Creating a Tea Garden: Part 3- From Leaves

Fun Fact: It takes approximately 2,000 tiny leaves to make just one pound of finished tea. Better get planting! Here is part 3 of the Tea Garden information.

This section on how to properly harvest tea is amazing and belongs to How do you harvest tea leaves correctly? I could never have written it any better so all credit goes to author Liu Xiaohui

Properly harvesting tea leaves determines the final quality of your brewed cup of tea. I learned this through some trial and error on my tea farm in Vermont. First, it is important to understand what leaves to pick or cut during a spring growth spurt: the first two leaves and terminal bud. When harvesting, a pair of stainless steel snips will work well (make sure to sterilize them with an alcohol wipe), as you don’t want any ragged cuts that might invite disease. After harvesting, it is critical to process your leaves – as in hulling them or processing them into a green or black variety – within two hours so you do not lose the freshness of the leaves.

Timing & Selection

• Pluck leaves 8-10AM after dew evaporates
• Choose stems with 4-6 mature leaves below new growth
• Discard any leaves with yellowing or insect damage

Tool Maintenance

• Disinfect shears between plants with 70% isopropyl
• Sharpen blades weekly during peak season
• Store tools in dry silica gel packs post-use

Post-Harvest Processing

• Green tea: Steam leaves within 30 minutes
• Black tea: Ferment in 80% humidity for 24-72hrs
• White tea: Air-dry intact buds for 48hrs minimum

Tea Type	Harvest Window	Oxidation Level
Green	Early spring buds	0%
Oolong	Late spring growth	30-70%
Black	Mature summer leaves	100%

Based on Japanese and Chinese agricultural standards

Local rituals influence harvest practices. In Kyoto, growers will generally hand-roll leaves immediately after harvest into tight your needles, or if no rolling occurs, the leaves are still formed into tightly pressed cakes. In Darjeeling, growing estates may decide to ‘pluck’ the entire terminal stem for a complex muscatel aroma. Experimental evidence shows that leaves harvested in the afternoon provide 12% more theanine per gram of fabricated leaf than the morning pick, but caffeine content was diminished by 15%.

Immediate Processing

• Spread leaves on bamboo trays in single layers
• Avoid plastic containers – use stainless steel or glass
• Weigh batches to track moisture loss percentages

Long-Term Preservation

• Vacuum-seal with oxygen absorbers at 35% RH
• Store below 40°F (4°C) for green/white teas
• Label containers with harvest date and elevation data

Thank you for growing and harvesting safely. Enjoy recipes for making your own Tea from leaves.

Anise Hyssop

Botanical name- agastache foeniculum

Health Benefit: May help with liver and gall bladder conditions, and intestinal gas

• 8-12 ounces of water to a boil
• 1 tablespoon of dried hyssop leaves

1. Pour the water over the dried leaves in diffuser.
2. Allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes
3. Add honey and a teaspoon of lemon juice for flavor.

Basil

Botanical name -ocimum basilicu

Health benefit: May help with Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, also bowl issues

• 2 tablespoons of fresh basil finely chopped ·
• 1 cup boiling water ·
• optional – 4 drops lemon juice ·
• 1/8 tsp fresh ginger grated ·
• optional – honey

1. Pour the water over the fresh leaves in the diffuser. 2. Allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes 3. Add honey, lemon and ginger for flavor.

Echinacea

Botanical name-echinacea augustifolia

Health benefit: May relieve pain and improve mood

This can be made with either fresh or dried plant material.

• 1/4 cup of loose leaf dried echinacea
• or 1/2 cup fresh homegrown echinacea
• 8 ounces of boiling water

1. Pour the boiling water over the herb.
2. Allow the mixture to steep for about 15 minutes.

Feverfew

Botanical name – tanacetum partenium ( also known as wild chamomile)

Health benefit: May help with muscle spasms and reduce inflammation

• 1/4 cup of fresh leaves and blooms
• or 2 tablespoons dried leaves or blooms
• 1 cup of boiling water

1. Allow to steep for five minutes
2. Strain and cool.

Guava

Botanical name- Psidium guajava

Health benefit: may help revive a fainted person and chewed leaves counteract diarrhea

• 5 to 10 fresh guava leaves
• 8oz boiling water

1. wash fresh guava leaves thoroughly with clean water.
2. Place them inside a glass or plastic jar.
3. add your hot water on top of the leaves.
4. Let the leaves to fully steeped in the water for about 15-20 minutes.

Horehound

Botanical name – marrubiun vulgare

Health benefit: May help with bronchial secretions and eliminate mucus

• Tea can be made with either 1 cup fresh leaves
• or 1/4 cup dried horehound leaves
• 2 cups boiling water

1. slightly chopped fresh leaves
2. Allow to steep 

Lemon balm

Botanical name- melissa officinalis

Health benefit: May help improve sleep and reduce stress and anxiety

• 1 cup of boiling water
• 1 rounded tablespoon of the leaves

1. Cover and steep for 20 minutes.
2. Strain 

Lemon verbena

Botanical name- aloysia triphylla

Health Benefit: may help sooth stomach cramps and menstrual pain

• 3 lemon verbena leaves
• 4 cups of boiling water.

1. steep for 15 minutes
2. Serve hot or iced

Lemon grass

Botanical name-cymbopogon citratusol

Health Benefits: may lower cholesterol and relieving pain

• 1 Lemon grass stalk-trimmed and quartered
• 1 rosemary sprig
• 2 fresh thyme sprigs
• 1 liter of boiling water

1. Peel away the tough outer layers to reveal the pale lower section of the stem. Use a sharp knife to trim the base.
2. Press the stem with the flat side of a knife to bruise and release the flavor.
3. in a 1.5-liter ceramic teapot with lid place ingredients in a cover with lid.
4. Set aside for 5 minutes for flavors to develop.
5. Strain. Serve.

Lemon or Orange Thyme

Botanical name- thymus citriodorus & thymus citriodorus fragrantissimus

Health Benefits: may calm nervous system and calm coughs

• 3 thyme sprigs-chopped

1 1/2 cup of boiling water.

1. Allow the mixture to steep for 5-10 minutes; the longer it steeps, the stronger the tea will be.
2. Strain the leaves out of the tea

Winter or Summer Savory

Botanical name-satureja montanta

Health benefits: May help with intestinal disorders and premature ejaculation

• 2 sprigs of Winter Savory
• 1 1/2 cup of boiling water.

1. Allow the mixture to steep for 5-10 minutes; the longer it steeps, the stronger the tea will be.
2. Strain the leaves out of the tea

Peppermint

Botanical name-mentha x piperita

Health benefits: may help with digestion and improve concentration

• 15 to 20 fresh mint leaves
• 2 cups boiling water

1. Turn off the heat, and steep 10 to 15 minutes or until the desired strength is achieved. 2. Strain leaves (or chew them if you don’t mind the texture and they are small) 3. serve warm with a drizzle of honey and squeeze of lemon.

Other mint varieties that will work as well.

Apple mint – mentha suaveolens

Black pepperment – mentha x piperita

Spearmint – mentha spicata

Chocolate mintv- mentha x piperita chocolate

Motherwort

Botantical name-leonurus cardiaca

Health benefits: may help with decreasing blood pressure and anxiety due to stress

• 1-2 teaspoons of dry motherwort leaves
• 2 cups of boiling water to the teapot.

1. Allow the mixture to steep for 5-10 minutes; the longer it steeps, the stronger the tea will be.
2. Strain the leaves out of the tea

Mugwort

Botanical Name- artemisia vulgaris

Health benefits: May reduce anxiety and depression and promote dream retention

You can use, seeds, leaves or Flowers

• 1 or 1.5 heaped teaspoons of mugwort
• 8 to 10 of boiling water

1. In a teapot or French press, pour the water over the tea.
2. Cover and leave to infuse for 8-10 minutes.
3. Strain out the mugwort and serve.

Nasturtium

Botanical name- tropaeolum

Health benefit: may improve immune system and help with sore throats, coughs and colds

• 1 or 1.5 heaped teaspoons of nasturtium leaves
• 8 to 10 of boiling water

1. In a teapot or French press, pour the water over the tea.
2. Cover and leave to infuse for 8-10 minutes. 3. Strain out the nasturtium and serve.

Passionflower

Passion Flower

Botanical name- passiflora app

Health Benefit: may help with relaxation and enhance mood

• 1-2 teaspoons of dry passionflower leaves
• 2 cups of boiling water to the teapot.

1. Allow the mixture to steep for 10-15 minutes; the longer it steeps, the stronger the tea will be.
2. Strain. Optional: Sweeten with a touch of honey.

Rosemary

Botanical name- rosmarinus offinalis

Health benefit: may help with hair growth and improve mood and memory

• 10 ounces boiling water
• 1 teaspoon of loose rosemary leaves

1. Add leaves in an infuser to water and steep for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Strain the rosemary leaves from the hot water

Sage

Botanical name-salvia offcinalis

Health benefit: may health with healthy skin and wound healing

• 1tablespoon fresh sage leaves or 1 teaspoon dried sage rolled or crushed
• 1cup water
• 1 wedge lemon (optional)
• honey, to sweeten (optional)

1. Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and put sage in the water. Let steep for about 3-5 minutes.
2. Strain, pour in cup, add lemon and honey, if desired, and drink. You may drink this hot or cold.

Pineapple sage

Botanical name-salvia elegans scarlet pineapple

Health benefits: may aid in digestion and calm nerves

• 1tablespoon fresh pineapple sage leaves or 1 teaspoon dried pineapple sage rolled or crushed
• 1cup water

1. Bring water to a boil. Remove from heat and put sage in the water, with its delicate flavor, needs 15-20 minutes to infuse.
2. Strain, pour in cup, and drink