Fresh mint tea from the garden

Peppermint has been enjoyed as a tea for many years, both as a soft drink and as an herbal medicine. Since peppermint is a strong flavor, it can be used alone or as a flavoring for tea or herbal teas. Mint is also often used as a garnish for tea, adding a fresh sprig to the top of the glass.

Peppermint is the most common mint used for tea, although spearmint and others are just as tasty. Peppermint is known to relieve gas pains and is often used as a natural herbal cure for heartburn, stomach pain, and nausea.

To use peppermint as a flavoring for green or black tea, add some crushed leaves to the boiling water along with the tea and steep as usual. You can use fresh or dried leaves, and a little goes a long way. Too much mint will overpower the taste of the tea.

You can use peppermint alone to make a peppermint tea using dried peppermint leaves to make your tea. Use one tablespoon of dried tea leaves per cup of boiling water and steep for 5 minutes. Sweeten with sugar or honey to taste. This tea is especially good for an upset stomach and for relieving heartburn.

If you like, you can grow and dry your own mint leaves for tea. Mint grows prolifically in a humid, shady place. Most gardeners grow mint in a container to prevent the mint from taking over the garden.

Dry the leaves by hanging the twigs, in bunches, upside down in a cool, dry place for a few days, Harvest the dried leaves and enjoy.