Create Herbal Teas at Home

Written By Kimberly Acosta

Good Soleil Guide to Making Herbal Tea Blends

By Good Soleil

🌿 Introduction

Herbal tea is more than just a warm drink—it's a tradition, a wellness ritual, and a simple form of self-care. This guide will teach you how to create your own loose-leaf herbal tea blends at home using common, natural ingredients. Whether you want to soothe your gut, boost your mood, or improve your skin, there’s a blend here for you.

🛒 What You’ll Need

  • Dried herbs (see recipe ideas below)

  • A clean, dry jar or pouch for storage

  • Measuring spoons

  • Optional: labels or note cards

  • Reusable tea strainer

🍃 Common Herbal Ingredients & Their Benefits

  • Peppermint: Calms the stomach, helps digestion

  • Chamomile: Relaxing, good for sleep

  • Hibiscus: Rich in antioxidants, supports heart health

  • Lemon Balm: Mood-boosting and stress-relieving

  • Rose Petals: Soothing and skin-friendly

  • Ginger: Anti-inflammatory and warming

  • Licorice Root: Sweet flavor and gut support

🔺 The Herbal Tea Triangle: Formulation Made Simple

To create effective and delicious blends, think of herbs in a triangle structure:

  • 🔹 Base Herb (Therapeutic) – The primary, purpose-driven herb (e.g., Peppermint for digestion)

  • 🔹 Supportive Herb (Balancing) – Enhances or complements the action of the base (e.g., Chamomile to relax the gut)

  • 🔹 Flavor/Accent Herb – Adds flavor, aroma, or beauty (e.g., Rose Petals or Ginger)

This triangle helps guide balanced formulation for both wellness and taste.

✨ Basic Tea Blending Tips

  1. Choose a purpose (calm, focus, gut health, etc.)

  2. Start with 2-3 herbs to keep it simple

  3. Use a 3:2:1 ratio: 3 parts base herb, 2 parts supporting herb, 1 part accent or flavor herb

  4. Blend in small batches to test flavor

  5. Store in an airtight container, away from light

🫖 4 Easy Good Soleil-Inspired Blends

1. Calm Gut Blend

  • 3 parts Peppermint

  • 2 parts Chamomile

  • 1 part Licorice Root

2. Cheerful Heart Blend

  • 3 parts Hibiscus

  • 2 parts Lemon Balm

  • 1 part Rose Petals

3. Balance Brain Blend

  • 3 parts Lemon Balm

  • 2 parts Peppermint

  • 1 part Ginger

4. Healthy Skin Blend

  • 3 parts Chamomile

  • 2 parts Hibiscus

  • 1 part Rose Petals

☕ How to Brew Your Tea

  • Use 1 tablespoon of loose tea per 8 oz hot water

  • Steeping Temperatures:

    • Delicate herbs (like chamomile, rose): ~180–190°F (just below boiling)

    • Roots and dense herbs (like ginger, licorice): 200°F (full boil)

  • Steep for 5–7 minutes (longer for stronger flavor)

  • Cover while steeping to keep volatile oils and nutrients in

  • Sweeten with honey if desired

🌱 Medicinal Tea Tips: Tannins, Alkaloids & Potency

  • Tannins: Found in herbs like hibiscus and rose; they’re astringent and support tissue tone (great for skin and heart health).

  • Alkaloids: Present in small amounts in herbs like peppermint; these can influence mood, digestion, and alertness.

  • Decoctions vs. Infusions:

    • Infusions: For soft leaves, flowers — steep 5–10 min

    • Decoctions: For roots/barks — simmer gently for 10–20 min

The longer and hotter the steep (within reason), the more potent your tea—just match the method to the herb.

💛 Final Tips

  • Use organic herbs whenever possible

  • Test and tweak your blends until you love them

  • Enjoy your tea mindfully—it’s more than a drink, it’s a pause for peace

Kimberly Acosta
Next

✨ Zodiac Tea Pairings