Crafting Tea Blends

Loose leaf tea blends are becoming extremely popular due to their 'less-waste' style (think no tea bags, tags, etc), and their many benefits for the body as they are pure plant leaves as opposed to some of the dust you get in conventional tea bags.

I don't know about you, but the tea from pure green tea leaves versus a green tea bag from a shop-bought brand is like drinking a different tea altogether! You can also customise your own tea blend specifically for your needs, and create a myriad of amazing flavours. Crafted tea blends make great, unique gifts as well. What's not to love?

Blending Loose Leaf Teas

The plant kingdom is a large one, and as you can imagine there are hundreds of different dried botanicals and loose leaf teas to choose from. Each has their own unique properties and benefits so you do need to do some research if you are wanting to craft a medicinal tea.

When building your tea blend, you can either make up a completely unique tea blend, or you can choose a 'base' tea such as Oolong, Pu'erh, black tea, green tea, Darjeeling etc and then add some extras to it.

Here are some great blends for different purposes to get you started on your tea journey!

Immune Boosting Blends

Immune boosting teas are a wonderful way to give your immune system a little boost and tea is a great comfort in the cold weather. There are many botanicals with exceptional immune boosting properties and we'll harness some of them here.

Green tea and echinacea are potent immune boosters. Combined with a little chilli for a touch of heat, lemongrass as a tonic and aniseed which is great for any phlegm and coughs, this is a powerful tea.

Cold Weather and Flu Fighter Tea

• 1 tsp aniseed
• 2 tsp lemongrass
• ½ tsp chilli
• 2 tsp echinacea
• 2 tsp peppermint

Sore Throat Tea

This tea is great for soothing a sore throat. The sage and liquorice fight inflammation and marshmallow is soothing.

• 1 tsp sage
• 1 tsp liquorice
• 1 tsp marshmallow

Immuni Tea

One glance at this blend and you can tell it has great immune boosting abilities!

• 3 tsp elderberries
• 2 tsp peppermint
• 2 tsp white willow bark
• 2 tsp echinacea
• 2 tsp feverfew

Immuni Tea 2

Here is a variation, also containing powerful immune properties.

• 3 tsp echinacea
• 1 tsp nettle
• 2 tsp olive leaf
• 2 tsp calendula flowers
• 2 tsp hibiscus
• 1 tsp dried ginger

Digestive Blends

Tea is actually a great way to combat digestive disorders, discomfort, improve the digestive process and just the general wellbeing of our tummies.

This tummy tea is packed with botanicals that are all great for digestion.

Tummy Tea

Makes 3-4 cups

• 2 tsp fennel
• 2 tsp peppermint
• 2 tsp wild als
• 2 tsp calendula flowers
• 2 tsp lemon verbena

Tummy Tea 2

Ginger is a well known remedy for nausea and discomfort, and fennel is great for digestion, bloating and gas.

Makes 3-4 cups

• 2 tsp Oolong as a base tea
• 2 tsp dried ginger or ginger pieces. You can also use fresh ginger but use a little less as it is strong
• 2 tsp orange blossoms
• 2 tsp ginseng
• 2 tsp fennel

Sleep Blends

Certain botanicals are highly effective at calming the body and getting it ready for the sleep state.

Sleepy Tea

This sleep tea is a stunning blend of flowers that will have you in dreamland in no time.

Makes 3-4 cups

• 2 tsp chamomile
• 2 tsp lemon verbena
• 2 tsp hibiscus
• 2 tsp rose petals
• 2 tsp lavender

Insomnia

More specifically for insomnia and sleeping disorders, this tea is very powerful.

Makes 2 cups

• 3 tsp chamomile
• 1 tsp passionflower
• 1 tsp skullcap
• 1 tsp kava kava root
• 1 tsp lavender

Headaches

What better way to soothe a headache than with a calming cuppa. These botanicals all work together to relieve pain and stress.

Migraine Relief

• 2 tsp feverfew
• 2 tsp rosemary
• 1 tsp sage
• 2 tsp white willow bark
• 2 tsp lavender