Herbal Teas

[Rusty]

TOTALLY dumb question here: I've never had any tea except the commercial/bought-in-the-store kind BUT I just ordered Park's herbal tea collection to grow this year. How do I get it off the bush/plant and into the cup? Does it need to be dried first? Grind it up or use it whole? And anything else anyone can tell me to keep me from killing myself with the stuff!

(I told you it was a really dumb question!)


:watering

Rusty

 

[wifezilla]

You can use it fresh. If you do, you will need almost twice as much as you use when it is dry.

You will often find you can't use it fast enough fresh, so look up drying techniques. I take my chocolate mint and gather big bunch, put it in a paper bag with the stems hanging out, and then tie the top. I hang it in the kitchen until everything is nice and dry.

 

[Rusty]

Chocolate mint? Ummm. That sounds GOOD! Gotta try that!

In a bag hung upside down. I can do that. I've also got a dehydrator I use for jerky. Can I use that, or does it get too hot? The lowest setting is 100 degrees.


Rusty, who is smacking his lips at the notion of chocolate mint tea!!!

 

[wifezilla]

LOL

Not sure about the dehydrator, but it might be worth an experiment. I am sure there are summer days here where the house is 100 inside

One note about herbal teas...if you are using raspberry leaf to make tea, they either have to be totally fresh or totally dried. From what I have read, some kind of toxin is formed during the drying process and they aren't safe until totally dry.

 

[journey11]

I think a slow drying process is better. I tried the dehydrator once and it "cooked" the leaves and they didn't taste right at all. I do the upside-down in a paperbag in a cool, dry place method too.

 

[Rusty]

This is all really good information. Thank you! I really like the idea of raspberry or even raspberry/chocolate tea, so I will be VERY careful that I get the leaves dry enough.


Rusty

 

[Hattie the Hen]

Hi Rusty,

Take a look at this link. We collected a lot of info on tea from herbs last year:

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=25501


:rose Hattie :rose

PS. Has anyone heard or seen any sign of karanleaf , who started this topic & later just disappeared. I still miss her cheerful posts & wish she would appear again.

 

[Rusty]

Great thread with lots of good links!

Thanks!

:watering