The Simple Ritual of a Cup of Tea
...and why I share this guide in workshops and community spaces
At Wild Thistle Herbs & Alchemy, I love sharing simple, nourishing ways to connect with nature—especially the kind you can do right from your own backyard (or even a sunny windowsill). One of the handouts I often include in my workshops is a little guide called Fresh Herbal Tea Infusion. It's a beautiful reminder that you don’t need a fancy setup or exotic ingredients to care for your body and spirit—just a few fresh herbs, a moment of stillness, and a cup of tea.
If you’ve ever grown mint in a pot or lemon balm in a garden bed, you already have what you need to begin.
🌿 Fresh Herbal Tea Infusion
Ingredients:
• 2–3 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as mint, chamomile, or lemon balm)
• 8–10 oz boiling water
• Optional: honey or lemon
Instructions:
Lightly bruise or tear your fresh herbs to release their aroma and beneficial compounds.
Place them directly into a mug or in a small muslin bag.
Pour boiling water over the herbs and cover the mug with a lid or small plate (to keep in the volatile oils).
Let steep for about 10 - 15 minutes.
Strain, sweeten if you'd like, and sip slowly, breathing in the aroma is part of the experience.
Even just brushing up against a plant, inhaling its scent, or watching it grow can offer a moment of calm and connection to nature. The act of gathering herbs from your garden and preparing a fresh tea is more than just practical; it's deeply nourishing.
And here’s the part I love: pausing like this has ripple effects. When we take a few minutes to brew tea with our own hands and herbs, we send a message to our nervous system that it’s safe to soften. That pause, no matter how brief, can shift us from stress to calm, from doing to being. It doesn't require a lot of time, but it can create a powerful transformation in how we feel.
So if you’ve got some herbs growing near your doorstep, or a friend with an abundance of mint, I hope you’ll give this a try. And if you join me at a future workshop, you might just find the ritual of sipping tea to be a part of our experience together.
If you'd like more simple, seasonal wisdom like this delivered to your inbox—along with workshop updates and herbal inspiration, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. It’s one of my favorite ways to stay connected with this growing community of plant-loving folks.
