AD | Regular readers of my gardening blogs know I love growing pretty plants that you can use in cooking as well. But, if you don’t have much outside space, and with self-care and wellness very much on my mind at the moment, I want to share the benefits and pleasures of growing a tea garden indoors. Because many herbs are tender and are better grown indoors anyway. And because if you enjoy herbal teas, but growing your own isn’t something you’ve tried before, then you might be surprised at how easy and fun it can be.
Contents
- 1 Growing a Tea Garden Indoors – Why Grow Your Own Tea?
- 2 Tea Garden Plants – Which Ones to Choose?
- 3 The Specific Health Benefits of Growing Herbs for Tea
- 4 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- 4.1 What are the light requirements for indoor tea herbs?
- 4.2 How often should I water my indoor herbs?
- 4.3 Can I use regular garden soil for indoor herbs?
- 4.4 How do I prevent pests on indoor herbs?
- 4.5 Can I grow herbs from seeds or should I buy seedlings?
- 4.6 How do I harvest herbs for tea?
- 4.7 How should I dry herbs for tea?
- 5 Recommended Equipment
- 6 Growing a Tea Garden Indoors – Books + Kits
Growing a Tea Garden Indoors – Why Grow Your Own Tea?
Well, because Nature is incredibly generous and many plants have fabulous medicinal properties. Such as eucalyptus, although the leaves are toxic so while they shouldn’t be used to make your own tea, you can still enjoy the mind-clearing fragrance in eucalyptus wreaths, which you can find here.
But think about all the herbs we use in cooking. They’re not only flavour enhancers, they can aid digestion and boost our immune system too. So why not grow a few to use for tea as well as, or even instead of, cooking?
And you don’t have to restrict yourself to fresh herbs either. You can use some flowering plants for your home grown tea too. As far as the practicalities of growing an indoor tea garden (pots, soil, water, light etc), rather than make this post a REALLY long one (!), please may I refer you to these tips for growing edible plants indoors.
Tea Garden Plants – Which Ones to Choose?
Really, there’s no right or wrong answer. The best herbs for homemade tea are ones you will use and enjoy. If you don’t like the look or the flavour, don’t grow them. You’ll find plenty of herbal tea plants in most supermarkets. Or you can order seeds online and enjoy growing your tea garden indoors from scratch (which I think is more fun 🙂 ).
In previous years I’ve also bought plants from street markets, with varying levels of success, admittedly. And when it comes to making your teas, I find the essential oils react to boiling water better when I use a few fresh leaves or flower heads rather than air dried ones. But that’s my personal preference, obviously you can do whatever suits you best. Tip: don’t remove too many leaves at once though, or you might kill your plants.
The Specific Health Benefits of Growing Herbs for Tea
Here are the 15 herbs and plants that I think are easy to grow indoors for the most benefits. You might use some of them in cooking anyway, and those that you don’t will still look pretty around your house – win, win!
Basil
Growing basil indoors is always useful for garnishing pizzas and pasta dishes. However, basil tea can not only help relieve stress but also alleviate bad breath. Apparently (I haven’t tried this yet) if combined with honey and ginger, it can help with asthma, coughs and colds too. And basil tea may also lower your blood sugar level (good to know for diabetics) and help with heart disease.
Calendula
Also known as post Marigolds, Calendula plants are super easy to grow, both outside and inside. The dried orangey petals add a mild, slightly peppery taste to teas and are known for their soothing, anti-inflammatory properties.
Chamomile or Camomile
Dried chamomile reminds me of stewed grass. But fresh chamomile is a whole other experience with a fresh, apple-y fragrance and flavour. And there’s a reason chamomile is recommended as a bedtime drink; because it lowers stress levels, reduces inflammation, and improves sleep. Which is perfect as it gives our bodies a chance to repair themselves while we’re sleeping. It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing.
Geranium
Much like mint, geraniums, or pelargoniums, come in a variety of fragrances and flavours – rose, citronella, pineapple, and mint. We have a rose geranium, Pelargonium graveolens, and her naturally antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal leaves make the most delicious calming and relaxing tea. They’re tender plants and won’t survive a winter outside so growing geraniums indoors makes perfect sense.
Ginger
Growing ginger indoors is a no brainer. It’s a brilliant antioxidant with antibacterial properties and both its roots and leaves can be used to make tea. Both Chinese medicines and Ayurveda recommend ginger tea for all sorts of ailments such as colds, flu, nausea, and to generally improve digestion and appetite. Plus it’s delicious, with a welcome warming kick to boot.
Lavender
I’ve written previously about growing lavender indoors and its culinary uses. But a cup of antioxidant lavender tea before bedtime isn’t only a natural way of easing anxiety and improving sleep. For me, it’s also a deliciously calming and fragrant treat at any time of the day.
Lemon Balm
I often enjoy fresh lemon balm tea, I find it very calming. This is another wonderful herbal tea to try for easing anxiety and improving sleep. But it’s best to confine it to a small pot as it can frequently take over any mixed herb pot or mixed bed. Alternatively, if you’re opting for a dried version, this Black Leaves Organic Lemon Balm is probably one of the best varieties out there.
Lemon Thyme
Another lemon herb, growing thyme indoors is something many of us do for cooking. But this is probably the best lemon herb to use in tea from a medicinal point of view. It can provide relief from bronchitis, whooping cough and similar illnesses, and treat bloating and indigestion. Plus it’s antifungal and antibacterial properties can help to prevent and/or treat gingivitis and other dental problems too.
Lemon Verbena
Alan’s aftershave of choice is fragranced with uplifting lemon verbena but in tea this versatile tender herb helps reduce inflammation, calm the nerves, and aid digestion. I made the mistake of leaving my verbena plant outside and the first frost killed it. I’ll be growing it inside from now on.
Marjoram
Marjoram tea is the one to go to for help with various digestion and stomach problems including poor appetite, liver disease, gallstones, intestinal gas, and stomach cramps. It can also ease colds, calm nerves, and alleviate travel sickness. And based what I learned when working for my essential oils client, I think this is probably a must grow for any indoor tea garden.
Mint
I’m a firm believer in growing mint indoors, in small pots to keep its thuggish tendencies under control. And because you can grow such a wide range of flavours (grapefruit, apple, chocolate to name but a few). But sweet Moroccan mint is what you’ll often find used in tea. Not only is it rich in antioxidants, it’s also a great digestion aid after a heavy or rich meal.
Monarda (Bee Balm)
Monarda has a vibrant, citrusy flavour and has traditionally been used to help with cold symptoms and digestive issues. Happily, both the leaves and flowers can be used for teas.
Rosemary
Rosemary is one of my favourite herbs in our garden. The bees adore her flowers and I adore rubbing her leaves between my fingers to release those refreshing essential oils. But growing rosemary indoors is perfectly possible too and her antioxidant properties can improve digestion, promote mental alertness and help protect from heart disease as well.
Sage
Sage is another fantastic herb for cooking and teas, so growing sage indoors ensures it’s always to hand. Sage comes in different flavours (including pineapple!) and improves digestion, eases heartburn, helps sore throats, laryngitis, and tonsillitis, and can even tackle mouth ulcers and gum infection. Oh, and if that wasn’t enough, sage tea is also a known tool for helping depression. Really, why wouldn’t you grow this wonderful herb?
Viola or Heartsease
Last but not least, violas are a must grow for any tea garden. Not only are the flowers delicious and decorative, the leaves of this purifying herb make a brilliant tea for treating skin complaints such as eczema. This anti-inflammatory tea can also benefit asthma sufferers and ease chest complaints such as bronchitis and whooping cough. Lastly, it’s also a diuretic and can be beneficial for cystitis – great to know if you’re not a fan of cranberry juice…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the light requirements for indoor tea herbs?
Most tea herbs require at least 6-12 hours of sunlight each day. So, try and keep them near a south-facing window or invest in some grow lights if that’s not possible.
How often should I water my indoor herbs?
This depends on your herbs but a good rule of thumb is to water when the top 2 inches of soil become dry. Just makes sure all your pots have good drainage to prevent root rot. No herb likes sitting in a puddle.
Can I use regular garden soil for indoor herbs?
No, your best option is to use a high-quality potting mix for indoor herbs. Garden soil can be too dense and may well contain pests.
How do I prevent pests on indoor herbs?
Avoid overwatering, keep your herbs where there’s plenty of air but out of any draughts, and check them regularly. If you do get any pests, a quick spray of dishwasher liquid in water will discourage them.
Can I grow herbs from seeds or should I buy seedlings?
It’s up to you! My preference is a mix of both – I’ll grow Lavender from scratch but I’m happy to buy supermarket Basil, for instance. Both methods work well because growing from seeds is cost-effective and allows for a wider variety, and seedlings or young plants will give you a head start.
How do I harvest herbs for tea?
Harvest the flowers and/or leaves in the morning, which would be when the dew has dried if they were outside. Use sharp scissors and don’t cut more than a third of the plant at a time, so you don’t traumatise it too much, and you encourage regrowth.
How should I dry herbs for tea?
Tie up small bunches of herbs and hang them upside down in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. An airing cupboard or a drying rack would be perfect. Once fully dried, store them in airtight containers and brew away to your heart’s content.
Recommended Equipment
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Grow Lights*: for providing adequate light, especially during shorter days.
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Self-Watering Planters*: to help maintain consistent soil moisture levels.
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Herb Drying Rack*: to speed up the drying process for harvested herbs.
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Pruning Snips*: useful for harvesting herbs and maintaining overall plant health.
Growing a Tea Garden Indoors – Books + Kits
So there we are, a beginner’s guide to growing your own tea garden indoors. If I’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to find out more, one of the books I’ve found most helpful in my own tea garden experiments is Jekka McVicar’s Cottage Garden Herbs. Sadly, it’s now out of print but her Complete Herb Book* (written in association with the Royal Horticultural Society) would be a brilliant alternative.
However, if you’re eager to get started on growing your own teas right away, then why not try a Grow Your Own Chamomile Tea Starter Kit*? Or if you’re really inspired, then this Grow 4 of Your Own Organic Herbal Teas Kit* is a good option too. It even comes with a Tea Infuser for easier tea making 🙂 Whatever you decide, I really hope you have a go at growing and enjoying some herbs for teas and their health benefits. Good luck, have fun, and do let me know how you get on!
Do you enjoy drinking herbal teas? Did you realise how easy it is to grow your own tea garden indoors? Or how many health benefits you can reap from a simple container of herbs? Have you ever tried to grow your own herbal teas? What tea garden plants appeal to you the most?
(* This is a collaborative post and contains affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission at no cost to you if you make any purchases using these links).
What a brilliant idea! I am a huge lover of green tea but tend to overlook anything else.
One of my 101 things to do before my 40th is grow our own food, maybe I should start thinking about this as well. Or better yet I could convince my Dad (a professional gardener) to start it off for me!
Thank you so much – but ewwww, I can’t stand green tea, haha. Herb teas all the way for me, and that’s a great idea to get your dad to make a start for you!
I had no idea it was this easy to grow teas indoors! I also didn’t know some of these could be used for tea, like geranium. I’m actually considering trying some of these now ☺️
Geranium is one of my faves, it’s so refreshing, tastes much better than so many herb teas too!
I never thought of growing my own herbal teas. I love them, as well! 😀
That’s really good to hear!
Love this!
For two years I have wanted to grow a tea/salve garden and for various reasons, I haven’t. Maybe I should try growing it indoors!
That’s great timing then, haha, and yes, do give it a go indoors!
Wow Lisa this was such an informative and extensive post. I honestly would not have a clue where to start – you’d need to teach me like I was 7 years old. Although I struggle to enjoy any tea other than your bog standard builders tea. When I come and visit you can try and convert me! xxx
Aw, Jenny, thank you! And no, if you can grow strawberries, you can grow tea 🙂 And there is no try, only do, I will convert you, haha! xxx
I love herbal teas – I try to avoid caffeine as much as possible so go for herbal/fruity teas instead. MY neighbour has a huge allotment in their garden and they’re always giving me flowers & fruits and veg so I could use this post as inspiration for my own herbal creations!
Rosie
Oooh yes, do give it a go, I’m sure you’ll be able to make all sorts of fabulous tisanes!
I’ve never thought of growing my own tea garden before but this is such a great idea.
Thank you, Kelly, I hope you do 🙂
I loved this post! What a wonderful thing to try, I love herbal teas so this is something I can definitely give a go x
http://www.dellalovesnutella.co.uk/
Thank you so much – I hope you do give it a go 🙂 x
I love tea but I never considered growing a tea garden so thank you for this post! I especially love chamomile tea with honey so I will have to grow my own! I also normally have basil growing, but I never considered using it for tea!
You’re very welcome, I’m glad it was useful – I hope you like basil tea too!
Wow…… it’s awesome that you grew your own tea garden at home. I’m sure you can enjoy a lot of good teas at home. Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you, Fadima, we certainly do 🙂
I think I’ve been living under a rock as I had no idea you could grow tea at home! All these teas I drink on a regular basis and I really want to start growing some at home! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
Oh that’s great to hear – and I hope you do grow some, it’s so much fun! x
Loved reading your post Lisa. In fact I went and made Chamomile tea (which is not my favorite either, but need to finish) to drink before going to bed. I love the idea of growing your own herbs. I would love to do that if I had some space. 🙂 Ginger tea and green tea are my favorite beverages. 🙂
Thank you, Via. As regards space, if you have room for a few herbs on your kitchen window, perhaps you could use them for herb teas too? 🙂
I do love Tea and this is amazing to be able to grow your own tea! It is definitely something I want to consider doing in the future. I love a variety of tea especially; green, chamomile, honey and lemon and just anything really! Great post xx
Thank you 🙂 Growing your own tea is so much fun – definitely give it a go, fresh herbs are the best! xx
Aw these images are gorgeous Lisa! I love flavoured teas, and I’ve been meaning to branch out and try a few other flavours. Thanks for sharing 🙂
They’re library shots, not mine sadly, but yes, do try some other flavours, you won’t regret it!
I love this! Why haven’t I thought of starting a tea garden before? I am a tea lover and find gardening super relaxing and comforting – so it’s the perfect combination. I’m getting started on making plans as we speak!
Aw, Britt, that’s so good to hear – I look forward to hearing how you get one!
Wow, the great post just before winters. Although I am not a tea lover, everyone at my home is. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, I hope it’s useful!
I’m going to work harder at this! My basil tends to get leggy and topple over so I’ve given up on it. I may try lavender instead. It has a woody stem that could stand up better. I currently am trying a small lemon tree, so we’ll see….! Thanks for renewing my interest.
Lemon and lavender sound delicious, or you could try rosemary as that has a woody stem as well – good luck!
I have never considered growing a tea garden indoors, but I love the idea of having a handful of delicious herbs on time at any time. I love my teas with mint, ginger, or chamomile. Lemon balm and lavender also make a soothing blend.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
I think you enjoy the same kinds of herbal teas as me, Jaya, I need to try lemon balm and lavender though, thank you!
Well, this is a surprise. I never thought of making tea out of basil or sage. I have both of them in pots indoors, but I only use them for cooking.
I still have some mint outside, but I think I will grow some inside too. Love your post!
Thank you, Anca, I hope you enjoy making some herbal teas this Autumn and Winter!
I’m not really a herbal tea fan, but this post was really informative. I love how you can use these ingredients not just in tea but for cooking too x
TBH until I tried fresh leaves, I didn’t like herbal tea either but now I’m a convert x
It’s a creative project. It’s an interesting idea of having a herbal tea garden indoors. I will try to do it this coming spring. I will begin with basil, mint, and rosemary. Thanks for sharing some easy tips for beginners like me.
Thank you, that’s very kind and I’m glad it was helpful. Good luck with your tea garden and have fun!
What a wonderful idea! I love to see things grow in my home during the winter months and this sounds like a fun way to try something different. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome, Jodie, I hope you have some fun with an indoor tea garden this winter!
What a fun idea. I am terrible at keeping house plants alive but for some reason, I can grow herbs well. May have to try this soon. Thanks!
My house plant game is not strong either – yay for herbs!
Before reading this wonderful post I had never even heard of growing an indoor garden. Loved this, I need an indoor project pretty badly right now and I am going to give this a go!
Thank you so much – I hope you have some fun with your new indoor tea garden!
This is such a great post ! I absolutely adore plants and want to grow many of them, I’m definitely adding tea to the list haha !
Wish me luck though, plants don’t do well around me unfortunately 🙁
That’s great to hear and good luck, although herbs are pretty forgiving (I speak from personal experience) so you should be fine!
I’ve never thought about growing a tea garden indoors but it sounds like such a good idea! xx
If you already grow herbs for cooking it’s even easier! xx
I’ve always wanted to do this. I almost even bought a book about it. But in the end I gave up. Thanks for inspiring me to reconsider.
Oh that’s so good to hear – good luck this time around!
oh wow. Such a great read! I love tea and this has inspired me to give this a go. Awesome idea!
Thank you so much – I hope you have fun trying it out!
You have given me some fantastic ideas of what to include in my upcoming hydroponic herb garden…these are all great. I love the idea of growing Ginger, but I don’t know how well that would work in just water. Guess I’ll find out!
That sounds amazing – I’m not sure how ginger would work either but it will be really interesting to see!
This is such a good idea! My partner and I have gotten really into tea during this lockdown and it would be so fun to grow our own ingredients. Plus, like you said, many of these ingredients can be used for other things too!
Thank you – and yes, it’s the perfect lockdown activity, easy and fun to do 🙂
Love all tea garden plant ideas! I have basil at home. I’m really curious about lemon thyme and lavender. I never tasted it before. Which one is your favorite?
I think geranium is my favourite, closely followed by lemon balm, and lavender – I’ve yet to try basil but I will!
This is such a lovely idea! When I move into my own place this is something I would like to try. I haven’t tried to many different teas but I should as I know there are so many benefits. Thank you for sharing this post Lisa.
Lauren
Thank you so much, Lauren, that’s very kind – and yes, I hadn’t realised quite how many benefits growing your own tea could bring so I loved researching this post 🙂 x
The title had me intrigued about what the post would contain, as regular tea is grown in places like India. But your post reminded me there are different kinds of teas you can make, meaning there are versions you could grow at home. Interesting read
Thank you so much – yes, I’m talking specifically herbal teas, not the teas grown in India or Ceylon – glad you found it interesting 🙂
I have tried to grow herbs indoors and failed each time. I think it’s too dry in my condo 🙁
Ah, that’s a shame – indoor plants do need regular watering, it’s important not to let their soil dry out 🙂
This is such an interesting post! I definitely have some new ideas of what to grow in my indoor herb garden come spring. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
You’re welcome, good luck with your herb garden next Spring 🙂
I can’t believe I never realised this was a thing? I love herbal teas! This is such a great post xx
That’s so kind, Alice, thank you so much! xx
Thank you for sharing this, I’ve never thought of growing my own tea garden but now I have an idea of what to do! This past spring I brought a lavender plant but unfortunately in never bloomed 🙁 although it does smell amazing. So now, thanks to this post, I’m thinking of planting rosemary, chamomile, and mint!
Thank you again for the tips and advice
Loren | Plaid & Sugar
Ah, that’s a shame about your lavender, they do need a very sunny spot though. And good luck with your tea garden, I hope you have fun with it!
I’m totally going to try this, I love herbal teas before bed but never thought of trying my own tea garden! The lavender tea sounds like a great place to start, lovely post 🙂
Anika
Thank you so much – and yes, lavender tea before bed is wonderful!
This sounds AMAZING! What a great idea!
Thank you!
Oh I love lavender! I want to plant it everywhere. These suggestions are great!
Thank you, I hope you do plant it everywhere!
Thanks for sharing, I have never used herbs in my own tea, I buy the bags if it’s cheaper to grow the ingredients in the long run, then it could be something I could try 🙂
If you use herbs in cooking then yes, it’s definitely cheaper than buying bags – plus you get far more variety 🙂
This is such a brilliant idea. I think for a while to grow my tea garden indoor but I didn’t have time. Maybe now I can start with some real plans. I would like to have ginger and mint for experiment. Thank you for your information.
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Thank you, I’m so glad it was helpful – good luck with your tea garden!
Tea is amazing!! Love that you can grow your own tea leaves indoors. Perfect for those without garden beds or anything. Mmmm mint tea is so good!! Also great for those coffee mint mojitos hehe. Thanks for sharing all of these tea options we can grow ourselves!
Nancy ✨
It surely is, Nancy – and mmmmm, I’ve not heard of or tried coffee mint mojitos, they sound delicious!
An interesting idea! I’m not a big fan of tea, but maybe this way I might find one I like. 🙂
Fingers crossed that you will 🙂
These are such a great tips and informative post. I would like to have my own lavender, mint and ginger. Now I know how to start.
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You’re welcome, I’m so pleased it was useful.
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Thank you, I agree with you, but I just can’t stand the taste of green tea!
I love your ideas! I am a Tea person and I definitely want to explore more. I love your photos and all your ideas. Growing your own tea is just *.* Thank you for sharing!
Thank you very much – growing your own tea is really easy, I hope you give it a go 🙂
I found this fascinating! I didn’t know about all these great benefits and I’m inspired to grow some indoors. I’ve done so in the past and they all died. The sunroom was too hot.
Thank you, Giulia! Oh please do give it another go, it’s such a rewarding thing to do – maybe on a window ledge where they won’t get too hot 🙂