural flavors/flavorings" thing again.  So, what are we drinking?  Who knows…?

    However, our girls and I discovered something very pleasing and less expensive, like pennies a serving.  The taste is also richer and more satisfying because it is fresh.  Have you discovered what we are doing?  We are making our own teas.  And, it is easy!!!

    If you live in an area where there is a lot of natural flora, you are probably blessed with a multitude of fresh herbs like mullein, wild mint, apple mint, wild rose, birch, burnet, blackberry, raspberry, sassafras, wild strawberry, wintergreen, yarrow, dock, Queen of the Meadow, etc.  These and more grow everywhere in our area.  Most have some health or healing property.  If you happen to have access to these plants, you can wildcraft (gather by hand) or transplant from digging up the plant (if it is on a neighbor's property, be sure to ask permission), taking some seeds or cuttings, etc.  The nice thing about it is that most of these herbs can be used fresh or dried.

    I would highly recommend obtaining the above-mentioned book and doing some herb research on your own.  You can find herbal books all over the Internet and remember that Amazon.com and Ebay.com have the "used" book section.  I believe the herb books with photos are best as drawings can sometimes be difficult for those with untrained “herbal” eyes. 

   There are also great places on the Net for information and purchasing of herbs by the pound and other related items like strainers and empty tea bags.  I have used Frontier Herb Co-op (www.frontiercoop.com for many years and have been satisfied with their products, especially the bulk herbs and accessories.  I recommend obtaining their lovely catalog (1-800-669-3275).  Other locations are Ameriherb (call 800-267-6141 for a catalog) which has great prices, much less expensive than Frontier, and Mountain Rose Herb Company (www.mountainroseherbs.com).  They have some wonderful information on each item.  I'm sure there are others, so you might want to shop around a bit for good prices and quality of product.

    As we venture further into this project, we see a three-fold situation occurring: 

    First, this is helping us to be able to recognize herbs in the wild.  As each of my daughters finds an herb plant, we decide whether to take it home and plant it in our own herb garden or just mark where it is growing for later use. 

   Second, we are also learning about the use and combinations of herbs for refreshing teas and medicinal ones.  We have to thank Mike Bunnell and his wife Diane of www.healingherbs.biz for their wonderfully, educational seminars, nature walks, healthy teas, herbal salves and inspiration of others. 

    Third, we are discovering how easy it is to start our own little herb patch and share the information and plants with others.

    We have discovered some unique and very simple recipes on our own.  By knowing the flavor and properties of each herb, we are able to combine them and come up with some lovely, refreshing beverages for only a few cents and no additives.  Here is our latest enjoyment:

RELAXING PASSION FLOWER, MINTY, CITRUS TEA

Chocolate Mint

Here are some of the herbs we have acquired for our herbal tea “cabinet”:

   You don’t have to accumulate all of these at once or at all.  If this is a project you would enjoy, consider starting with those items on this list that tickle your fancy.  You can add more as you research and experiment.  You can add extracts like vanilla, almond, orange, lemon, etc., but be sure they are true extracts without additives, sugars, unhealthy oils and so on.  (See FAQs at www.kitchen2.com for oils) As a sweetener, we use naturally green stevia (powder or cut and sifted-C/S) , Simply Stevia (no additives) by the Stevita Company online or local honey.  Since we want to keep this beverage as healthy as possible, we refrain from other sweeteners. 

   One of our daughters’ favorite teas is birch.  We have several growing on our property along with sassafras, pine (great for vitamin C), elderberry and more.  You will be amazed at the number of plants you already have around you.  And, many nurseries carry small herb plants in the spring.  Family project—design an herb garden for refreshing and healthy teas and culinary enjoyment.