The tea herb garden has its origins in Japan. The entrance to every tea house is graced by an exotic and unique tea herb garden. Taking tea in the tea house is an honored ritual which is called “cha no yu” in Japanese. This spiritual ceremony is meant to calm the senses and the soul. The aesthetic tea garden is a treat to the eyes and its simplicity, a pleasant diversion from the daily routine and hence can be very rejuvenating. The tranquility and the greenery of the tea house is captivating and the visitors walk through the “cha niwa” or the dewy path to the tea house at slow pace and enjoy the most flavored herbal tea. The visitors should remove the shoes and bend to enter the low door of the tea house. To have the entire attention and focus in preparing and savoring tea, the house has one small window to let in light, simple flower arrangement and an optional scroll painting to reflect the flavor of the season. The home tea garden draws its inspiration from the rustic and traditional country farmyards and is designed with smooth river stones and bamboo your highest truth.

Essential Tea Garden Elements

The essentials elements of a contemporary tea herb garden at home are explained below.

Provide a marvelous bamboo gate entrance to the tea herb garden.
Use slender bamboo fence to surround or demarcate the tea herb garden.
For washing hands and feet, place a stone basin with a dipper near the entrance.
Use flat stepping stones that can be smooth river stones surrounded by moss or small herbs with rounded edges.
To create a harmonious palette of greens and serenity, flowers are not used in traditional tea gardens.

Here are just a few of the herbs you might want to consider for your wonder tea herb garden:

Chamomile: Chamomile is good for the nervous system. Only the flowers of this fragrant herb are used while making tea.

Lemon Balm: This herb gives lemon flavor, use with a touch of mint for a soothing cup of tea. Lemon balm is very beneficial in treating sore throat, headaches, itching and respiratory problems.

Lemon Verbena: An excellent herb to grow in a sunny spot, it makes delicious tea. It is an excellent expectorant, anti-spasmodic and helps in digestion.

Mint: Spearmint, peppermint, orange mint all are powerful anti-oxidants that make wonderful teas, alone or along with chamomile or any of the lemon herbs.

Rosemary: Use rosemary leaves in the tea for aroma and increasing blood circulation. This herb has stimulant and analgesic properties.

Preparing tea under the sun

A totally different way to traditional brewed tea, fun and energy-efficient alternative is to prepare tea in the sun. Add a handful of crushed herbs in a clean, large glass jar and fill it with cold water. Put on a lid and place the jar in the sun. It can remain in sun for hours getting only better flavour and not bitterness. This is because it does not boil, sun-rays heat it only to a specific temperature. Remember to consume it once the sun is gone within eight hours.

Here are some precautions to follow:

Always use a sterile and clean jar for brewing tea in the sun.
Drink the tea as soon as it is ready; never let it sit at room temperature.
Strong to moderate sun rays are required to achieve the right flavor and taste for at least 3 to 4 hours.
Stir in a little honey to sweeten, pour over ice and enjoy the tea.
Discard the tea if it appears thick or like syrup, that is bacteria forming in the tea.

With more than sixty recipes to select from, understanding the nuances of preparing herbal trees is a bit confusing. But the method mostly remains same, the ingredients will change. Herbal teas can be made with fresh or dried herbs and enjoyed either hot or cold. Relish the most popular beverage enjoyed in the world in its hot or cold form. Tea is probably the most sought beverage in the world, most probably after coffee.

Herbal tea is equally popular in America, England and other countries as it is in Asia. It is a delight and finds favor across the globe. A stroll to the tea herb garden and savoring fresh herbal tea which heals and is caffeine free, will take you away from the chaos, the hustle and bustle of the city as if you are in a country house.