Photography by Aya Brackett for Gardenista.
The world’s first cup of tea was a fluke.
Multiple languages offer possible etymological provenance: It’s said by some that the term comes from the French words for “tea” (ti) and “without” (sans); others believe it stems from the Greek word ptisanē, which is a steeped beverage from crushed pearl barley.
Mint for Beginners
In their pre-tisane incarnations, mint, chamomile, and pansies mingle in the garden. See our guide to 9 Favorite Mints for a primer on the different types you can grow easily in a home garden.
We brewed a pot of mint tisane using one large handful of rinsed leaves and stems.
To brew a tisane from fresh mint, snip a few stalks from the garden, give them a thorough rinse to get rid of residual soil or bugs, and steep the leaves and stems in a pot of hot water for two to five minutes, depending on your desired strength.
Generally, brewing a tisane with fresh herbs and flowers will result in a more intense flavor than using dried counterparts. The flavor of botanical ingredients will change as they dry out, so be sure to taste the dried blend as you’re creating an infusion.
Fresh Herbs for Potency
Using both stems and leaves of herbs such as chamomile or mint will intensify the flavor of a tisane. After an herb starts to flower at the end of its growth cycle, she says, it can affect the flavor a bit, but generally it’s a very subtle change.
Stems and Leaves?
We formed bunches of fresh lavender before hanging to dry.
Drying 101
“If you do, the pieces in the middle are not going to dry out, and they can start to mold.” Take your bunches, and hang or place them somewhere dry with airflow, indirect sunlight, and limited humidity.
A Better Way to Blend
For a delicately flavored citrus tisane, we dried slices of oranges in a dehydrator and then poured boiling water and allowed them to steep.
“Sometimes we try a crazy blend like chamomile and cinnamon and we think it’s going to be really weird, and we try it and it’s amazing!”
Rinse fresh flowers and herbs and allow them to dry before brewing tisanes. Leaves & Flowers’ Ajna Blend pairs anise hyssop with tulsi and lavender ($17 for a package that brews from 20 to 22 cups).
Shop Your Full Garden
Our pansy tisane had an earthy, rustic flavor. Tap into the roots of tisanes and seek out different herbal blends for their restorative powers. Calendula, or pot marigold, is a flower that Erb touts for its an anti-inflammatory properties.
The Power of Plants