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.

Three Ingredient Teas for Hot Tea Month

I pulled together these easy-to-craft recipes for tea which feature only three ingredients.  They can be crafted with equal amounts of each ingredient, but I like a more proportional recipe based on actual ingredients and its potency.  For example:

Here’s a simple, reliable blending framework:

• Leafy herbs: largest proportion
• Flowers: moderate (they carry aroma fast)
• Roots & barks: small amounts
• Seeds & spices: smallest amounts

A classic herbal tea ratio:

• 3–5 parts leafy herbs
• 1–2 parts flowers
• 1/2 –1 part roots or seeds
• 1/4 to 1/2 part spices

So enjoy these recipes to make your winter more enjoyable.  Start with a part that is 1 teaspoon, then if you like the blend use a Tablespoon as the part, to have enough for more than one cup of tea.  The general rule with herb teas is 1 to 2 teaspoons per 8 to 10 ounces of water and allow to steep for 5 to 10 minutes.  With Green or Black teas steep only 2 minutes.

Winter Comfort Tea

• 1 part Chamomile
• 1/2 Ginger root, grated
• 1/4 part Cinnamon, broken

Why it works: Calming, gently warming, and perfect for evenings or snowy days.
Tip: Great with a touch of honey.

 

2. Cold Weather Calm

• 2 parts Lemon balm
• 1 part Peppermint
• 1 part Elderflower

Why it works: Bright and soothing without being medicinal—nice for stressy winter days.

3. Fireside Spice Tea

• 2 parts Rooibos
• 1/2 part Cinnamon
• 1/2 to 1 part Orange peel, broken or chopped

Why it works: Naturally caffeine-free, rich, and warming with a subtle citrus lift.
Feels like: A hug in a mug.

 

4. Throat & Soul Tea

• 1/2 part Marshmallow root
• 1/4 part Licorice root
• 1 part Peppermint

Why it works: Smooth, soothing, and especially nice during dry winter months.
Note: Naturally sweet without sugar.

 

5. Winter Garden Mint 

• 1 part Spearmint
• 1/2 part Lemon peel
• 1 part Rose petals

Why it works: Light, uplifting, and reminds you that gardens return 🌸
Lovely as: An afternoon pick-me-up.

 

6. Snow Day Chai-ish

• 1 part Black tea (or roasted dandelion root for caffeine-free)
• 1/2 part Ginger root, grated (1/4 part powdered)
• 1/4 part Cardamom seeds

Why it works: Cozy spice without a long ingredient list.

 

7. Simple Herbal Nightcap

• 2 parts Linden
• 1 part Chamomile
• 1/2 part Lemon peel, grated

Why it works: Gentle, floral, and relaxing—perfect before bed.

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!

Seven Herbal Gift Ideas for Mom - to make and buy

There are many gift ideas for Mom that incorporate herbs. Here are a few perfect examples, several of which you can make yourself:

1. Herbal Tea Set: Give your mom a collection of her favorite herbal teas, along with a beautiful teapot and a set of tea cups. This gift is perfect for mothers who love to relax with a cup of tea after a long day. Teapot Gifts and Tea Gifts.

2. Herbal Bath Salts: Herbal bath salts are a great way to provide relaxation and rejuvenation. You can make your own bath salts using dried herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile, or you can purchase pre-made herbal bath salts.

We shared this recipe on the blog back in May 2023, but here is a quick blend of salts to pamper skin.

Pampering Bath Salts

• 1 1/2 cups Epsom salts
•  3/4 cup baking soda
• 3/4 cup herbs (finely ground)

Combine everything in a jar and shake well.  Add 2 to 4 Tablespoons directly to the bath or place in a mesh or organza bag and swish to dissolve the salts.

3. Herbal Soaps: Another great gift for mom is herbal soaps. Especially soaps made from natural ingredients and infused with essential oils and dried herbs, providing a pleasant aroma and gentle cleansing.  I get my herbal soaps from Soapy Roads here in Lombard and you can order online too!

4. Herbal Body Oils: Herbal body oils are a great way to nourish the skin and provide a relaxing massage. You can make your own body oils by infusing carrier oils with dried herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile or you can just use essential oils in a carrier oil.

Essential oils like lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus come with benefits. But other oils—like black pepper, clove, and peppermint—can irritate the skin, so choose carefully. To make a safe, DIY bath oil blend five to 20 drops of an essential oil with one tablespoon of a carrier oil (like grapeseed, jojoba, almond, or argan oil). Add the oil right before you're about to get into the bath to keep it from evaporating.

5. Herbal Sachets: Herbal sachets are small bags filled with dried herbs, which can be placed in drawers or closets to provide a pleasant aroma and natural pest control. You can make your own sachets using herbs such as lavender, rose petals, and chamomile. RECipe

Romantic Evening Dreams

• 1/2 cup rose petals
• 1/2 cup rosemary
• 1/4 cup lavender flowers
• 2 lemon verbena leaves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon mint
• 4 whole cloves
• 1 small piece of cinnamon stick, 1 inch long, broken up

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a large jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake to combine.  Allow to meld for at least 2 days before placing in a sachet.

For a simple pillow, fill a 3- to 5-inch drawstring bag with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of chosen herbs; draw strings and tie closed.

TO USE: place the sachet inside the pillowcase or under the pillow and inhale deeply as you fall asleep.  Enjoy the dreams!

6. Herb Garden: Giving an herb garden can be a great gift for a mom who likes gardening, cooking or both. You can give her a small indoor herb garden or a larger outdoor one.  Try these seed papers or these plant seedlings.

7. Herbal Candles : Herbal candles are a great way to provide a pleasant aroma and relaxation. You can make your own candles using beeswax and essential oils, or purchase pre-made herbal candles or those with pressed flowers.

All these gifts are thoughtful and can be personalized to your mom's preferences and interests, and can be a great way to show her how much you care.

January is Hot tea month

To celebrate hot tea month this year, I dragged out the infusers and the teas I “have been meaning to try.” And put them front and center in the kitchen so that I can enjoy them morning and night.  I also took my hot pot to the office so I can make hot tea at work.  I think this will start a new and tastier habit for me in the office as well as show off my new tea blends as I make and test them in the weeks before I start to sell them.

So if you enjoy wrapping your hands around a warm cup of tea, you might want to make it a habit too. And if you need incentive, the evidence continues to mount that tea is good for you.

Heart health is the most notable benefit, says Jeffrey Blumberg, director of the Antioxidant Research Laboratory at Tufts University: "People who drink more tea do appear to have less risk of heart disease, and for those who have developed some cardiac event like a heart attack, those who are tea drinkers seem to have a lower incidence of a second event."

Herbal teas are more than just decaffeinated alternatives to regular black tea. In fact, they can be very powerful & beneficial, and whether you’re looking to improve your digestion, boost detoxification, curb your sweet tooth or if you need a natural sleep aid – there’s an herbal tea that can help! The secret is to buy the right tea & brew it the right way.

Tea is a bit like food – quality matters. There is the food in its natural state and then there’s the nicely packaged processed food, which is often void of any original goodness. In tea language, this means that the processed teabags with dust-like tea inside are more than likely devoid of any original aroma or nutritional value. Meanwhile, whole leaf teas are the very best choice and well worth the price difference. These teas have whole or slightly broken down pieces of leaves & stems and are not bagged but instead bought as a loose tea. These teas are full of uncompromised nutritional benefits, and aside from having a higher content of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, they also contain the fragile essential oils which are responsible for the medicinal properties of herbal tea. Loose and Fresh can truly make a difference to your health and improve your overall wellbeing. Check out the more than 25 varieties of Backyard Patch Herb Teas in our Etsy Shop.

After buying the right tea, brewing it right is just as essential. It all goes back to the beneficial essential oils. These oils are fragile and need to be preserved as best possible. Covering your tea while steeping it helps preserve these oils that otherwise easily escape in the steam, rendering the herb less effective medicinally.

Here are a few more useful brewing tips:

o    Make a whole pot of tea and use a tight lid to cover while steeping. Any tea pot with a lid or French press tea maker is good as long as it is covered up.  If you like your tea very hot get a cozy as well.  These are made by PawPrints onEtsy and are my favorite style that will fit any sizes of pot!

o    Let your tea steep for 10-15 minutes to maximize the health benefits of the herb.

o    Get a good tea cup infuser tool. The larger the better to give the leaf room to unfurl and release minerals and oils. We have been making beaded infusers for a year now.

o     Remember that herbal teas have medicinal properties and some of them can interact with certain medications. Check with your health care provider before taking any new herbal teas if you are on medication and if you are pregnant or nursing.

And finally, if you want to enjoy our teas and tea accessories like infusers, shortbreads and scones, use this discount code at checkout on Etsy for 20% off – TEASALE11

Cough Relief Herbal Tea - Weekend Recipe

Coughs are very common in the winter months.  A cough remedy or cough drop is always a good idea, but in a hurry a cough relief tea is also quick and easy.  You can blend up this recipe of cough relief herbs way in advance and use just 3 tsp. per cup of hot water.  Allow the tea to steep for 5 to 7 minutes.  Drink this tea as often as needed.

This blend makes a strong tea to help relieve your cough as well as make coughs more productive to rid the body of toxins and heal quicker.  This recipe will make 5 1/2 cups which should be enough to get you through the winter.   Enjoy!

Cough Relief Herbal Blend

1/2 cup each:
Red Clover Blossoms
Horehound
Mullein Leaf
Nettle Leaf
Echinacea Purpurea Leaf
Marshmallow Root

1/4 cup each:
Thyme
White Pine Bark
Elecampane Root
Echinacea Purpurea Root
Wild Cherry Bark
Licorice Root

1 cup:
Peppermint Leaf

Combine and store in an air tight container.

Herb of the Week - Top Ten Tea for Healing

I love searching the web for articles on herbal teas.  I love to craft herbal teas and I enjoy seeing what other people combine.  I saw a lovely blend called Cocoa Cabernet made with Cabernet grapes and seasonal spices with roasted cocoa nibs.  It sounds very unique.

On that same day, I found another article that was about single herbs which they were calling herb tea.  Regular readers know this is pet peeve of mine.  A single herb is a tincture or a tisane one can certainly drink but to call it a tea which imparts a meaning of taste and enjoyment and tea drinking and all the pomp and circumstance that includes, is not reflected in a single herb brew.

So when I saw this article I looked carefully at the herbs they listed and decided that perhaps a great tea blend could be crafted with all 10 herbs they listed:  Mint, ginger, chamomile, cinnamon, lemon grass, Echinacea, rosehips, black berry leaf, clove and lemon balm.

The list did pull in 2 spices, but I don’t quibble much if a spice is referred to as an herb because I enjoy my spices as much as my herbs, I just don’t grow them.  I love the wonderful Midwest Spice Company Pensey’s Spices.  Where do you get your spices?

So here is the Tea Blend I created with this list.  The article was entitled top 10 teas for your herbal medicine cabinet. So I am calling it Top Ten Tea, or to sound like Guy Fiery, Triple T!

Top Ten Tea (Triple T)

½ cup spearmint

¼ cup chamomile

¼ cup lemon grass

¼ cup lemon balm.

¼ cup black berry leaf

1 ½ Tbls. Rose hips, crushed

1 Tbls.  echincea root, chopped fine

1 tsp. broken cloves

1 tsp. ginger root, snipped fine

1  3-inch cinnamon stick, broken

Combine all the herbs and spices in an airtight jar and use 1 to 2 tsp. per cup of hot water and allow to steep for 4 to 5 minutes.  Enjoy.

Here is what the herbs in the blend can do for you medicinally:

• Mint will reduce congestion in colds and flus, induce sweating, which helps reduce a fever and relieves nausea without vomiting.

• Ginger will also help with nausea and soothe a sore throat.  It is a warming herbs to is can bring on sweating and help reduce chills

• Chamomile can assist with anxiety helping to induce sleep.  It is also good  with mild nausea and indigestion and can soothe a cough from throat irritation

• Cinnamon is an all around herb for winter issues.  It can ease stomach discomforts like bloating and nausea as well as soothe a sore throat and can reduce other cold symptoms while warming you up on a cold night by increasing blood flow and circulation.

• 

  lemon grass

• Lemon grass aids digestion, especially from nervous disorders and anxiety.  It also helps with high blood pressure.  If you drink a cup daily it also dilates blood vessels and improves circulation and reduces fluid retention al of which aid in lowering blood pressure.

• Echinacea  is a traditional herb for boosting the immune system, relieving pain and reducing inflammation.  It has many antioxidant effects and is believed to shorten illness time for sufferers of the common cold

• Rosehips provide a natural source of Vitamin C, even better than an orange.  As a result it boosts immunity.  Rosehips also provide minerals such as calcium, iron, silicon, selenium, natural sodium, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus and zinc which aid in cell healing

• Blackberry leaf is also a source of Vitamin C as well as working on stomach bacteria.  It can help relieve pain, fevers and inflammation.  It is also considered an immunity booster.

• Clove is a powerful analgesic that breaks up mucous and works as an expectorant.  A steaming cup of tea with this spice will provide a decongestant.  The spice is also good in the treatment of strep throat or tonsillitis.

• Lemon balm is a virus fighter.  It has been used historically against shingles, mumps, and cold sores.  It also has relaxing properties that calm anxiety and nervousness and aid sleep.  It works well in the digestive system by reducing spasms, quelling heartburn and reducing nausea.

Three Herbal Teas to Drink Daily

I was surfing the net this weekend when I ran across an article about herbal tea on Fit Girl Nutrition that just made me … sad.  The writer had nice things to say about herb tea and the fact it is caffeine free and can be part of a weight loss plan as it would encourage you to drink more liquids which is always important in the summer months.  However, the selection of herbal teas suggested was Chamomile or Peppermint or Lemon.  Now I am the first to suggest a lemon herbal tea, but this person was just advocating lemons as tea and never mentioned a single lemon herb by name.  I think that is lemonade.

 As I puzzled over a well written but totally useless article on herbal tea, I decided that the only counter action for this was to provide a better article.  So here you have my version.

Three Herbal Teas to Drink Daily

The title is misleading as i do not advocate only three teas, but rather three good herbs flavors to use in crafting an herbal tea.  Herb tea is best when 3 or more herbs are used together.  So check out what the herbs go with and then begin crafting an herbal tea that is both flavor filled and satisfiying.  At the end I have provided a few recipes to try.

Lemon herbs are perfect herbs for refreshing tea and most contain antioxidants which keep your liver and pancreas healthy. All the various lemon herbs will blend well with mint and any sweet flavors, but also with flowers like violets, calendula, chamomile and lavender.

Lemon Balm is high in flavonoids, which can have an antioxidant effect.  This versatile herb contains volatile oils that ease stress and buoy bad moods and it contains both Vitamin C and Thiamin (a B vitamin) making it a great wake-up herb.  Lemon Balm can be used for a variety of ailments including fatigue, cold sores, and stomach issues. of all the ingredients I use in tea this is the most common. My favorite tea using lemon balm is Lemon Lavender Splash.

lemon thyme

While Lemongrass, a renowned anti-fungal, is also great for relaxation and restful sleep and is known to relieve nausea and aid indigestion.   It also helps relieve of constipation, keeping the bowels working properly and removing toxins to keep the body healthy and energetic and that does not even get into its antioxidant properties.  Blended with ginger, it can become a powerful digestive which has the combined effect of creating a tea that is at once calming to the nerves and soothing to the digestive tract.

And Lemon Thyme will lend antiseptic properties.  Common thyme has a minty undertone that becomes less obvious with lemon thyme, but still makes it a good herb to blend with mint.  The immune-enhancing properties are part of it being an excellent antioxidant.  Lemon thyme is rich in antibacterial and antispasmodic properties too. Using it in tea will help cold symptoms, allergy symptoms and improve the ability to keep colds at bay. Both lemon thyme and Lemon grass figure as important flavors in my Zesty Lemon Herb Tea.

Lemon mint and lemon geranium can also be used to add a hint of lemon scent or flavor to tea especially with sweeter herbs like roses, lavender and chamomile.  Lemon peel can also be used to increase the soothing and digestive properties as well as increasing the lemon flavor of tea.

Peppermint in a tea will aid digestion, bring cooling, improve mood and enhance your imagination and creative thinking. It has a very strong aroma, as well as flavor of mint because of its high menthol content.  Peppermint is also versatile, good for stomach aches, stomach pains, stomach cramps or diarrhea.  It contains good amounts of potassium, calcium and vitamin B making it a great morning or afternoon pick-me-up especially blended with lemon herbs and those with a less sweet character like thyme and marjoram. You get the combined benefit of lemon balm and peppermint in my Lemon Peppermint Cooler tea.

Chamomile is a relaxation herb.  It is soothing in stressful times as well as an aid to sleep.  It is a perfect choice for the late afternoon or even before bed tea drinking.  Its apple-like taste combines well with mint or hibiscus and is a great flavor with roobios (Honey Bush Red Tea) which is also caffeine free.  Hibiscus is gaining popularity because of its ability to lower blood pressure so taking this in the evening can only enhance that wind down to bedtime.  Adding in a few pieces of fresh or dried apple to your tea will bring out the apple flavor of chamomile and give you a taste you will come back to again and again.  Just add a couple slices of apple to a blend with Chamomile to see what I mean. We use Chamomile in several teas, but my favorite is Tea Time Tea.

RECIPES

Now for some recipes to get you started.

HERBAL WATER

This recipe is from Karen Langan and I read it in Lemon Balm: An Herb Society of America Guide.  I included it first in case you really do want to use herbs with weight loss or summer hydration, as an herb water is less of a diuretic than herbal tea.  I love that you can change the recipe by choosing your own "mystery herb."

1 handful of lemon balm

½ handful of pineapple sage

½ handful orange mint

¼ handful mystery herb (like rose, lime basil, or rose scented geranium) in 2 quarts of water

Six hours before drinking it, gather the herbs, wash them gently in cold water and place them in a jug of water. Place the jug in the fridge so that is refreshingly chilled for family or guests.  Any citrus herb, scented geranium, mint or other sweet flavored herbs can be substituted.

Lemon Balm Fatigue Tea

Equal parts:

   nettle

   raspberry leaf

   oat tops

  lemon balm

 1/4 part each:

    finely chopped Licorice root

    finely chopped Ginger root

Mix all the herbs together.  Use 1 to 2 tsp. per cup of hot water and steep 5 to 7 minutes or more in hot water. Drink 3 cups daily.

Lemon Balm Mood Tea

Equal parts:

   Lemon balm

   Oat tops (oat straw)

Pinch of peppermint

For straight-up tea, pour 8 ounces boiling water over 1 to 2 tea mixture dried lemon-balm leaf.

Cough-Control Tea

2 parts lemon peel

1 part sage

1/2 part lemon thyme

Fresh lemon juice

honey

Pour one cup of hot water over  3 ½ tsp. of herb mixture.  Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain tea, then add juice of 1/2 lemon and 1 Tablespoon honey.   Drink two to three cups daily for cough relief. 

Peppermint Sun Tea

12 stalks fresh mint

2 quarts water

Place mint and water in half gallon jar - on a sunny day. Cover jar and set in the sun for at least 6-8 hours. Strain and serve warm or chilled with a sprig of mint.

Lemon Mint Iced Tea

4 Tbls. Lemon Balm or Lemon Grass

2 Tbls. Lemon Thyme

2 tsp. peppermint

lemon juice

lime juice

Combine 6 tsp. tea blend with 8-ounces boiling water and steep for 5 minutes. Strain tea and add 24 ounces of cold water. Pour over ice; add 1 tsp. lemon and ½ tsp. lime juice and stir. Serve in 4 tall glasses with ice and lemon slices or lemon balm sprigs. To make this as a hot tea, use 2 tsp. of blend per cup of hot water and flavor each cup with a splash of lemon or lime juice.

Lemongrass and Ginger Iced Tea½ cup of sugar (or honey)
Stalk of lemongrass (cut into 2-inch lengths) (about ¼ cup)
About 7 1-inch diameter or larger slices of ginger root, finely chopped

5 cups water
3 to 5 Green tea bags

Directions
First step is to rinse the lemongrass and chop it into 2'' in length. With the flat side of the knife crush the lemongrass. This will release more essential oils for taste and flavor during steeping.  Now take a kettle or saucepan and add 5 cups of water to it, ½ cup of sugar, lemongrass and finely chopped slices of ginger to the pot. Bring all this to boil. Once it boils, take it off the stove and add 3 to 5 bags of green tea to it. Steep it for about 5 minutes until the flavor is released (the steeping depends on how strong you wish the tea to be). Immediately discard the tea bags and let the tea cool down for about 30 minutes. After it is cool, pour the entire mixture into a pitcher and keep in the refrigerator for about 2 hours. After a few hours, drink this tasty ginger lemongrass tea by pouring it into a fine tall glass filled with ice and lemon slices.  Enjoy!  For a no caffeine version, double the amount of lemon grass and leave out the green tea.

Lemongrass Iced Tea - Cambodian RecipeThis is an authentic recipe which comes all the way from Senteurs D'Angkor, a company selling foods and spices. Be aware that you can substitute Rooibos tea if you want the flavor of black tea but want to avoid the caffeine.

4 cups of water
1 tablespoon of chopped lemongrass
8 limes, juiced
1 cup of sugar (or to taste)
Ice cubes
4 black tea bags (or about 4 tsp. loose tea)
1 small bunch of fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions
Take a large saucepan and add the measured amount of water and desired amount of sugar to it and bring it to boil. Next add lemongrass and the juice of 8 limes to the pan and simmer it for about 5 minutes. Then turn off the stove and add the black tea bags. Steep for 2 to 5 minutes depending on strength desired.  Strain the mixture and allow to cool. Then take a container or a shaker filled with ice cubes and add the lemongrass tea to it. Shake the entire mixture vigorously for a good 30 seconds and serve chilled. For extra decoration, you can add chopped cilantro leaves and slices of lime to the tea.