A Gentle Shift – Herbs and Tea for the Return to Fall Routines

As August fades into September, the pace of life begins to change. Summer vacations wind down, school schedules return, and mornings suddenly arrive earlier than anyone would like. The transition can feel exciting, exhausting, and emotional all at once—for adults and children alike.

Herbs, especially herbs in tea, offer gentle support during this seasonal shift, helping create moments of calm, focus, and comfort as routines settle back into place. Here are a few tea suggestions to help you along the way.

Lemon Balm Tea

🌿 Lemon Balm and Lavender for Calm

Back-to-school season can bring nervousness and overstimulation, especially after relaxed summer days. Lemon balm and lavender are two herbs traditionally used to encourage calm and relaxation.

A simple evening tea can help create a peaceful bedtime ritual before busy school mornings begin.

Calming Evening Tea

• 2 parts lemon balm
• 1 part chamomile
• ½ part lavender

Steep for 5–7 minutes and sweeten lightly with honey if desired.

The flavor is gentle and approachable, making it ideal for family tea time.

We have two Backyard Patch Teas that are perfect to include in this ritual.  Calming Spirit - A soul-soothing blend designed to quiet the nerves and settle the stomach. The delicate balance of rosemary, lavender, spearmint, chamomile, and cloves creates a mildly minty, aromatic infusion that brings tranquility with every sip. Enjoy it hot for a cozy evening wind-down or iced for a refreshing moment of calm. Holy Basil Relaxing Tea - Unwind naturally with this calming evening blend designed to quiet busy minds and ease you into restful sleep. Holy basil, lemongrass, lemon balm, peppermint, fennel, sage, hibiscus, and rose hips create a lightly citrusy, minty cup with soothing herbal depth. Packed with comforting herbs and vitamin C-rich ingredients, it’s the perfect nighttime ritual for relaxation and wellness support. Cozy, calming, and wonderfully grounding!

🌿 Rosemary for Focus and Memory

Rosemary has long been associated with memory and concentration. Students in ancient Greece reportedly wore rosemary garlands while studying, believing the herb sharpened the mind.

Whether or not one believes the legends, rosemary’s invigorating scent certainly awakens the senses.

Try:

• Adding rosemary to lemonade or herbal iced tea
• Simmering rosemary on the stove for an aromatic study environment
• Using rosemary in snack mixes or roasted nuts

We created a headache tea using a combination of rosemary with other herbs called Headache Liberation, that is bright and refreshing. This citrusy-herbal blend brings together lemon verbena, lemon balm, lavender, catnip, rosemary, and sage to help release tension and clear the mind. Whether it’s stress, sinus pressure, or a long day weighing on you, this tea is a breath of fresh air.

🌿 Building Immune Support

The return to classrooms often means the return of seasonal sniffles. Late summer is an excellent time to begin incorporating supportive herbs into daily routines.

Classic herbs include:

• Thyme
• Sage
• Elderflower
• Echinacea
• Mint

These can be blended into teas, syrups, or steam blends for seasonal wellness support.

Simple Wellness Tea Blend

• 2 parts thyme
• 1 part elderflower
• 1 part peppermint

This blend has a pleasant flavor while offering comforting herbal warmth.

If you want to look into our teas, we have Winter Remedy - A cool, soothing blend designed to bring relief during cold and flu season. Rosehips deliver a burst of vitamin C, sage works to fight germs, and peppermint provides a cooling effect to ease fevers and body aches. A winter staple to keep you feeling your best. Or Tulsi Rose Tea - Soft floral notes and comforting herbs come together in this soothing, immune-supportive blend. Holy basil (tulsi), lemon balm, rose petals, and elderflower create a rich reddish-brown tea with a slightly sweet, robust flavor that feels warm and calming from the very first sip. Perfect for winding down at night, easing frazzled nerves, and keeping cozy during cold and flu season. A peaceful cup for body and spirit alike!

🍎 Small Rituals Matter

The transition back to routine doesn’t have to feel abrupt. A cup of tea after school, herbs tucked into lunches, or a calming evening bath can help create comforting rituals that ease the change of season.

Herbs remind us to slow down and pay attention—even during busy times. As summer softens into autumn, they offer both flavor and reassurance, helping families settle gently into the rhythms ahead.

Fresh Herb Iced Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

Traditionally July is a hot month in Illinois.  I need to stay hydrated, but water loses its sparkle after a while, so I make herb iced teas.  This version allows the use of fresh cut herbs to make a tasty tea concentrate that you can keep in the fridge and enjoy for several days.

Explore the summer garden bounty with this tea idea featuring these attributes: peppermint cools, lemon balm brightens, catnip relaxes, and sage adds a soft savory note that ties everything together.

Fresh Herb Summer Iced Tea

• 5-6 stems catnip
• 4-5 stems peppermint
• 4-5 stems lemon balm
• A bit of sage 1-2 stems. 

Place stems in a roaster pan.  Pour boiling water over them and let steep 20 to 30 minutes.  Chill and store in the refirgerator until ready to serve.  Serve over ice with a splash of fresh cool water. Keeps 5 to 7 dsys in the refridge.

Summer Flower Tea - Tea of the Month

Here is a great tea that is sunny, floral and easy going.  You can serve it hot or cold on the porch.  It has a lovely golden color that is great for gatherings or individual sipping.  It has a slightly sweet and nostalgic flavor.

Summer Flower Tea Blend

• 2 parts lemon balm
• 1 part anise hyssop
• 1 part calendula petals
• 1 part pineapple sage (or common sage for more robust herbal tone)
• ½ part lavender

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in glass jar with a tight fitting lid and shake to mix.
• TO USE: add 1 Tbsp per quart water for sun tea, or 1 tsp of blend per cup of hot water. Steep 10 minutes. Sweeten lightly with honey if desired

Anise Hyssop

Love Thyself Tea – A Calming, Heart-Centered Blend for May - Herb Tea of the Month

Welcome, tea lovers! Today, we're thrilled to introduce our Tea Blend of the Month – Love Thyself Tea. This delightful blend is perfect for those calm May evenings when you just want to unwind and focus on self-care.

In this blog post, we'll walk you through the ingredients, show you how to prepare the perfect cup, and talk about the benefits of each component in the blend. We'll also discuss the importance of taking time for yourself and how a simple cup of tea can become a cherished ritual of relaxation and self-love.

Love Thyself Tea is designed to be a moment of mindful relaxation, emphasizing self-care and tranquility. The hibiscus flowers offer a rich, vibrant color and a tart flavor that awakens the senses, while the rose hips provide a subtle sweetness and a boost of Vitamin C. Chamomile, known for its calming properties, helps to ease stress and promote a sense of peace. The cinnamon adds a touch of warmth and spice, balancing the blend beautifully.  Cheers to a peaceful and heart-centered evening with Love Thyself Tea!

Love Thyself Tea

• 2 parts hibiscus flowers
• 1 part dried rose hips
• 1 part chamomile
•  ½ part cinnamon pieces

Blend ingredients and store in an airtight jar. To make:  Steep 1 tsp in hot water for 5–7 minutes.

Don't forget to leave a comment below and share your experience with Love Thyself Tea. Let us know how you enjoyed this blend and any other tea combinations you'd love to see in the future. 

Triple Happiness Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

(adapted from Kathleen Kips of the Village Herb Shop)

This tea is refreshing and great both as a hot or iced tea.  The medicinal properties of the ingredients include increased happiness, comfort and emotional balance.

• ½ cup loose black tea
• 1 Tbls. Rose buds
• 1 Tbls. Rosemary
• 1 Tbls crushed, dried Rose Geranium leaves
• 1 Tbls. Hibiscus
• 1 Tbls. Seedless rose hips
• 1 tsp. whole cloves

Combine ingredients in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake well to combine.

To Use:  Add 1 level tsp. per cup of hot water and steep 3 to 4 minutes.  

Rose and Anise Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

This month we have a couple of uncommon herbs to use in our tea. Yarrow and Anise hyssop.  The both make a sweeter, yet earthy tea flavor and are great compainons to the added citurs flavors of this blend.

Yarrow has a number of surprising benefits, including helping wounds heal faster, reducing inflammation and lowering blood pressure.  It assists with blood clotting and regulating asthma symptoms. It also helps maintain a regular period. It has also been know to reduce anxiety.

Anise Hyssop - Used as an infusion in tea and cold remedies will relieve congestion. It is also used to strengthen a weak heart. A hot infusion will induce perspiration and is therefore useful in treating fevers. A cold infusion of Agastache foeniculum leaves is used to relieve pains in the chest from excessive coughing.

Rosehips- Rosehips are the seed-filled bulbs that grow at the base of the blossom of a rose. They have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Native Americans have used rosehip tea to soothe sore throats and indigestion.  Rosehips contain vitamins C, E, and B as well as other minerals and antioxidants.  They also contain a substance that may ease inflammation.

Bee Balm – a native of North America the possess vibrant, tube-shaped flowers, in shades of red, pink, purple which attract a variety of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. In tea it is great for digestive problems and boosting immunity. An antioxidant it is also supportive to the respiratory and urinary systems.

Rosehip and Anise Hyssop Tea

• 2 parts Rose Hips
• 3 parts Anise Hyssop
• 3 parts Yarrow
• 1 part Bergamot

Combine ingredients and use 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup of hot water. Allow to steep 5 to 7 minutes.

Pleasant Home Tea Blend - Tea of the Month

 In Late January I did one of several programs called Curative Properties of Tea (see program page if interested). As part of this program we sip tea while learning about herbs and thier various properties.  At the Park District of Oak Park, Pleasant Home facility, 12 people braved the cold and the snow to join us.  As the final part of the program we use our new knowledge to create a tea bland to sample.

It was described as smooth, flavorful and light by participants.  It is a light pink to red color with a ton of medicinal properties from the herbs included. We used a base of lemongrass with all of its anti-inflamatory and anti-bacterial properties and built on that with immunity boosting ingredients.

Lemongrass imparts a fresh, lemony, and slightly gingery flavor to dishes and beverages. It is great for digestive health, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.  It can reduce anxiety and aid sleep.  It will also help to detoxify the body with its diuretic effects.

Hibiscus – Used in tea to add a bit of color, Hibiscus has been studied recently to confirm that it can be helpful in lowering cholesterol, improving HDL “good” cholesterol, and lowering blood sugar.

Elderberry – a documented immunity booster, these berries are used for reducing the symptoms of the flu.  Only the berries and flowers should be used, not the stems or leaves as they can include cyanide.

Calendula – this lovely golden flower is an effective skin care treatment is does have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and would healing properties.

Rosehips- Rosehips are the seed-filled bulbs that grow at the base of the blossom of a rose. They have been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Native Americans have used rosehip tea to soothe sore throats and indigestion.  Rosehips contain vitamins C, E, and B as well as other minerals and antioxidants.  They also contain a substance that may ease inflammation.

Pleasant Home Tea 

2 parts Lemongrass

1 part Hibiscus

1 part Calendula

1 part Elderberry

1/2 part Rose hips

Blend the herbs in a jar and shake to combine.  Use about 1 to 2 tsp per cup of hot water and allow to steep 5 to 7 minutes before serving.  Sip in the morning or afternoon to enjoy the health benefits.

Hope you enjoy this tea as much as we did!

Ginger Hibiscus Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

Red and cinnamon flavored, this tea is perfect for the holiday season, with a bit of ginger keeping your stomach happy and lemongrass for germ fighting. This can be served hot or iced.

Ginger Hibiscus Tea

2 parts dried lemongrass
1 part dried hibiscus flowers
1 1/4 parts dried finely chopped ginger
1/2 part cinnamon granules (or finely chopped cinnamon – not powder)

Mix together the dried herbs and spices.  You any size part you want, just keep it the same across all ingredients. For each 8 oz cup of tea, use 1 tsp of the dried mix, either in a tea ball, coffee filter tied shut or drawstring tea bag.  Bring water to a boil, turn off the heat and add the tea to teapot or tea cup and cover with water, closing the pot or covering the pot to keep in all of the essential oils.  Steep for 3-5 minutes, depending if you will be adding ice.

Elderberry and Fresh Mint Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

Cooler weather, being indoors and vissiting with family and freinds often brings many airbourne illnesses, so I thought a tea you could keep in the refrigerator to use as an energy and immuity booster.  This is a two part tea you brew separately and mix together to serve. You can use any combination of fresh mint leaves you may have on hand to create this.

ELDERBERRY AND FRESH MINT TEA

Make a concentrated elderberry tea:

1 1/4 cup water
1 tsp dried elderberries
1 Tbls raisins

Bring water to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer, add elderberries and raisins, close pot and simmer for 15 minutes.  Remove from heat, allow to come to room temperature and strain off the liquid.  You can keep the concentrate in the fridge for a week.

Make mint tea:  

Any combination of mints will work, so if you have a flavored mint, like lime, chocolate, orange or more, add those.  For a base I used spearmint and applemint in mine.

With fresh herbs we used 1 Tbls of fresh mint per cup of water (1 tsp of dried mint).  Bring water just to a boil, turn off heat. Place herbs in a teapot and pour over water.  Steeping with the lid closed on the pot for 3-5 minutes.  Remove the herbs.

Mix the two teas together, altering the ratio depending on whether you want more mint or more fruit flavor.  The raisins will give some natural sweetness, but you can also add honey.  Great as an iced tea, but excellent to keep handy in the fridge to heat up in the winter for your daily boost.  Drink daily 

 

Thyme to Sleep Tea - Tea of the Month

I have many nights where I find sleep elusive.  I am a light sleeper and easily wake and find myself unable to fall back to sleep.  Thyme is a go-to herb to help me sleep. Thyme is a powerful antibacterial; combined with its strong action as an antitussive (cough suppressive), those dry winter days indoors will bother you no more! When the dry cough comes creeping in and sleep is elusive, drink some of this thyme tea with honey and lemon, and you won’t even need to count sheep.

Thyme to Sleep Tea

3 cups water

4-6 tsp dried garden thyme

4-6 tsp dried bee balm leaves or flowers

Honey to flavor

Place herbs in a tea ball or coffee filter and place in a teapot.  Boil water and pour over dried herbs. Cover immediately to trap volatile oils. Steep time is your preference; longer is stronger. Start with 4-6 minutes. Add honey and lemon juice to flavor bring out the flavor. Sweet dreams!

Lemon Thyme Mint Fall Tea for Tea blend of the Month

Thyme is a great germ fighter and lemon is always refreshing, so this special recipe for a thyme -based tea will have you sipping as the days grow cooler.

Lemon Thyme Mint Tea

1 part lemon thyme (or ¼ part lemon peel)

1 part peppermint

1 part thyme

¼ part crushed coriander

Blend the ingredients together and place in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

TO USE: Add 1 Tsp to an infuser or coffee filter and allow to steep for 7 to 10 minutes.  Sip and enjoy!

Tea Blend for the Zodiac of Cancer - Tea Blend of the Month

Cancer is a Water sign ruled by the Moon—deeply emotional, nurturing, intuitive, and protective. A tea blend for Cancer should be calming, heartwarming, and supportive of emotional balance and digestive ease (since Cancer also rules the stomach).

♋ Cancer Zodiac Tea Blend

Purpose: To soothe the heart, calm the mind, and nurture the body—perfect for Cancer’s caring, home-loving nature.

• 1 part chamomile
  (Calming, anti-inflammatory, and emotionally soothing—perfect for Cancer’s sensitive spirit.)

• 
  
  

• 1 part lemon balm
  (Bright, lemony, and uplifting—helps ease anxiety and balance moods.)

• 1 part rose petals
  (Supports the heart and offers gentle emotional comfort and self-love.)

• ½ part peppermint
  (Adds a refreshing note and supports digestion—important for this stomach-ruled sign.)

• ½ part oatstraw (optional)
  (Deeply nourishing, helps with stress, and gently uplifts while grounding.)

🫖 Directions:

Blend all herbs together and store in an airtight jar.

To Use: To brew, use 1 tablespoon of the blend per cup of hot water. Steep for 5–7 minutes, covered. Sweeten with honey if desired. Enjoy in a cozy nook with a blanket and a book—very Cancerian!

Need a gift for a Cancer Birthday?  Check out our Zodiac Blends!

Summer Daze Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

Spearmint for cooling, flowers for summer brightness and a few immunity boosters so you stay healthy to enjoy the fun make this a tasty summer tea.

• 1 tsp spearmint
• 1 tsp dried lemongrass
• ½ tsp each elderflowers
• ½ tsp rose petals
• ½ tsp chamomile
• ½ tsp blackberry leaf
• Pinch of orange peel  (or purchase our ready-made tea blend!)

Mix ingredients together well and store in a tightly sealed jar

To Use: Bring cool water to a boil.  Place 1 tsp of the tea blend in a tea infuser, pour 1 cup of boiling water over and allow to steep for 5 – 6 minutes, preferably in a covered container.  For iced tea, allow to steep up to 12 minutes, then allow to cool to room temperature and add ice and add a squeeze of lemon if desired.

Relaxation Tea Blend - Tea Blend of the Month

Today I am speaking to the Village Garden Club of Hinsdale, Illinois. They asked me to speak on my favorite subject, herbal tea!  The program is called the Curative Properties of Tea, where I review and explain the medicinal properties of various herbs used in healing teas.

I became an herb grower because of my love of herb tea, and back in the 90's there just was not much selection, so I needed to grow a few herbs to make my own.

When making tea, you have to consider several flavors: sweet, savory, pungent and floral.  Floral flavors can be savory or sweet, but we separate them out when making tea because they are so commonly used.

Here are the rules for blending teas:

• 1 pungent, 1 savory, 1 sweet, 1 floral
• 1 pungent, 1 savory, 2 sweets, 1 floral
• 1 pungent, 2 savory
• 2 savory, 3 floral
• 1 savory, 1 sweet, 1-2 floral
• 1 sweet, 2-3 floral

And here is a tea recipe using those rules that my lecture participants will be creating today.

Relaxation Tea Blend

• 1 part lemon balm (sweet - helps relaxation and reduces stress)
• 2 parts hops (floral - increases restfulness and calm)
• 1 part mexican oregano (savory - reduces cold symptoms)

Mix together and store in a jar with a tight fitting lid.  

To Use: Use 1 tsp per cup of hot water and allow to steep 7 to 10 minutes before enjoying.

Fennel and Rosemary Healing Tea - Tea of the Month

This tea is created to help heal any ailments you may have in the waining days of winter.

Fennel has many medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties.  There are some immunity boosting properties and germ fighting qualities. It's also a good source of potassium and vitamin C. As an anti-inflammatory is can help relax the colon and decrease respiratory tract secretions

Rosemary is long know for its cognitive and memory enhancing qualities, making it perfect for wintertime brain fog. Like many other herbs it also has polyphenols and flavonoids, which help reduce inflammation.  Rosemary also has digestive health attributes, assisting with digestion, cramps, bloating, as well as antibacterial properties to help us through cold and flu season.

Fennel and Rosemary Healing Tea

1 ½ cups water

½ tsp fennel seed, crushed

1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves

Bring water to a boil, and add fennel seed and simmer for 10 min.  Strain fennel water over the rosemary leaves in a heat-safe mug and step 5 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey.  Sip slowly while warm.

Chocolate Mint Dessert Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

I tried to refrain from creating another Valentine Tea for February, but I realized I never made up one with mint and chocolate, so here you are a dessert-inspired tea perfect for February evenings. This tea uses Rooibus as the main flavor, this caffeine-free plant from Africa has a taste similar to green tea.

Chocolate Mint Dessert Tea

• 1 part rooibos
• ½ part chopped pieces of dark chocolate
• ½ part peppermint
• a sprinkle of vanilla seed or powdered vanilla

Blend ingredients together and store in tight sealing lidded jar.

TO USE: Add one tsp per cup of hot water to a mug or teapot and steep for 5 minutes

New Year’s Revive Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

A Detoxifying Herbal Brew

Rejuvenate with a tea that aids digestion and boosts energy. Starting with antioxidant green tea, this blend will protect the body and boost brain function, aiding weight loss, and improving cardiovascular health. Sweetness is added with peppermint to soothe upset stomach and protect against bacterial infections.  Peppermint and Lemon balm will boost the mood and relieve anxiety associated with depression. Ginger is a workhorse in this blend that can strengthen the immune system as well as reduce inflammation, nausea and even improve blood sugar levels.

New Year’s Revive Tea

• 1 part green tea
• 1 part lemon balm
• ½ part peppermint
• ½ part ginger. 

Blend ingredients together and store in a jar with a tight fitting lid.  Use 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup of hot water just off the boil for for 3–5 minutes. Enjoy daily as you recover from holiday excesses.

Lemon Spice Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

Lemon Balm needs to be harvested again and if you grow it in is often hard to find different ways to use it, but I have many, so check out this link to a search of all the recipes I have posted using Lemon Balm. But for now try this great tea blend with lemon flavors and a hint of clove for a seasonal twist.

Lemon Spice Tea

• 1 cup lemon balm
• 1/2 cup lemongrass, chopped
• 1/2 cup peppermint
• 1/4 cup whole cloves
• 3 teaspoons slivered lemon peel

Combine herbs and lemon peel in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid and shake well.  Enjoy 1 tsp per cup of hot water and steep 5 to 7 minutes.  Color will be light.

If using fresh herbs chop the herbs evenly to a uniform size and use 1 Tablespoon per cup of hot water. Steeping 5 to 7 minutes.  Don't make this as a sun tea, but it is good cold.

Calm and Lift Morning Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

For morning energy, this brew is high in antioxidants and includes some caffeine. It also might help stabilize blood sugar.

Gotu kola, (Centella asiatica) commonly known as Indian pennywort, Asiatic pennywort, spadeleaf, or coinwort, is a herbaceous, perennial plant in the flowering plant family Apiaceae. It is native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and islands in the western Pacific Ocean. I find it easier to get dry leaf via mail order than grow it here in Illinois, but one can grow it as an annual.

Gotu kola

Holy Basil

In Ayurveda, Ashwagandha is known as the rejuvenator and Gotu Kola is known as the herb of longevity, speaking to the plants' abilities to relieve the fatigue and restlessness associated with stress; and support overall quality of life.

Calm and Lift Morning Tea
 
1 part gotu kola
1 part holy basil
1 part jasmine green tea

 
Infuse 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per cup of hot water (just off the boil) for 5 minutes

Fresh Herb Sun Tea - Tea Blend of the Month

July is the best month for fresh herbs. Everything is growing well, the sun is at its best, the herbs need to be cut and there is generally an abundance. So this is the perfect time to make a sun tea with all those fresh herbs.

For this one you can use two quart jars or one larger two quart jar with the same results.

Fresh Herb Sun Tea (for about 2 quarts)

2 quarts water 6-10 leaves mint (any flavor you have or enjoy) 6-10 leaves spearmint 6-8 leaves of lemon verbena 3-5 sprigs of rosemary 3-5 sprigs lemon thyme (or any kind of thyme) 6-10 leaves Stevia ( or 1 1/2 Tbls sugar) 1 lemon, juiced 1/3 cup of raw honey

Start by washing herbs as needed. Next fill 2 quart jar(s) with hot water. Then tie together rosemary and thyme with string into two bundles. Place one bundle in each jar or place both in larger jar. Rough chop or break the remaining herbs with hands, including mint, lemon verbena and stevia (if you do not have any stevia just use sugar or sugar substitute.) Cut lemon in half, squeeze one half into each jar or both into a larger jar. Add honey to jar(s) and stir.

Cover and let the tea sit out in the sun for 5 - 12 hours. Strain with clean cheese cloth or a coffee filter and a wire mesh strainer. Refrigerate or pour over ice and serve. Enjoy!