There’s something wonderfully satisfying about stepping into your garden, picking a handful of fresh herbs and brewing your own cup of tea.
Whether you’re looking for a calming evening drink, a refreshing summer iced tea or simply a caffeine-free alternative to traditional tea, growing your own herbs is easier than you might think.
The best part? Many tea herbs thrive in pots, raised beds or even on a sunny windowsill, making them perfect for gardeners with limited space.
Here are 15 of the best herbs and plants to grow for homemade herbal teas.
If you enjoy growing edible plants, you might also like our guides to 15 Best Plants to Grow for Baking, Best Fruits for Homemade Jam, and 7 Easy Foods You Can Grow at Home.
Quick Picks
🌿 Best Overall: Peppermint
🍋 Best Refreshing Tea: Lemon Balm
😴 Best Evening Tea: Chamomile
🌸 Best Floral Tea: Lavender
🍯 Best Sweetener Alternative: Stevia
🌱 Best for Beginners: Spearmint
At a Glance
| Herb | Easy to Grow | Pots | Perennial | Best Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peppermint | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot & iced |
| Spearmint | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot & iced |
| Lemon Balm | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot |
| Chamomile | ✅ | ✅ | Annual | Hot |
| Lavender | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot |
| Lemon Verbena | ✅ | ✅ | Tender perennial | Hot |
| Rosemary | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot |
| Sage | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot |
| Thyme | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot |
| Bee Balm | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Hot |
| Fennel | ✅ | ✅ | Hot | |
| Echinacea | ✅ | ✅ | Hot | |
| Stevia | ✅ | ✅ | Tender perennial | Fresh |
| Anise Hyssop | ✅ | ✅ | Hot | |
| Holy Basil (Tulsi) | ✅ | ✅ | Annual | Hot |
1. Peppermint
Peppermint is one of the easiest and most rewarding herbs to grow for tea. Its cool, refreshing flavour makes a delicious hot drink in winter and an equally refreshing iced tea during summer.
It grows vigorously, so it’s best planted in a pot to stop it spreading throughout the garden.
Perfect for
- Everyday herbal tea
- Iced tea
- Digestive drinks
Beginner tip: Harvest regularly to encourage fresh, leafy growth.
Want to grow your own?
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2. Spearmint
Spearmint has a sweeter, gentler flavour than peppermint and is perfect if you prefer a milder herbal tea.
It’s also fantastic paired with fresh strawberries or lemon slices.
Perfect for
- Afternoon tea
- Summer drinks
- Fresh herbal infusions
3. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm produces soft, citrus-scented leaves that make a wonderfully calming tea.
It’s easy to grow and often comes back year after year with very little attention.
Perfect for
- Evening tea
- Relaxing drinks
- Lemon blends
Want one?
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4. Chamomile
Chamomile is famous for its delicate daisy-like flowers and soothing herbal tea.
The flowers are harvested and dried before brewing, producing one of the world’s best-known caffeine-free drinks.
Perfect for
- Evening tea
- Bedtime routines
- Drying
5. Lavender
Lavender isn’t just beautiful in the garden.
Its fragrant flowers can also be used sparingly to make delicate floral teas with a wonderfully calming aroma.
English lavender is generally preferred for culinary use.
Perfect for
- Floral tea
- Tea blends
- Relaxing evenings
6. Lemon Verbena
If you love citrus flavours, lemon verbena is hard to beat.
Its leaves produce an intensely lemony tea without the acidity of fresh lemons.
Many gardeners consider it one of the nicest herbal teas you can grow.
7. Rosemary
Rosemary creates an aromatic herbal tea with a distinctive savoury flavour.
Although it’s less common than mint or chamomile, many gardeners enjoy blending it with lemon or honey.
Related reading
👉 15 Best Plants to Grow for Baking
8. Sage
Sage has been brewed into herbal teas for centuries.
Its earthy flavour pairs beautifully with lemon and honey.
9. Thyme
Thyme produces a warming herbal tea with a gentle, aromatic flavour.
Fresh sprigs can be steeped directly in hot water.
10. Bee Balm
Bee Balm (Monarda) produces colourful flowers that attract pollinators while also making a delicious herbal tea with hints of bergamot.
It’s one of the prettiest additions to any tea garden.
11. Fennel
Fennel seeds are often brewed into herbal tea, but the leaves also produce a lightly sweet, aniseed-flavoured drink.
12. Echinacea
Echinacea’s flowers and leaves are often used in herbal infusions and also add beautiful colour to the garden.
13. Stevia
If you like naturally sweet herbal teas, growing stevia means you can sweeten drinks straight from the garden.
A couple of fresh leaves can add surprising sweetness.
14. Anise Hyssop
This underrated herb produces beautiful purple flowers and fragrant leaves with a gentle liquorice flavour.
It’s excellent both for tea and for attracting bees.
15. Holy Basil (Tulsi)
Tulsi has been used for herbal tea for centuries and produces a warming, aromatic infusion that’s becoming increasingly popular with home gardeners.
It also grows beautifully in containers during summer.
How to Harvest Herbs for Tea
For the best flavour:
- Harvest in the morning after the dew has dried.
- Pick healthy young leaves.
- Avoid removing more than one-third of the plant at a time.
- Rinse gently before using fresh or drying.
👉 Related reading: How to Harvest Herbs Without Killing the Plant.
Fresh or Dried?
Most herbs can be enjoyed both ways.
Fresh herbs produce brighter, lighter flavours, while dried herbs create richer, more concentrated teas that store well for months.
If you have a large harvest, drying herbs is a great way to enjoy homegrown tea throughout the year.
Essential Tea Garden Supplies
Affiliate opportunities:
- Herb planter
- Raised herb bed
- Herb scissors
- Drying rack
- Tea infuser
- Glass teapot
- Herb labels
- Watering can
- Seed starter trays
Frequently Asked Questions
Which herb is easiest to grow for tea?
Peppermint is one of the easiest herbs to grow and is ideal for beginners.
Can I grow tea herbs in pots?
Yes. Most herbs, including mint, chamomile, rosemary and lemon balm, grow very well in containers.
Which herbs come back every year?
Peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, rosemary, thyme and lavender are all perennial in many climates.
Can I drink fresh herbs straight away?
Yes. Simply rinse the leaves before steeping them in freshly boiled water.
What’s the best herb for relaxing tea?
Chamomile and lemon balm are two of the most popular herbs for calming evening teas.
Final Thoughts
Growing your own tea garden is one of the simplest ways to make your garden both beautiful and useful. Whether you have a large vegetable plot, a sunny patio or just a few pots on a windowsill, fresh herbs can provide delicious, caffeine-free drinks throughout the growing season.
Start with easy favourites like peppermint, lemon balm or chamomile, then experiment with more unusual herbs as your confidence grows. Before long, you’ll be enjoying homegrown cups of tea picked just moments before they reach your mug.
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You might also enjoy:
🌿 How to Harvest Herbs Without Killing the Plant
🍰 15 Best Plants to Grow for Baking
🍓 Best Fruits for Homemade Jam
🥕 7 Easy Foods You Can Grow at Home
🍓 Grow Strawberries for Homemade Jam