Make Your Own Herbal Tea Blends

I’ve been blending and selling herbal teas (aka tisanes) at my Minnesota farmers market stand for over a decade, and the question I get most often is: ‘How do I make herbal tea that actually tastes good?’ Because let’s be honest, many herbal teas either taste like a medicinal drink or a lightly flavored water.

The secret is blending. Mixing a mellow base with a stronger ‘star’ ingredient and a punch of accent flavor transforms forgettable herbal teas into something you’ll actually want to drink for pleasure as well as for health benefits. This guide covers my formula, plus 9 of my favorite blend recipes, and includes food pairings.

Quick Summary: A guide to creating flavorful herbal tea blends using a formula of a simple base + star ingredient + accent ingredient. Includes 9 tested blend recipes with food pairing suggestions, plus lists of herbs organized by flavor profile (citrus, mint, floral, warming). No special equipment needed; just glass jars, a tea strainer, and your herbs.

Jump to: 9 Herbal Tea Blend Recipes | Equipment Needed for Tea Blending | The Base + Star + Accent Formula | Flavor Profiles: Choosing Your Ingredients | Wellness Herbs | FAQ

The Base + Star + Accent Formula

I’ll list some tea-blending recipes below, but in case you want to explore creating your own combinations, try following the base + star ingredient + accent formula from the chart below “Blending Herbal Teas”.

Floral Tea Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons dried chamomile flowers (base)
• 2 teaspoons dried rose petals (star)
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender buds (accent)

Pairs well with: tart, citrus-based desserts like my faux Meyer Lemon Pie.

Citrus Tea Ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons dried lemon verbena (base)
• 2 teaspoons dried bee balm leaves (star)
• 1 teaspoon dried lemongrass (accent)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel (accent)

Pairs well with: something sweet and fruity to balance out the tea’s tartness, like strawberry tiramisu.

Mint Tea Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons dried mint leaves (base)
• 1 teaspoon dried rose geranium leaves (accent)

Pairs well with: chocolate, of course! Try it with chocolate espresso quick bread.

Herbal Iced Tea Ingredients:

• 6 teaspoons dried mint leaves (base)
• 3 teaspoons dried pineapple sage leaves (star)
• 1 teaspoon dried hibiscus leaves (accent)

Pairs well with most summer dishes. Try it with squash blossoms, radish-cream cheese appetizers, or low-carb beef sliders.

Sleepy Time Tea Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons dried lemon balm leaves (base)
• 2 teaspoons dried chamomile leaves (base)
• 1 teaspoon dried valerian root (star)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender flower (accent)

Pairs well with: if you’re taking it to help you sleep, you may want to have this one on its own.

Mediterranean Tea Ingredients:

• 3 teaspoons dried mint leaves (base)
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (star)
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme (star)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried lemon peel (accent)

Pairs well with: anything Mediterranean such as this roasted harissa chickpea snack

Warming Tea Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons dried holy basil (base)
• 1 teaspoon dried ginger (star)
• 1 teaspoon dried cardamom (star)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried lemon peel (accent)
• 1/2 cinnamon stick (accent)

Pairs well with: this Pumpkin Amaretto quick bread for a very complimentary combination.

Immune Booster Tea Ingredients:

• 4 teaspoons dried nettle leaf OR dried holy basil OR half-half (base)
• 1 teaspoon dried Echinacea flower (star)
• 1 teaspoon dried ginger (star)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried rosehip (accent)

Fresh Herbal Tea Ingredients:

• 1 sprig fresh mint (base)
• 2 slices of fresh ginger root (star)
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary (star)
• 1 slice of lemon (accent)
• Optional: 1 slice of orange

Simmer this mixture for 5 minutes on low heat and then let it sit for 5 more.

Matching Herbs with Specific Wellness Issues

As many of you know I sell wellness teas at the farmers market in Minnesota. I blend them myself in our commercial kitchen with various teas that I source from China and Japan. This “Wheel of Wellness” from a book by Linda Gaylard has been really helpful for me in figuring out the blends.

If you would like a copy of the book, you can ​purchase it on Amazon​. (*note: I get a small commission if you purchase it from my site at no additional cost to you). The above graphic is in the book, but the book is chock full of helpful information on all aspects of teas and tisanes.