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A Cup a Day
Grow Your Own Tea Garden
By Kathleen Hennessy
Lemon Balm
Lemon Balm features potent, refreshing, lemony scented leaves. Dried leaves make a clean lemon-flavored tea. In addition to tea and cold drinks, leaves can be used to flavor soups, salads, sauces, custards and puddings. Tender young leaves have the best flavor. You'll need to water your Lemon Balm frequently. Plant it in fertile soil in sun or shade. This perennial grows to 24 inches tall. Space 12 to 15 inches apart. Hardy to zone 4. Lemon Grass
Lemon Grass leaves can be brewed as a tea and used externally, which may be helpful in treating fungal and bacterial infections, or internally, to aid digestion. The tangy, enlarged leaf bases are an essential ingredient in Vietnamese and Thai dishes. Leaves are used to flavor fish, soups, curries and sauces. They also make a pleasant tea, served hot or cold. Plant Lemon Grass in a sunny spot and keep it moist. Space 24 to 36 inches apart. Hardy to zone 9. 
Lemon Verbena
Lemon Verbena is one of the finest lemon-scented herbs. It's excellent for making tea and potpourri. Use leaves fresh or dried in teas, or add them to dressings, fruit salads and drinks. Remove stiff leaves before serving. Lemon Verbena prefers full sun. In cool climates bring it indoors to a cool, bright location for the winter. Hardy to zone 8.