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A Cup a Day
Grow Your Own Tea Garden
By Kathleen Hennessy
Spearmint
Spearmint is a creeping, sweetly scented mint that can be steeped to make a flavorful and aromatic tea! Harvest leaves just before flowers appear and use fresh to flavor cold drinks or dry for future use. Leaves can also be frozen in order to preserve flavor for an extended period of time. For tea, simply steep a small handful of fresh (or a teaspoon of dried) leaves in boiling water. Keep Spearmint in fairly moist soil. This fast-spreading perennial grows 12 to 36 inches. Hardy to zone 4. Stevia
Stevia is used primarily as a sweetener, but is also of medicinal importance due to its mild antibacterial activity. The leaves can be brewed as a tea and used as a gargle for sore throats and cold sores. Dried leaves can be finely ground and used in place of sugar or added to toothpaste to inhibit the development of plaque and cavities. A remarkable herbal sugar substitute! Stevia is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar but without the calories. Leaf powder can be used in place of sugar in drinks, baked goods, desserts and preserves. Plant Stevia in rich soil that drains easily. Water it lightly and frequently. Space 24 to 36 inches apart. Hardy to zone 8.