Instructions
Grow Your Own—Herbal Tea Kit
There's something incredibly special about sipping on a cup of tea that you've grown yourself, and we can't wait for you to experience that feeling.
Whether you have compost at home or not, we've got you covered. For those with compost, simply use the pots provided. If not, don't worry – we've included three compost pellets to help you get started.
Sowing Your Seeds.
To use the compost pellets, pour water onto them to allow them to swell. After about 5 minutes, they will have reached their full size and you can begin planting.
Let's start with the lemon bergamot. For best results, sow indoors from February to May. Take 4-5 seeds and sow them 2mm deep into moist compost. Be sure to only just cover the seeds with soil. Propagate the seeds around 20°C and wait 10-24 days for germination. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them to a 15cm pot. You can plant them outside in early summer or sow them directly in late spring, 3-4mm deep into good compost.
2. Next up is peppermint. For optimal growth, sow indoors from March to May. Take 4-5 seeds and surface sow them onto compost, pressing them lightly into the soil without covering them. Place the pot on a sunny windowsill (18-20°C). Germination can be slow and may take a few weeks, so be patient! Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them to a 15cm pot. Acclimatise them and plant outside once the danger of frost has passed.3. Finally, let's talk about chamomile. Sow directly outside in a large pot of good quality moist compost from August to April, but ideally in spring. Germination takes 7-21 days at 21°C, and may take longer in cooler weather. Thin the plants to the required spacing.
Don't forget to water your plants regularly. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to drop us a message. Happy planting!
Drying Your Tea Plants.
You can use your plants fresh for tea-making, but drying them is a great way to preserve their fragrance and flavour so you can store them in an air-tight jar. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to dry flowers for tea-making:
Harvest the flowers: Choose flowers that are fresh and healthy, and pick them on a dry day, preferably in the morning after the dew has evaporated.
Prepare the flowers: Remove any insects, dirt or debris from the flowers. You can rinse them gently with cool water if necessary, but be sure to pat them dry with a clean towel before proceeding.
Start by bundling them together in a bunch and tie the stems together using twine, cotton or rubber band.
Hang in a dark, well-ventilated room. A north-facing room is ideal.
Check the flowers regularly to make sure they are drying evenly. You can test the flowers for dryness — if they feel dry and brittle, they are ready.
Store the flowers: Once the flowers are dry store them in an airtight container, away from heat and moisture. Label the container with the name and date of the flowers, and use them within six months for best flavour.
Brewing.
When you are ready to make tea, simply add a spoonful of your chamomile, peppermint and lemon bergamot to one of your teabags, pop in a cup of boiling water and steep for a few minutes. Enjoy the soothing aroma and taste of your homemade herbal tea!
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to drop us a message. Happy growing!