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I am happy to introduce to you to CeAnne Kosel of St. Fiacre’s Farm. St. Fiacre’s Farm specializes in loose leaf teas made from high-quality ingredients in Oregan. Read on about 7 herbal tea flowers recommended and used on her farm.
BBC and Whole Foods are predicting that 2018 will be the year that tea beats out coffee. Not only that floral flavors, especially rose and lavender, will be the most popular. http://fortune.com/2017/11/06/whole-foods-food-trends-2018/ Being a fan of herbal medicine, tea and flowers have a more in-depth meaning to us here on the farm.
We blend several teas on our farm. From chai to earl grey and in-between. What we are most known for though are our herbal blends that feature locally grown botanicals, fruits, and berries. Today I wanted to share with you seven different flowers that are simple to grow and easy to use for herbal tea.
Roses
Roses are a fairly common flower in most yards. Nearly any variety of rose bush will work. You DO want to make sure that the rose bush has never been sprayed with chemicals before using for tea. Rose petals will add a slightly sweet and floral flavor tea. Rose petals and rose hips are high in vitamin C. Rose petals can aide with digestion and headaches.
Calendula
Calendula flowers are one of the first edible flowers we grew on the farm. This lovely sunshiny filled flower got us started on our herbal tea journey. These flowers are super hardy, and here, in Oregon, they grow all but a few months of the year. Calendula have a wealth of benefits for the skin but they are also anti-inflammatory and asset with oral health. Learn 6 ways to use Calendula over on our blog. http://www.stfiacres.com/blog/video-harvesting-and-using-calendula
Chamomile
The queen of all tea flowers, this is probably the most common flower used for tea. Chamomile’s tiny little yellow bud with delicate white petals can sometimes be found growing wild. This flower steeps a very floral tea that has a brownish yellow hue to it. It is well known for its ability to calm the nerves. By itself, it makes an excellent night time tea but is also great blended with other florals as well.
Bachelor Buttons
Also known as cornflowers, bachelor buttons make a beautiful addition to any tea. While they do not pack much flavor they can still be helpful in fighting fevers, aiding constipation and helpful in stimulating the gallbladders natural actions. There are many different colors to choose from: blue, white, pink and even purple. They make a beautiful edible confetti and may be blended with sugar to rim the edge of your teacup.
Lavender Buds
Lavender, another common floral in the garden, can be used in many different teas. A culinary lavender is best suited for this job. A variety that is too strong in flavor may cause the tea to taste like soap and not be very enjoyable. Culinary varieties avoid this and add an excellent addition to many teas. Try slipping some into a cup of earl grey next time to an added treat. Lavender is also helpful in improving sleep, as well as being calming and relaxing.
Zinnias
We planted these beauties in our garden late last year. They were so abundant and lasted well into the fall. Their beautiful colored petals contribute their beauty to any tea blend. While there is not much flavor to zinnias, compared to other florals, they can also aid in constipation. These beautiful flowers are also highly helpful in the garden helping to attract pollinators.
Marigolds
Marigolds are popular in the garden to help deter pests. They also add a bright brilliant yellow (and other colors) to herbal teas. These flowers are great at keeping pests at bay because of their strong scent so this is a flower that is best used lightly in herbal tea blends. We like to pair it with deep rich blends to give them a nice contrasting color where the flavor of the marigold won’t take over. Marigolds are anti-inflammatory as well as a diuretic.
There are many more edible flowers that can be used in tea such was: borage, violets, jasmine, and others. If you would like to learn more about tea we invite you to download our free loose leaf tea steeping guide. It includes 10 ways to steep tea and a tea time steeping chart. http://www.stfiacres.com/10waystosteep.html Flowers make a great way to add beauty, flavor and medicinal qualities to your herbal blends and dishes. Which ones would you like to grow in your garden this year?
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