One of our simple, seasonal treats is a refreshing cup of mint tea, made with freshly-picked mint from our herb garden. (We grow the mint in a separate herb/flowerbed, so that it doesn’t take over our produce garden.)
Using homegrown herbs for tea is a frugal (and delicious!) alternative to buying packaged teas. A fresh pitcher of tea is a lovely addition to a summer meal, especially when shared with company. (Ah, a true treasure of a simple life!)
When sweetened, this tea reminds us of the sweet “after dinner” tea served at our favorite Moroccan restaurant. But if you prefer it unsweetened, you can omit the sugar/honey. I like to use sucanat or honey when sweetening the tea.
Rose-Mint Delight Tea
10 Cups Water
1/2 – 1 Cup (to taste) Sucanat or Honey
1 cup Fresh organic Peppermint Leaves
1 Tbl. Lemon Juice (optional)
Sprinkle of organic Rose Petals (optional)
Additional Mint Leaves and/or Rose Petals, for garnish (optional)Bring combine 2 cups water and desired amount of sugar in a saucepan, and bring to boil. Once it comes to a boil, pour over the mint leaves and rose petals, and let it steep for 30 minutes (at least). Let tea cool, and add lemon juice and remaining water. (Remove mint leaves and petals, if desired.) You can add additional fresh mint leaves and/or rose petals for garnish, if desired.
Serve hot or cold. Makes 1/2 gallon.
When I shared about this tea on Facebook, one lovely reader posted the reminder that mint can decrease milk supply in nursing mamas, so use discerningly. 
Do YOU make fresh herbal teas in the summer? What are your favorites?
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This post is #101 in our Living a Simple Life series, and is part of The Grocery Cart Challenge recipe swap and Frugal Friday.
YUM! I love mint tea!
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I have tried fresh mint tea hot but not cold. I bet it’s great! Thanks for the idea.
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We enjoy mint tea too, both hot and cold. I have never tried it with rose petals however. Does it add much flavor?
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Michele Reply:
August 13th, 2010 at 10:46 am
@Abbi, Really fragrant rose petals will add the most flavor, but it depends on how much you add. Have fun experimenting!
Some Moroccan tea recipes will actually add some culinary rose water.
Blessings,
Michele
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Yummy! I love mint teas. I’ll give this a try!
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I make fresh mint as well. So refreshing!! Other than that I just buy my teas. I can’t wait until my peppermint grows more!
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We love pomegranate tea this summer! I am trying to encourage alternative beverages to coke and tea is great for this!
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Michele Reply:
August 28th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
@amanda, Pomegranate sounds delicious!
Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Michele
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I am looking forward to the arrival of summer and thus the beginning of tea season at our house. I grow lemon verbenna, various mints, sage, lemon melisse, and stevia in our garden. The kids love learning which plants they can use for tea.
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[...] pitcher of iced tea, such as my sweet Rose-Mint Delight Tea, will be welcomed on a hot summer day, and a relaxing pot of hot tea is soothing on a chilly, rainy [...]
I just divided my pot of mint from last year into three new pots (it just grows and grows!)Question – if using fresh mint leaves for this recipe, is the one cup loose or one cup packed tight? And do different varieties of mint work just as well? I think I have spearmint and peppermint both.
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Michele Reply:
April 19th, 2012 at 5:25 pm
@Rebecca, I make mine pretty loosely packed. I think my mint plant is peppermint, but a combo of different types is fun, too; we use a mint blend in our coffeehouse,
Blessings, Michele
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