While I like the scent in the garden, I find the flavor overpowering on its own in tea. Rich in vitamin C and anti-inflammatory compounds, ground ivy tea is used for treating pain and respiratory illness. A member of the mint family, creeping Charlie (also known as ground ivy and numerous other names, many of them unprintable) has a strong flavor that many people find bracing. That notorious usurper of lawns turns out to be a useful tea ingredient. Choose the brightest flowers before they begin to turn brown. White clover can be used as well, though its flavor and medicinal properties are considered less potent. Clover blossoms are rich in isoflavones and contain minerals like magnesium and potassium. They may also benefit cholesterol levels. Red cloverĪ popular addition to herbal teas, clover blossoms add natural sweetness and are used by herbalists to treat hormonal issues, especially symptoms of menopause and PMS.

Choose young twigs and leaves for the best flavor. The flavor of birch twigs has been likened to wintergreen. Birch is considered a good detoxifier and contains anti-inflammatory compounds helpful in treating pain from conditions like arthritis. The twigs and leaves of birch trees can be used to make a flavorful and healthy tea. Bee balm’s medicinal uses include relaxation, pain relief, and digestive support. Use the oregano-flavored leaves for cooking instead. If you’re not sure what you’ve got, a little taste of the leaf should tell you all you need to know. Its oregano flavor did not make for a lovely tea at all! Stick with monarda didyma if you’re planning to brew tea from bee balm. I was disappointed when I brewed my first pot of bergamot harvested from my garden. Be forewarned that different varieties have very different flavors. When American colonists boycotted British tea, they turned to Oswego tea, the beverage brewed by the Oswego Nation from bee balm ( monarda didyma).

Often called bergamot, these bee-pleasing additions to your garden emit a lovely scent similar to the (unrelated) bergamot fruit, used to flavor Earl Grey tea.

Tree leaf guide for wv