- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- grandparents today articles
- grandparents today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
A Cup a Day
Grow Your Own Tea Garden
By Kathleen Hennessy
Here are a few great choices for brewing that perfect cup:
Apple Mint
Apple Mint is a very fragrant garden plant. Chop fresh leaves to flavor hot or cold drinks. The fruity aroma and flavor make it a delightful choice for tea. Apple Mint prefers rich, moist soil growing to 18 to 24 inches. It does well in full sun or partial shade, spaced 12 to 15 inches apart. Hardy to zone 5. Bergamot
Bergamot is an aromatic, stimulant, expectorant herb that may help to lower fever and benefit digestion. Steep leaves in boiling water to create a mild and flavorful tea. Adding leaves to iced drinks gives them an Earl Grey flavor. Plant Bergamot in rich, moist soil in full sun or semi-shade. Space 12 to 25 inches apart. Bergamot grows to 24 to 36 inches tall, but can be kept shorter by trimming top growth. Hardy to zone 4. Chamomile
Chamomile's daisy-like white and yellow chamomile flowers brew a soothing and fragrant herbal tea with overtones of pineapple. Harvest flowers on the stem and gently wash and dry. Hang to dry in a dark, airy location. Discard stems. Plant Chamomile in full to part sun. Chamomile is an annual that grows 10 to 24 inches tall. Chocolate Mint
Chocolate Mint leaves smell and taste like candy. This mint variety adds a cool and refreshing tasteto hot and cold drinks, fruits and desserts. Chocolate Mint likes full sun or partial shade. Like all mints, this hardy perennial can be invasive, so you may want to keep it in containers. If you keep it in the ground you'll need to keep it cut back. Grows 18 to 24 inches tall. Hardy to zone 3.