tea today: herbal tisanes from the garden

As steamy summer days mingle with the passing showers, my growing garden is overflowing with delectable herbs. Beyond making a brief appearance in my meals, I’ve pushed these garden delights to center stage just by steeping them throughout the day. Herbal tea, otherwise known as herbal tisanes (the term for herbal infusions that don’t contain tea leaves), can be a treat to the palate and the body, offering distinct flavors and health benefits without caffeine.

Whether your garden is bursting with herbs or you found fresh bunches at the farmer’s market, take the time to steep and explore the incredible array of flavors. While I experiment with the harvest from my urban garden of mint, sage, rosemary, pineapple sage, parsley, basil and lavender, I’m already anticipating next year’s additions of lemon verbena and thyme. With such an incredible array of herbs within reach, the possibilities are endless!

Before you unite your herbs in a homemade blend, I recommend taking time to experience each individual steep to explore the flavors that suit your palate. Simply rinse the herbs and steep them in boiling water for at least 5-10 minutes to allow the flavor to make its mark in the water (although feel free to extend the steep for a stronger taste). Once you’ve discovered what herbs really make your taste buds tick, let your culinary imagination soar as you experiment with blends.

No need to worry if you don’t have a teapot with a filter. Simply steep the herbs in a pot of boiling water and use a strainer to remove the leaves/flowers. And if you’re hesitant to brew an entire pot, simply fill an individual paper filter bag with the herbs, place it in the cup and add boiling water (perfect for herbal tisanes on the go, too!) Voila! Your water is now transformed into a refreshing sip. What a fabulous time to reap the benefits of summer’s natural beauties!

And if you like to soak in the sweeter side of life, you might consider making a simple syrup infused with your favorite herb. I recommend a lavender simple syrup for a mint tisane.

Although I like to sip a single herb, I tend to steep a variety of fresh herbal blends. A few of my favorite herbal pairings:

lavender/basil

basil/mint

basil/mint/sage

lavender/sage

rosemary lemonade

what herbal blends are you steeping?

{photo credit fishyee}