I have found my new favorite thing to do with fresh herbs this year. Well, it is not technically new; I did this years ago but then sort of stopped doing it. My family and I are really enjoying it this year though.
I have been making and experimenting with herbal sun teas. The process is really simple as it is just like brewing traditional sun tea with tea bags. The only difference is instead of using tea bags you use fresh herbs. The BIG difference between the two is the flavor. While traditional sun teas taste like well, sun tea, herbal sun teas have a much lighter and delicate flavor. Their color is also light as the fresh herbs barely darken the water. They are very refreshing and we have been drinking them by the pitcher full. It’s a nice way to cool off and stay refreshed now that the dog days of summer are rapidly approaching us.
The herbal sun teas I have been brewing are really easy to do. You simply place a few handfuls of clean fresh herbs in a glass jar and leave in the sun to infuse for a few hours. Then just strain and serve with ice. The spent leaves can be tossed on the compost or used as mulch.
I also experimented with using some of my dried herbs and they turned out equally as good. Surprisingly they turned the water a much darker color. I also used less dried herbs than fresh since dried herbs are more concentrated in flavor.
Single herb sun teas like the lemon verbena and even orange mint are really good but I have been having fun experimenting with different combinations. What I like to do when I am trying a new herbal sun tea out is to only make a small amount first. I will just simple make it in a quart canning jar that way if I don’t like it I didn’t waste too many herbs in making it.
It’s a lot of fun trying out new combinations and the sky is the limit. You can add some lemon peel with the herbs or what I can’t wait to try is making some with the blackberries once they are here.
Below are some of the herbs and combinations that have been enjoyed by my family.
Herbal Sun Teas
Single Herbs
- Peppermint
- Lemon Verbena (my personal favorite)
- Orange Mint
- Spearmint
- Lemon Balm
Combinations
- Rosemary and Lavender
- Marjoram and Spearmint
- Peppermint and Lemon Verbena
- Lavender and Lemon Verbena
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
What a refreshing and healthy drink on a hot afternoon! I could of used one of those this morning after I mowed the yard, I was a puddle.
The Lemon Verbena is very refreshing, that is why it is my favorite. Sounds like you needed a nice tall glass of it this morning! -Cindy
I don’t really like herb teas. Used to – went off them. But I would like to take the opportunity to say you have a very elegant blog. I really do think it is delightful.
Lucy Corrander
PICTURES JUST PICTURES
Thank you so much Lucy! I like that you said that this blog is elegant!
Maybe you should give some herbal sun teas a try as they do not taste anything like the herbal teas in which you infuse with boiling water. They are actually much more light and delicate in flavor. Like subtly flavored water. -Cindy
I also meant to say I love the title of your blog. I live near a huge bank of blackberries and, at this very minute, rain is falling on it in a very refreshing way.
(We are looking forward to autumn and blackberry jam.)
Lucy
PICTURES JUST PICTURES
Thank you for yet another compliment! We too are looking forward to the blackberry jam! Yum! -Cindy
I obviously need a spot for lemon verbena. I figured I had lemon balm, lemon basil (also good in tea) and lemon thyme so I was covered. Can it handle the shade?
Do you use the flowers of the lavender or the leaves? I’ve never eaten my lavender. I’ve always dried the flowers for their scent. I’ve also never thought of using my rosemary in tea. I’ve used thyme, but never that one. I obviously need to get more creative.
Oh, I just love lemon verbena. It has got to be my favorite herb. In fact I was thinking of doing a post on it here soon! And to answer your question, it really prefers sun.
As for the lavender, I use the flowers. For the sun tea I just clipped off whole lavender flower spikes and threw them in the jar! Rosemary is really good in beverages like lemonade. It’s a lot of fun trying out different things with the herbs! -Cindy
My husband just LOVES sun tea! I’ll have to print this post out and show him what else he could try. We’re going to have to plant so many more herbs next year because of this, lol.
Nothing wrong with planting more herbs. Every year I seem to plant more and more!
I’m glad you liked this post enough to want to print it out! -Cindy
Hi! Help pls, can anyone enlighten me on the difference between LEMON BALM vs. LEMON BASIL?
I’m just learning how to grow my herb garden at home here in Manila (Philippines). The weather here is quite warm/tropical, so I’m not sure how to take care of them given most internet entries assume colder (winter) climates. Thanks!
Hi Reeza,
Thanks for visiting my site. First, check out this link for Lemon Balm and then this link for Lemon Basil to help with the differences between the two.
When I gardened in a warmer climate (Southern California) both Lemon Balm and Lemon Basil did wonderful. In fact basil should do great for you as it loves the heat. Depending on how hot it gets for you Lemon Balm might appreciate some shade so I would try growing it in at least partial shade first. I have had mine get tip burn on the leaves when it was in too hot of a location.
Both plants are fairly easy to grow and very rewarding. Lemon Basil is super easy to start from seed. Hope this was of some help to you. Once again thanks for paying me a visit! -Cynthia
hi.,
What is the filipino term or tagalog term of lemon balm.,i search it but i did not find the tagalog term of that plant.,please answer me.,tnx..Godbless
What a wonderful way to use herbs! Thanks so much for your post!!!