How Do I Make Herbal Tea Blends From Dried Herbs?

“Hi there! I just started growing my own herbs and I’ve just dried my first batch — peppermint, chamomile, and a little lemon balm. I’m super excited to make my own herbal tea blends, but I have no idea where to start. I’ve seen pre-made blends at the store but I’m wondering how I can do it myself at home, and how I can play around with the flavors! Also, I’d love some tips on how to store my dried herbs to keep them fresh over time. Thanks so much for the help!” Thanks, Emma, Austin, USA.

How to Make Herbal Tea Blends from Dried Herbs

Hey Emma! First off, congratulations on growing and drying your own herbs — that’s such a rewarding experience, isn’t it? There’s nothing quite like sipping on a steaming mug of tea and knowing you grew all those flavors yourself. I’m thrilled to share some tips with you on how I make my own herbal blends and how you can get started with your dried peppermint, chamomile, and lemon balm.

I’ll break it down into steps, offer a few ideas on blending flavors, and dive into the important stuff like measurements, storage, and a few of my favorite flavor combos. Let’s get started!

Choosing Your Base Herbs

When it comes to making your tea blends, the base is where everything starts. A **base herb** is usually the main flavor in your tea, and it often makes up about 40-60% of the blend. Since you’ve got peppermint, chamomile, and lemon balm, any of these could easily work as a base.

Peppermint as a Base

**Peppermint** is such a refreshing choice for a base and tends to work in just about any blend. It’s naturally invigorating, and a little goes a long way! When blended with sweeter or gentler herbs like chamomile or lemon balm, the minty notes mellow out beautifully.

Chamomile as a Base

**Chamomile** is super gentle and calming, making it perfect for nighttime or relaxation blends. Its soft apple-like flavor is something most people find comforting. Lots of folks like to combine chamomile with floral or citrusy herbs for a balanced effect.

Lemon Balm as a Base

Ah, **lemon balm** – it’s a personal favorite! It has a mild lemony taste that’s both uplifting and calming. It’s not as sharp as actual lemon, but still refreshing. You’ll often find it in blends designed to help with anxiety or stress. Lemon balm makes a great base when paired with herbs like peppermint for a zesty touch or chamomile for a soothing tea.

Secondary Herbs for Depth

Once you’ve chosen your base, it’s time to think about adding **secondary herbs**. These can make up around 20-30% of your blend and are used to enhance the main flavor, adding complexity or deeper layers to your tea.

Combos That Work Well

Your peppermint would do wonders with **spearmint** (if you have it) or lemon verbena for another fresh, green flavor. If you’re feeling adventurous, try something warming like **ginger or cinnamon** for a fun contrast. Chamomile pairs well with **lavender or hibiscus** if you’re able to grow those at some point.

For lemon balm, adding **thyme or oregano** can give it an herby lift. If you want sweet or floral notes in your tea, **rose petals or orange peel** work nicely (just go easy on those as they can overpower if you’re not careful).

Use Accent Herbs to Elevate Your Blend

Accent herbs are like the finishing touch to your blend. You’d typically want these to make up no more than about 10% of your mix. They’re often really strong in flavor, so a little goes a long way. Since this is your first time blending, Emma, it might be fun to experiment with accent herbs like **cloves**, a pinch of **stevia (for natural sweetness)**, or maybe a little **nutmeg**. Just remember not to go overboard!

Blend Ratios – Keep It Simple

For beginners, a good rule of thumb is to stick to a 2:1 ratio of base herb to secondary herb, and a 3:1 ratio for base herb to accent herb. So, if you’re working with 2 tablespoons of peppermint as a base, you might want just 1 tablespoon of chamomile as your secondary and ½ teaspoon of something like dried lavender as an accent. If this seems too much math, don’t worry too much about being exact— this is about what feels good for *your* taste buds.

How Long to Steep Your Herbal Blend

Once you’ve gotten your blend just right, it’s time to brew and taste! Unlike regular black or green teas, dried herbal teas can often stand a longer steep time. I usually recommend letting them steep for **5-10 minutes** to fully bring out the flavors. Chamomile on its own tends to need less time, so if that’s your base, you might stick closer to 5 minutes — but peppermint and lemon balm are happy steeping longer.

How to Store Your Dried Herbs

It sounds like you’re already off to a great start with drying your herbs. Keeping them fresh is the next important step! Here’s what I usually do:

• **Keep it airtight**: The main thing is to prevent air from getting to them. I store my dried herbs in glass jars with tight-fitting lids, out of direct sunlight.
• **Label everything**: Trust me, you won’t remember what’s in every jar in a month or two. Slap a label on those jars — include the herb name and the date you dried them.
• **Cool, dark, dry places**: Find a pantry or cupboard where temps stay cool and there’s no moisture (especially important if you get humid summers). Sunlight can zap the flavor out of your herbs fast.

Useful Tips for Flavor Balancing

Emma, once you’ve brewed a cup or three of your blends, you’ll get a feel for how each herb’s flavor holds up after steeping. Here are a few tips when tweaking your blends:

• **Too Minty?** Add a sweeter herb like chamomile or lemon balm to tone down the boldness of the peppermint.
• **Too Floral?** If lavender or chamomile ended up too strong, balance them out with something lemony or grassy like lemon verbena.
• **Too Weak?** Don’t be afraid to add more of your base herb. Stronger blends will often need a longer steep time too.

Troubleshooting: When Your Blend Just Isn’t Right

It happens to the best of us — sometimes your blend comes out…weird. Maybe it’s bitter, or it tastes flat. Here are a couple of common issues with some quick fixes:

• **Bitter flavor?** You might have steeped it too long (this is especially true for chamomile or lemon balm). Try steeping fewer minutes next time or blending with something sweeter to balance out bitterness.
• **Flat flavor?** It might just need a more powerful herb. Try bumping up your accent herbs a little.
• **Too powdery?** If your herbs were chopped too finely before drying, they might not brew as well. Stick to larger leaf pieces when drying, and only crush them right before brewing.

Sample Herbal Tea Blends to Try

Once you’re comfortable, feel free to try out some new blend ideas. Here are a couple of easy combos to test:

Stress Less Tea

• Base: 2 tbsp of lemon balm
• Secondary: 1 tbsp of chamomile
• Accent: 1 tsp lavender

This blend is wonderfully calming with herbal flavors that all collide into something peaceful.

Mood Booster Blend

• Base: 3 tbsp of peppermint
• Secondary: 2 tbsp of chamomile or lemon balm
• Accent: ½ tsp cinnamon or ginger

Peppermint’s invigorating qualities balanced with the delicate sweetness of chamomile and a pop of spice — an uplifting blend.

Final Thoughts…

Emma, you’re on such a fun journey with your herbal tea blending! I hope these tips give you the confidence to experiment with your dried peppermint, chamomile, and lemon balm. Don’t be afraid to play around with the flavors — tea blending is one of those hobbies where mistakes often lead to happy accidents (plus, you can always tweak it next time!). Thanks for sending in your question, and happy sipping!