The 61 Best Plants to Grow to Make Your Own Delicious Tea

Source：AZ Animals Time：October 29, 2023

Thinking about making a garden full of useful plants? These are the 61 best plants to grow in your garden if you love tea. All of them make delicious drinks full of health benefits. Many of them may even have multiple purposes so you get the most use out of your garden.

1. Tea Plant

The 61 Best Plants to Grow to Make Your Own Delicious Tea — This is what your tea looks like before it’s harvested and dried.
©R. Haidy/Shutterstock.com

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is so called because it’s used to make a majority of the teas you know including green, white, yellow, oolong, and black tea.

2. Fennel

Two types of fennel work well in tea, common fennel, and bronze fennel. They are antimicrobial and antiviral.

3. Fenugreek

This plant is often associated with certain cuisines, but fenugreek has a beautiful balance of bitter and sweet that makes it a delectable tea.

4. Cilantro

When growing cilantro, you get both a delicious food topping and a tea that can help with blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

5. Chicory

If you’re trying to move away from coffee, chicory has a similar flavor profile and many health benefits. Plus, you can easily grow it in your garden, unlike coffee.

6. Dandelion

Dandelions are a plant you don’t even have to try to grow. They pop up in most yards naturally. Instead of fighting to eliminate this plant from your yard, consider using it to make a drink or a salad.

7. Echinacea

If you’ve got a cold or sore throat, don’t look any further than echinacea. But don’t go buy a bag of this tea, just make your own with plants from your garden.

8. Valerian

The roots of the valerian plant make a delicious and nutritious tea. Don’t drink this tea if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding, or if you have liver disease.

9. Angelica

If you like slightly bitter teas, you may want to try angelica root tea. It’s a blend of sweet and bitter, making for a rather pleasant drink.

10. Licorice

Licorice plants have many benefits, for those with digestion problems, menopause, or an infection. It can be taken as a lozenge or drank as a tea.

11. Ginger

Ginger can grow just about anywhere. Even in the rare few areas it doesn’t grow best outside, it makes an excellent indoor plant.

12. Blueberry

To make tea out of blueberries, you can dry the berries, and use the leaves (dried or fresh) or both. Drink them with a bit of sweetener or mix them into your favorite black tea for a boost of flavor and health benefits.

13. Peach

Peach tea works well when blended with black tea, but also makes for a delicious and delicate caffeine-free iced tea by itself.

14. Apricot

If you want a bright, cool drink for the summer, blend apricots with a splash of lemon and sugar. It also works paired well with other flavors like peach or mango.

15. Mango

Mango tea can be thick, where you just blend and strain the fruit with some sugar and lemon juice. Or, you can dry the fruit and make your black tea a little more tropical.

16. Lemon

A squeeze of lemon adds a bit of brightness to every cup of tea. While a drink consisting fully of lemon might be a little tart, a squeeze of lemon or some rind in any glass gives you extra health benefits and a burst of flavor.

17. Rose

You may think roses are just good to add a little color to your home, but they have a lot of health benefits. Use either rose petals or rose hips in your tea to boost your immune system.

18. Strawberry

If you like fruity flavors in your tea, a couple of pieces of dried strawberry can make all the difference. The fruity and sweet taste can bring flavors in most teas.

19. Myrtle

If you want to make a bright tea, a bit of lemon myrtle mixed with strawberries and lemongrass is sure to impress. While other myrtles can be used, lemon myrtle is the most common.

20. Blackberry

There are many health benefits to drinking blackberry tea, including improving skin health and reducing the chances of chronic disease.

21. Chamomile

There are many different chamomile teas that you can buy, but why not make your own with the chamomile flowers?

22. Honeysuckle

There aren’t many plants out there as colorful and eye-catching as a honeysuckle. Pair that with their ability to make flavorful tea, and you have a clear winner for your next garden plant.

23. Jasmine

When it comes to using jasmine as one of the best plants to grow for tea, two species are commonly used, the sampaguita and the common jasmine.

24. Lavender

Lavender is a great plant to throw in your tea when your stomach doesn’t want to work with you. It also as a pleasant floral smell to a cup of tea.

25. Saffron

The stigmas from the saffron plant can be added to food for flavor, or thrown into tea for a boost to your memory.

26. Violet

Violets make for a delicious tea or lemonade that’s fresh and floral. Just dry out the leaves and crumble them into your drink.

27. Almond

When chopped up and thrown into tea, almonds add a nutty, sweet taste. You can add them to a black tea for a boost of flavor, or make a light tea with just the almonds.

28. Cardamom

If you want, cardamom is part of the spices needed to make chai, but they can be broken up and used by themselves in tea as well for a less spicy drink.

29. Feverfew

If you have constant headaches, feverfew tea is nice to keep around. Take a few dried flowers and add them to hot water for quick relief.

30. Hyssop

There are a few different forms of hyssop that you can use to make a delicious tea that will stop a cough.

31. Anise

Anise is another plant that looks, tastes, and smells similar to lavender. It improves the immune system and your skin.

32. Lemon Balm

As the name suggests, lemon balm is part of the mint family with a lemony brightness.

33. Manuka

Manuka is a flower often used to make delicious honey. It’s flavor also works wonderfully in tea.

34. Bergamot

If you want to start a bee garden, have a plant that smells nice, and a tasty tea, you need bergamot. It’s a plant often used in candles, perfumes, and incense sticks.

35. Nasturtium

Nasturtiums can be drank as tea but it does have a somewhat unique flavor.

36. Clover

Clover makes great ground cover in place of grass, and you can turn it into tea!

37. Dahlia

Dahlias are gorgeous flowers that will make anyone jealous and you can toss the drying flowers into tea when the season’s over.

38. Catnip

Catnip is a useful plant to have around for your cat and to boost your health with a bit of it in your cup of tea.

39. Dianthus

If you want a hardy flower for tea that can handle your not-so-green thumb, you need a dianthus.

40. Pine

Pine needles can be steeped in hot water to make a unique tea with many health benefits.

41. Juniper

The berries of the juniper plant can be used to make gin or tea. It’s tastes somewhat similar to pine.

42. Passion Flower

Passion flowers are said to help you go to sleep if you drink them in tea before bed.

43. Basil

The most popular basil for tea is holy basil, but you can try any kind and see if you like the flavor.

44. Lemon Verbena

When looking at the best plant to grow for tea, lemon verbena is a choice for those who like bright, citrus notes.

45. Nettle

You may not think that nettles are one of the best plants to grow in your garden, but the tea is quite delicious and nutritious.

46. Sunflower

If you want bright, large flowers in your garden, sunflowers are one of the best plants to grow in your yard. You get delicious sunflower seeds and tea.

47. Milk Thistle

Milk thistles are said to be useful for some major health problems like hepatitis and cirrhosis.

48. Mint

There are hundreds of different species and variations of mint in the world. Almost all of them make delicious tea with subtle flavor differences.

49. Mountain Pepper

The berries from the mountain pepper plant have been used for centuries as a tea.

50. Marjoram

Technically related to oregano, marjoram is the best plant you never thought about making tea with.

51. Olive Tree

If you like olives and trying new flavors of tea, an olive tree provides you the best of both worlds. Don’t worry, the drink won’t taste like olives.

52. Raspberry

For women, raspberry tea is the best kind to drink as it alleviates a lot of menstrual problems.

53. Cornflower

If you want to live more of the cottage-core life, cornflowers are a must. You can make tea, dye clothes, bake, and use them for self-care products.

54. New Jersey Tea

If you want a love-it-and-leave-it plant that you just need to pluck a few leaves off of every once in a while to make tea, you need the New Jersey tea plant in your garden.

55. Sage

If you enjoy more natural methods for cleaning your home, eat a lot of chicken, or want a smoky and earthy tea to drink, you want some species of sage (or several) in your garden.

56. Calendula

Looking for a unique cup of tea? Calendula adds a sweet, spicy, and slightly bitter flavor to every cup.

57. Stevia

Stevia can be used to sweeten any cup of tea if you’re looking for more natural options than sugar. It also adds a hint of a licorice flavor.

58. Rosemary

Have you ever had savory tea? Rosemary tea might be something you’ve never thought to give a try before.

59. Scented Geranium

Geraniums are beautiful flowers that are very floral and rose-like when used in tea.

60. Sweet Tea Vine

This plant has a lot of different names, including jiaogulan, sweet tea vine, and southern ginseng. It’s not the tastiest tea, but it has a lot of health benefits.

61. Thyme

Drinking thyme tea is said to be a restorative drink that makes you feel better, even during colds and the flu.

Summary of the Best Plants to Grow to Make Your Own Tea

List Order	Plant Name	Scientific Name	Flavor Profile	Health Benefits
1	Tea Plant	Camellia sinensis	Floral, grassy, sweet, nutty, slightly bitter	Boost immune system, fight off inflammation
2	Fennel	Foeniculum	Sweet, herbal, a little like licorice	Improves digestion, reduces cramps, aids in weight loss, improves sleep
3	Fenugreek	Trigonella foenum-graecum	Bitter, sweet, hint of maple	Reduces blood pressure, lowers inflammation, stabilizes blood sugar
4	Cilantro	Coriandrum sativum	Earthy, light, and floral, with little sweetness	Lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, stabilizes blood sugar
5	Chicory	Cichorium intybus	Earthy, similar to coffee	Reduced stress, improved gut health, reduced inflammation
6	Dandelion	Taraxacum	Slightly nutty, bitter notes	Reduces water weight, improves liver health, improves digestion
7	Echinacea	Echinacea purpurea	Very floral, fresh and sweet	Reduces length of colds and flu, improves sore throat, coughs, and fevers
8	Valerian	Valeriana officinalis	Very herbaceous and earthy	Improves sleep, reduces anxiety
9	Angelica	Angelica archangelica	Sweet, lightly bitter	Reduces heartburn, alleviates gas, improves appetite
10	Licorice	Glycyrrhiza glabra	Sweet, similar to fennel or anise but stronger	Calms the mind, improves the nervous system, reduces colds and coughs
11	Ginger	Zingiber officinale	Spicy and stimulating	Reduces motion sickness and morning sickness, improves blood pressure
12	Blueberry	Vaccinium	Light, sweet, tart	Improves vision, bone density, digestion, and kidney health
13	Peach	Prunus persica	Sweet, tangy, ripe peach flavor	Improves the immune system, cardiac health, and weight loss
14	Apricot	Prunus armeniaca	Fruity, floral	Improves weight loss, boosts metabolism, lowers blood pressure
15	Mango	Mangifera indica	Tropical, with notes of citrus	Improves vision, strengthens immune system
16	Lemon	Citrus limon	Fresh, tangy, strong citrus flavor	Improves cholesterol, skin, and heart health
17	Rose	Rosa	Very floral, slightly astringent	Reduces menstrual cramps, bloating, and aches
18	Strawberry	Fragaria	Strong strawberry flavor, sweet, slighly floral	Improves brain function, reduces high blood pressure and arthritis
19	Myrtle	Myrtus	Strong citrus flavor, bright, green	Reduces blood sugar levels, prevents urinary and bladder infections
20	Blackberry	Rubus fruticosus	Sweet and sour, slightly floral	Improves sore throat, gums, and mouth, and helps with inflammation of the gut
21	Chamomile	Matricaria chamomilla	Hints of apple and floral notes, sweet like honey	Improves sleep, reduces gut inflammation and fevers
22	Honeysuckle	Lonicera periclymenum	Smooth and sweet, with a hint of bitterness	Improves bowel movements, detoxifies the body
23	Jasmine	Jasminum	Delicate, fragrant, and floral	Relaxing, boosts immune system, aids in digestion
24	Lavender	Lavandula	Floral with hints of rosemary and mint	Improves sleep and menstrual pain, balances the immune system
25	Saffron	Crocus sativus	Sweet and floral with an earthy hint	Improves memory function, antibacterial and antiviral
26	Violet	Viola	Tart with hints of fruit and sweetness	Helps with dry or sore throats, coughs, and stuffy noses
27	Almond	Prunus dulcis	Marzipan-like taste, creamy and sweet	Reduces bad cholesterol and chances of heart disease, reduces hunger
28	Cardamom	Elettaria cardamomum	Smoky and minty	Diuretic properties, anti-inflammatory, improves IBS
29	Feverfew	Tanacetum parthenium	Herbaceous with hints of sharp citrus	Helps reduce fevers, migraines, headaches, and arthritis
30	Hyssop	Hyssopus officinalis	Minty with a slightly bitter aftertaste	Improves digestion, liver, and gallbladder, reduces intestinal pain
31	Anise	Pimpinella anisum	Mild licorice flavor, smooth and sweet	Anti-fungal, improves hair and skin, regulates hormones
32	Lemon Balm	Melissa officinalis	Refreshing, minty, with hints of citrus	Reduces stress and anxiety, improves sleep and appetite
33	Manuka	Leptospermum scoparium	Woody, slightly spicy	Antibacterial, anti-fungal, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory
34	Bergamot	Citrus bergamia	Hints of citrus, very floral, and hints of grapefruit	Improves digestion, cholesterol, and blood pressure
35	Nasturtium	Tropaeolum	Peppery, pungent, and smooth	Improves symptoms of cold and flu, ad clears up acne
36	Clover	Trifolium	Earthy and sweet	Diuretic properties, helps reduce mucus in the lungs and throat
37	Dahlia	Dahlia	Floral, subtle, and sweet	Prevents constipation, improves weight loss and muscle gain
38	Catnip	Nepeta cataria	grass-like flavor, light, and sweet	Reduces muscle spasms and improves digestion
39	Dianthus	Dianthus	Sweet and floral with a hint of cloves	Reduces fevers and stomach pain, clears up mucus
40	Pine	Pinus	Herbaceous with hints of mint	Great for colds and flu
41	Juniper	Juniperus	Earthy, similar to pine	Improves digestion, gas, heartburn, bloating, and gastrointestinal infections
42	Passion Flower	Passiflora	Rich, floral, sweet, and deep	Improves sleep, reduces anxiety, improves menopause symptoms
43.	Basil	Ocimum	Sweet, savory, minty, peppery, and licorice-like	Improves skin, joints, intestines, and lungs
44	Lemon Verbena	Aloysia citrodora	Refreshing, lemony, and smooth	Reduces weight, stress, and insomnia
45	Nettle	Urtica	Smooth, mellow, and grassy	Helps to treat gout, muscle aches, and arthritis
46	Sunflower	Helianthus	Hints of jasmine, floral, light and delicate	Diuretic, astringent, and expectorant properties.
47	Milk Thistle	Silybum marianum	Mild and sweet	Supports liver, bone, and skin health
48	Mint	Mentha	Refreshing, sweet, and cool	Aids in digestion, freshens breath, improves energy
49	Mountain Pepper	Tasmannia lanceolata	Lemony, grassy, and slightly bitter	Helps to improve cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.
50	Marjoram	Origanum majorana	Sweet, hints of spice, herbaceous	Improves runny noses, colds, ear pain, and sore throats
51	Olive Tree	Olea europaea	Slightly tangy and herbaceous	Lowers blood pressure, increases blood flow, reduces blood sugar
52	Raspberry	Rubus idaeus	Fruity, full body, slightly earthy	Improves digestion, menstrual cramps, water retention, and morning sickness
53	Cornflower	Centaurea cyanus	Mild and sweet	Improves fever, constipation, congestion, and water retention
54	New Jersey Tea	Ceanothus americanus	Minty and green	Improves clot factors, acts as mild sedative
55	Sage	Salvia	Earthy, smoky, sweet	Improves menopause, reduces inflammation, improves brain function
56	Calendula	Calendula offficinalis	Sweet, bitter, slightly spicy	Fights against heart disease and eases muscle fatigue
57	Stevia	Stevia rebaudiana	Sweet, bitter, hints of licorice	Reduces stress on the heart, lowers blood pressure, and filters excess sodium in the body
58	Rosemary	Salvia rosmarinus	Woodsy, sharp, peppery	Improves digestion and brain function, anti-inflammatory
59	Scented Geranium	Pelargonium graveolens	Very floral, similar to rose	Reduces asthma, arthritis, and inflammation
60	Sweet Tea Vine	Gynostemma pentaphyllum	sweet and earthy, similar to green tea or nettles	Reduces stress, improves sleep and heart health
61	Thyme	Thymus vulgaris	Spicy, distinct, and earthy	Reduces inflammation, improves digestion, assists in weight loss