10 Best Herbs for Tea
If you’ve been following along with this herb garden series, you’ve already explored herbs for beginners, low-maintenance herbs, kitchen gardens, pollinators and container growing. This time, we’re exploring another way to enjoy your herbs by discovering some of the best herbs for tea and herbal infusions.
Tea herbs invite a slower rhythm than herbs used primarily for cooking. They are picked intentionally, dried carefully and tucked away in jars to be enjoyed weeks or even months later. The harvest becomes part of a daily ritual—a warm mug on a rainy afternoon, a quiet moment before bed or a simple pause in the middle of a busy day.
One of the things I love most about growing herbs for tea is that even a small garden can produce an astonishing number of cups. A single lemon verbena plant can provide enough fragrant leaves for countless cups of bright, citrusy tea. Mint seems determined to supply tea for an entire neighborhood. Chamomile turns a patch of flowers into jars of sunshine that can be enjoyed all winter long.
Whether you’re hoping to plant your first tea garden or simply looking for new herbs to brew at home, choosing the right plants is the perfect place to begin. These ten herbs are among the best herbs for tea, offering beautiful flavors, easy growing habits and plenty of opportunities to create your own homemade herbal blends.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide
- The best herbs for teas and homemade herbal infusions
- Which herbs are easiest to grow for tea
- Flavor profiles and traditional uses for each herb
- How to combine herbs into simple tea blends
- Common herbal tea mistakes
Table of Contents
Lemon Balm
If I could recommend only one herb for a tea garden, lemon balm would be near the top of the list. It is one of the best herbs for tea because it is easy to grow, produces abundant harvests and blends beautifully with so many other flavors.
It grows easily, produces abundant harvests and creates one of the most pleasant herbal teas you can make at home. Simply brushing the leaves releases a bright lemon fragrance that feels fresh and uplifting even on the hottest summer afternoon.
Lemon balm belongs to the mint family, which means it grows enthusiastically and often rewards gardeners with far more leaves than they know what to do with. Fortunately, it dries beautifully and stores well for future tea blends.
Flavor Profile: Bright lemon flavor with gentle sweetness and mild herbal notes.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally associated with relaxation, stress support and calming evening rituals.
Tea Pairings: Lemon balm blends beautifully with chamomile, mint, lavender, tulsi and thyme. Pair it with floral herbs for a gentle evening tea, combine it with mint for a brighter refreshing blend, or add citrusy herbs like lemon verbena for an especially vibrant cup.
Mint
Few herbs are more closely associated with tea than mint.
Fresh mint tea is wonderfully simple—often requiring nothing more than a handful of leaves and hot water. The resulting infusion is cooling, refreshing and enjoyable both hot and iced.
Mint’s vigorous growth habit makes it one of the easiest tea herbs to keep supplied throughout the growing season. In fact, most gardeners quickly discover that the challenge isn’t growing enough mint—it’s finding enough ways to use it. If you do decide to grow mint, put it in a container or be prepared for it take over your whole yard.
For tea, I particularly enjoy spearmint, although peppermint and chocolate mint each bring their own character to herbal blends.
Flavor Profile: Cooling, refreshing and naturally sweet.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally used to support digestion and soothe occasional stomach discomfort.
Tea Pairings: Mint blends beautifully with lemon balm, chamomile, lavender, rosemary and thyme. Pair it with lemon balm for a bright, refreshing everyday tea, combine it with chamomile and lavender for a soothing evening blend, or add rosemary or thyme for a more aromatic herbal infusion.
Chamomile
Chamomile may be the herb most people imagine when they think of herbal tea, and it remains one of the best herbs for tea gardens around the world. It’s also one of my absolute favorites.
Its cheerful daisy-like flowers bring softness and beauty to the garden while providing one of the most beloved herbal infusions in the world. Harvesting chamomile feels almost meditative. Each tiny flower is gathered individually, dried carefully and stored away for future cups.
Although the harvest process takes a little patience, the reward is worth it. Few herbs capture the feeling of comfort and quiet quite like chamomile.
In a tea garden, chamomile often becomes more than a plant—it becomes part of a seasonal rhythm that stretches from summer harvests into winter evenings.
Flavor Profile: Mild, floral, apple-like and slightly sweet (stick with the German Chamomile variety for your teas).
Traditional Uses: Traditionally associated with relaxation and evening tea rituals.
Tea Pairings: Chamomile blends beautifully with lemon balm, lavender, mint, tulsi and bee balm. Pair it with lemon balm and lavender for a calming evening tea, combine it with mint for a soothing yet refreshing cup or add tulsi or bee balm for a warm, aromatic blend with a little more depth.
Lavender
Lavender is often grown for its beauty first and its tea second, but it deserves a place in both categories.
When the flower spikes begin to open, the entire garden seems to change. Bees drift from bloom to bloom, the air fills with fragrance and even a small planting feels distinctly cottage garden in character.
For tea, a little lavender goes a long way. Used thoughtfully, it adds a soft floral note that can transform a simple herbal blend into something that feels special. Too much can overwhelm a cup, but in moderation it brings a gentle elegance that few herbs can match
Many gardeners are surprised to discover how well lavender pairs with citrusy herbs like lemon balm and lemon verbena.
Flavor Profile: Floral, lightly sweet and aromatic.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally associated with relaxation, evening routines and creating a sense of calm.
Tea Pairings: Lavender blends beautifully with chamomile, lemon balm, mint, rosemary and lemon verbena. Pair it with chamomile and lemon balm for a soft, floral evening tea, combine it with mint or lemon verbena for a bright, refreshing blend, or add just a touch of rosemary for a more aromatic cup.
Lemon Verbena
If lemon balm smells like lemons, lemon verbena smells like an entire sugared lemon grove. Its fragrance is intense, bright and unmistakably citrusy. Many gardeners fall in love with lemon verbena the moment they brush past the leaves.
Unlike lemon balm, which carries a softer herbal character, lemon verbena produces a cleaner, more concentrated citrus flavor that shines in tea. It creates a refreshing infusion on its own and blends beautifully with many other herbs making it one of my personal best herbs for tea.
Because the plant can become fairly large, many gardeners choose to grow it in containers where its size is easier to manage and it can be brought indoors during colder months.
Flavor Profile: Bright, clean citrus with subtle sweetness, reminiscent of Meyer lemons.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally enjoyed as a refreshing tea and digestive herb.
Tea Pairings: Lemon verbena blends beautifully with lemon balm, mint, chamomile, lavender and bee balm. Pair it with mint for a crisp, refreshing summer tea, combine it with chamomile and lavender for a light floral blend, or mix it with lemon balm for an extra burst of sweet citrus flavor.
Want to Create Your Own Herbal Tea Blends?
Choosing the right herbs is only the beginning. Learning how flavors work together—and how to balance warming, cooling and neutral herbs—can help you create teas that are both delicious and thoughtfully crafted.
If you’d like to go a step further, my Herbal Tea Blending Guide includes:
- A quick-reference chart of warming, cooling and neutral herbs
- Flavor pairings and traditional herbal actions
- Seasonal blending inspiration for spring, summer, fall and winter
- Simple tips for creating your own signature tea blends
- Space to record your favorite recipes and tasting notes
Grab the printable Herbal Tea Blending Guide in my Etsy shop and start creating your own personalized herbal teas.
Bee Balm (Monarda)
Bee balm is one of those herbs that manages to be beautiful, useful and ecologically valuable all at once, truly one of the best herbs for tea and for the garden as a whole.
In the garden, it attracts hummingbirds, butterflies and countless pollinators. In the tea cup, it contributes a unique flavor that combines hints of mint, citrus and oregano-like spice.
Its vivid flowers also dry beautifully and add color to homemade tea blends.
Fun Fact: Historically, bee balm became especially popular after the Boston Tea Party in 1773. As tensions with Britain grew and imported black tea became difficult—or undesirable—to obtain, many American colonists turned to native plants as substitutes. Bee balm was brewed into a flavorful herbal drink known as Oswego Tea, named after the Oswego people, who had long used the plant before European settlement. The tea became both a practical alternative and a small symbol of American self-reliance.
Flavor Profile: Minty, citrusy and slightly spicy.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally used in herbal teas and seasonal wellness blends.
Tea Pairings: Bee balm blends beautifully with lemon balm, mint, chamomile and thyme. Pair it with lemon balm and mint for a bright, refreshing tea, combine it with chamomile for a softer floral blend, or add thyme for a warm, aromatic cup with a hint of spice.
Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Holy basil, often called tulsi, is quite different from the sweet basil most gardeners grow for cooking. While culinary basil belongs in pasta sauces and pesto, tulsi belongs in the tea garden.
The plant carries a distinctive aroma—part clove, part spice and part floral sweetness—that becomes even more pronounced when brewed into tea. Many gardeners find themselves harvesting tulsi regularly throughout summer simply because the scent is so enjoyable. Besides using it for tea, I like to add some to flower arrangements so I can enjoy the fragrance along with my blooms.
Tulsi grows quickly in warm weather and responds well to frequent harvesting, becoming fuller and more productive as the season progresses.
Flavor Profile: Warm, spicy, clove-like and slightly sweet.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally regarded as an adaptogenic herb and commonly used to support resilience during periods of stress.
Tea Pairings: Tulsi blends beautifully with lemon balm, chamomile, rosemary and sage. Pair it with lemon balm and chamomile for a soothing everyday tea, combine it with rosemary or sage for a warm, aromatic blend, or add a few strawberries (dried or fresh) for a naturally sweet, fruity twist that complements tulsi’s gentle spice.
Rosemary
Rosemary may seem like an unusual tea herb at first, but it creates surprisingly pleasant infusions.
Its pine-like aroma produces a tea that feels grounding and invigorating, particularly during colder months. A small amount goes a long way, making rosemary especially useful as a blending herb rather than a stand-alone tea.
The evergreen nature of rosemary is another advantage. In many climates, it remains productive long after other herbs have faded, extending the tea harvest season considerably. Where I live (the Southern U.S.) I can cut a sprig of rosemary for tea just as easily in January as I can in July.
Flavor Profile: Piney, aromatic and slightly resinous.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally associated with focus, memory and mental clarity.
Tea Pairings: Rosemary blends beautifully with lavender, lemon balm, thyme and sage. Pair it with lemon balm for a bright, herbaceous tea, combine it with lavender for a fragrant, aromatic blend, or add thyme and sage for a warm, woodsy infusion that’s especially comforting on cooler days.
Sage
Sage brings depth and warmth to a tea garden.
Its soft, silvery foliage is beautiful throughout the growing season, and its earthy flavor creates teas that feel particularly comforting during cool weather. While most people know sage from the kitchen, it has a long history of use in herbal infusions as well. The leaves dry exceptionally well, retaining much of their fragrance and character for months after harvest, making it one of the longest lasting best herbs for tea.
Flavor Profile: Earthy, savory and slightly peppery.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally used in seasonal wellness teas and soothing herbal blends.
Tea Pairings: Sage blends beautifully with rosemary, thyme, lemon balm and tulsi. Pair it with lemon balm for a brighter herbal blend, combine it with rosemary and thyme for a warm, earthy tea, or add tulsi for a more complex cup with gentle spice and depth.
Thyme
Thyme may be best known as a culinary herb, but it also deserves a place in the tea garden.
When steeped, thyme produces an infusion that is warm, herbal and surprisingly pleasant. It is often used in small quantities within herbal blends where its aromatic qualities can support and deepen other flavors.
As a garden plant, thyme offers another advantage: it thrives in conditions where many herbs struggle. Poor soil, heat and drought rarely bother it once established.
Flavor Profile: Herbal, earthy and slightly minty.
Traditional Uses: Traditionally included in seasonal herbal teas and respiratory-support blends.
Tea Pairings: Thyme blends beautifully with mint, lemon balm, rosemary and bee balm. Pair it with lemon balm or mint for a brighter, refreshing herbal tea, combine it with rosemary for a warm, aromatic blend, or add bee balm for a more complex cup with hints of citrus and spice.
Common Herbal Tea Mistakes
Even the best herbs for tea can disappoint if a few simple principles are overlooked. Whether you’re growing your own herbs, purchasing dried ingredients or creating your first homemade blends, small details can make a big difference in the flavor, aroma and enjoyment of your final cup.
Choosing Herbs You Don’t Enjoy Drinking
This may sound obvious, but it is surprisingly common. A beautiful herb or one that grows easily isn’t always one you’ll enjoy in your tea cup. Before dedicating garden space to a tea herb—or buying a large amount of dried herbs—try a small amount first and make sure you love the flavor. The best herbs for tea are the ones you’ll actually reach for regularly.
Drying or Storing Herbs Incorrectly
Tea herbs should be dried slowly in a warm, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Excess heat can reduce the aromatic oils that create flavor, while poor airflow can encourage mold. Once dried, store herbs in airtight containers away from heat and light to preserve their freshness.
Using Too Much of a Strong Herb
Some herbs, especially lavender, rosemary and sage, have bold flavors that can easily overpower a blend. Start with small amounts and adjust as you experiment. A little of a strongly aromatic herb often goes much further than expected.
Forgetting to Label Your Herbs
Ask me how I know this—learn from, don’t duplicate, my mistakes!
Many dried herbs look remarkably similar once they end up in jars. A simple label with the herb name and harvest or purchase date can save a lot of guessing later.
Expecting Every Herbal Tea to Taste Like Store-Bought Tea
Homemade herbal teas have their own character. Freshly dried herbs often have brighter aromas, softer flavors and seasonal variations that you won’t find in commercial tea bags.
Part of the joy of blending your own tea is learning how different herbs change throughout the year and discovering combinations you love.
Interested in Growing Your Own Tea Garden?
Growing tea herbs can become more than simply adding plants to your garden. A tea garden can be a peaceful corner filled with fragrant herbs, a collection of containers on a patio or even a small indoor growing space that brings greenery into your everyday routine.
If you’re ready to design a tea garden of your own, my Tea Garden Formula Guide helps you turn inspiration into a simple, flexible plan.
Inside the printable guide, you’ll find:
- A step-by-step tea garden planning formula
- Tea herb recommendations and growing conditions
- Guidance for outdoor gardens, containers and indoor setups
- Seed vs. transplant tips
- Creative garden themes and layout ideas
- Sensory design inspiration to create a space you’ll love spending time in
Whether you’re dreaming of a cottage tea patch, a hidden garden nook or simply a sunny windowsill filled with herbs, this guide helps you create a tea garden that fits your space and your lifestyle.
Find the Tea Garden Formula Guide in my Etsy shop and start planning your own herbal sanctuary.
Discover the Best Herbs for Tea
The best tea gardens aren’t necessarily large—and they don’t always require a traditional garden space. They can be a collection of pots on a patio, a small raised bed tucked into a corner of the yard, a sunny windowsill filled with a few favorite herbs or even a thoughtfully chosen collection of dried herbs ready to blend and enjoy at home.
If you’re just getting started, begin with:
- Lemon Balm
- Mint
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Tulsi
Together, these herbs create a wonderful foundation for homemade tea blends while remaining relatively easy to grow, harvest or source and enjoy throughout the seasons.
Over time, something interesting begins to happen. You stop seeing herbs solely as plants and start seeing them as ingredients for future moments. A handful of leaves drying in summer becomes a warm mug in winter. A jar of dried chamomile tucked into the pantry becomes a reminder of the garden that once bloomed outside. Whether you grow your own herbs or create blends from carefully chosen ingredients, tea has a way of stretching beyond the growing season and into everyday life.
And perhaps that’s what makes a tea garden feel so different from other herb gardens. It isn’t just about growing plants—it’s about growing small rituals. Cups of comfort, moments of pause and simple pleasures can all be enjoyed long after the season itself has passed.
Check out the rest of this special herb series here:
- 10 Easy Herbs to Grow for Beginners
- 10 Low Maintenance Herbs that Are Easy to Grow
- 10 Best Kitchen Garden Herbs for Cooking
- 10 Best Herbs for Pollinators and Wildlife
- 10 Best Herbs for Container Gardening
- 10 Best Herbs for a Medicinal Herb Garden
