How to Make Delightful Spring Tea Mixes

Loose-leaf teas are both flavorful and packed with health benefits. Here are some of my favorite combinations for delightful spring teas.

Why should you use loose leaf herbs for tea?

Making loose leaf tea is the practice of steeping tea leaves directly in water (or by using a tea strainer) rather than in a pre-packaged tea bag. Though pre-packaged tea is certainly convenient, there are so many benefits to enjoying loose leaf tea. Once you start, you won’t want to go back!

Loose leaf tea is fresher

Whether you drink tea for the health benefits or simply for the flavor, boxed and bagged teas just can’t beat the freshness of loose leaf teas. Boxed teas often sit in a warehouse or on a grocery store shelf indefinitely. Loose leaf teas, on the other hand, generally offer much higher quality and make their way from field to cup much more quickly.

Steeping loose leaf tea also provides space for the water to flow around the leaves and adequately infuse your tea with flavor. Additionally, there is no tea bag to get in the way of the infusion process (which can dull the flavor). When you steep fresh, loose leaf tea, you know that you’re getting the maximum amount of vitamins and minerals from your tea leaves.

Loose leaf tea is customizable

Instead of plopping a pre-made tea bag into your mug, with loose leaf, you can create your own flavors! Combine your leaves to make your favorite blend. You also have the freedom to choose the strength of your tea by adjusting the number of leaves accordingly.

Loose leaf tea is more sustainable

If you’re looking to cut down on packaging, a loose leaf tea can help. Purchasing your teas in bulk (or growing your own tea leaves) reduces your plastic consumption. Plus, storing your tea leaves in jars is simply beautiful!

The best places to source and purchase loose leaf herbs for tea

Some of my favorite places to purchase loose leaf teas include Mountain Rose Herbs and Frontier Co-Op.

Some tea leaves, such as mint, are also easy to grow yourself in your own yard or windowsill.

The best loose leaf herb blends for delightful spring teas

Here are some of my favorite loose-leaf blends for delightful spring teas to sip.

Please note that the below is not medical advice. I am simply listing some potential benefits of these tea options.

Lavender & Chamomile

This calming tea has a myriad of benefits. Common benefits of lavender include improved sleep and reduced anxiety. In addition to these benefits, chamomile is also incredibly soothing, aids in sleep, boosts the immune system, and much more. Together, this blend is a powerful calming aid.

Rose and Elderflower

Unlike many teas, rose petal tea is naturally caffeine-free. It’s rich in antioxidants and supports relaxation. It is also said to relieve menstrual pain. Elderflower tea is a powerful antiseptic, antiviral, and antibacterial remedy. Elderflower tea has been known to relieve colds and fevers for centuries.

Bergamont and Lavender with Foamed Milk (London Fog)

This popular tea latte not only contains many health benefits but is simply delicious as well. Bergamont is wonderful for stress management and contains high levels of vitamin C to boost your immune system. Combined with the calming effects of lavender, you can’t help but love sipping this tea with some milk on a rainy day.

Lilac Flower and Rose Petal Tea

Lilac is known to calm the stomach and aid in digestion. Rose petal tea has similar benefits. Together, are full of powerful antioxidants that can reduce anxiety and calm stomach pain or cramps.

Mint and Fennel Tea

Mint is one of the most common herbs for soothing indigestion. It’s also used often for soothing cold and flu symptoms. Combined with fennel’s antimicrobial and antiviral properties, this combination is a powerful, healing remedy.

Ginger Root & Lemon Rind Tea

Ginger is packed with antioxidants, boosts the immune system, may relieve morning sickness, and much more. Additionally, lemon is another powerful antioxidant boost. It may also lower blood pressure and aid in mental health. You can’t go wrong with this delicious tea combination.

How to steep and serve loose leaf tea

There are multiple ways to steep your leaves in hot water for tea. A simple tea ball infuser may be the easiest and least expensive option. You can also purchase a tea maker (or tea infuser) into which you can pour your water for steeping.

As for measuring, try starting with 1-2 teaspoons of loose leaf tea for every 8 oz of water. Experiment to figure out your perfect ratio. Most teas are best when steeped for 3-5 minutes.

What are your favorite herbal teas?

Here’s another of my favorite calming herbal teas. What teas do you love best this time of year?