How to Make your own Organic Mint Tea

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Mint tea is one of my favorite hot drinks to enjoy on cold rainy days or in the depths of winter. Today I thought I would show you how I grow, make and enjoy my own Organic Mint Tea. Mint is a relatively easy plant to grow. So easy in fact it can become invasive in a hurry! I grow my mint in containers to help keep the plants from taking over my garden. I have my mint planted in a mixture of soil predominantly made of compost. The compost will provide more than enough nutrients for the mint to grow for years to come. This compost is made with nothing more than free and local resources that were generated on my property. I grow a number of different varieties including spearmint, chocolate mint and pepper mint. Each of them brings a unique flavour that when combine provides a beautiful mint flavour in the tea. When the plants are 20 cm or 9 inches tall I cut them half way. Leaving half of the stem will allow the mint to regrow often at a more intense pace. After harvest you can make tea right away simply by pouring boiling water over the leaves and letting it steep. I however like to save my tea for the winter when I am really missing the warmth of the garden. In order to do this I dry the leaves using a dehydrator. If you have a dry enough climate you can hang dry the leaves. I usually run the dehydrator overnight. I know when the leaves are done drying when they are brittle when picked up and easily break apart. Once the batch is done I use a dry container that seals. I place the leaves in the container pressing down to compact and break apart the tea as I go. I store these containers on top of my refrigerator as it is dry, warm and directly adjacent to my kettle. If you are worried you did not get all of the moisture out of the tea you can also store it in a freezer however I recommend using a vacuumed sealed container to prevent any additional humidity from entering the tea leaves. When your done make sure to recycle the used tea leaves in your garden mulch. To find out why check out the testing garden assumptions series video where we take a look at used tea leaves. Check us out on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/stephenlegaree14 Webpage: www.albertaurbangarden.ca Google +: google.com/+StephenLegaree Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlbertaUrbanGarden Twitter: https://twitter.com/northern1485 Pintrest: http://www.pinterest.com/ABurbanGarden/

Comments

much thanks your vids are very helpful!!

oh okay thanks

after u make this tea does it expire

Thank you for video on this topic.
I was wondering why your reply comment below said not to use the stems, only leaves. I bundled the stems and leaves together in a glass mason jar and poured hot water for making a concentrated tea.It has cooled.
But now I am scared to drink it.
Why do you say not to use the stem of the mint plant? What is the reason?
1Truthseekeriam

LOVE U ACTITUD

so wait do you put the leaves and the stem into the water?

I wouldn't use vegetables and food waste for compost, nature teaches us a lot and what it has taught me is every fall collect all the leaves from treese and shred the leaves that's all you need for great compost that does not stink,,

Mint lowers male androgens, men should not use spearmint or peppermint or their testosterone level will decrease. Be careful.

Mints are one of those types of plants that are easier just to spread on newspaper, or bundle and hang from a rafter, to dry. It only takes a few days and would save energy not using a dehydrator. Basil probably would do just as well (mint family) but I usually dehydrate basil rather than air dry.

Maybe today, I need to make a trip to the supermarket today. I have a feeling, that mint might be good for me. The air quality in my apt. building is taking a long time to cure itself. I go thru this every winter--for over 20-years now. Usually it takes two weeks. Since all the heaters are running (99-apts). At this point in time - the issue comes and goes. I'm thinking a cup of hot mint tea will battle the chap lips....and a slight nasal, issue that seems to be pollution oriented. I am also having some eyesight problems (?). And mint does seem a solution. There are times I use the minty toothpaste--as a body wash--to gauge my sensitivity. And in my hair--since winter has me--a long hair and big beard. I consider a deodorizing effect. Thanks for the video Stephen.

great video Stephen We need to start harvesting some of our mint this really helped us to know what to do w/it

Very informative! Great video! Thumbs up!

Thanks I might grow few mint varieties next year just for tea ;) to dry the leaves I once used a paper bag which stayed inside the boiler cabinet where was dry and warm it's longer process tough but worked just fine.

Have You ever tried Catnip Tea.? I enjoy Your videos and I tried a few Un-scientific test in the garden this summer.

I love growing mints, I have chocolate, peppermint and mojito mint. I don't have a dehydrator so I make bundles, tie them up and hang them to dry inside of course ;)

Should be kept in a dry cool place. Love my herbal teas too.

I love a good cup of tea. Nice video Sir :-)

I'm So greatful you made this video!!! My mother stumbled across some very Arromic Wild mint last year! She remembered it from child hood using it in such things as.. Rubbing it on hands to hide the smell of cigarette smoke haha Thankfully none of us smoke now haha But she knew how much I like gardening and Dug one up for me!! I grew it All winter long in my front window and under a small CFL bulb and Now a year later it is a Giant waterfall of wild mint!!!! I regularally harvest it just for the pure scent But also love mint tea and Never realized I could actually use my big mint plant for my own teas!! Thanks for the information :) Mint makes a great house plant!

Thank You Stephen for explaning the way to make Organic Mint Tea. Good for gas in tummy too

Great idea. will mint grow indoors over winter. also any idea how to make winter green tea. just a thought.