How to Make Homemade Mint Tea

How to Make Homemade Mint Tea? 10 Delicious Mint Tea Recipes You Should Try

You have probably noticed mint dominating your garden. Don’t just ignore it because you can make something healthy and beneficial for it. 

How about making tea out of this nutritious plant? Read through to learn how to make homemade mint tea. There are also delicious recipes that you can try at home.

Mint Tea: An Overview

The herb mint outlines its origin to ancient mythology stories such as its association with metamorphosed beauty. Mint is native to North America, Australia, southern Africa, and North America. 

It was then distributed across the world’s temperate areas and naturalized in different places.

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Mint is used as a scent for the arms in Ancient Athens. The Romans introduced it in England where John Gardiner called it “myntys.” 

Mint was an ingredient in toothpaste for teeth whitening during the 14th Century. Physician and astrologer Culpepper used mint in treating different ailments.

However, he suggests not administering it to a wounded person as it prevents its healing. 

Since the 1970s, Americans have been enjoying the mints, especially after their meal. The plant was then used for medication such as digestive problems. 

It continued making its history in the U.S. until the Lifesaver mint was introduced in 1912.  Eventually, mint expands to the confectionery industry.

Candy manufacturers then develop variations of it in different flavors. You now have a wide range of options on how to use or eat mints. 

easy mint tea recipe

Interesting Facts About Mint Tea

If you have not tried mint tea yet, the following facts will hit up your interest.

  • Mint tea is rich in nutrients. 
  • Mint leaves are jam-packed with Vitamin A, which is vital for night vision and eye health. Its Vitamin C and B2 for cell protection and the breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates, respectively.
  • Also, mint contains copper, magnesium, and calcium.
  • Drinking mint tea makes you feel cool and relaxed. Mint comes with menthol, making it a significant source of discomfort relief.
  • It treats skin burns and relieves respiratory difficulties. Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome drink mint tea for relief. 
  • The salicylic acid and menthol content of mint works wonders on your muscles and skin. It brightens skin complexion and relaxes muscles while acting on your blemishes. Its Vitamin A lessens oil secretion in the skin.
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  • Mint tea can be aromatherapy for the brain. It has a refreshing feeling after every sip of it. Such smell improves memory and other brain functions.
  • Aside from the therapeutic effect of drinking mint tea, it is often used for teeth whitening. 
  • Fresh mint is ever present in mint juleps and mojitos. It flavors Crème de menthe liqueur that is used to mix grasshoppers and stingers.
  • Fresh or dry, you can always prepare mint for a refreshment. Mints are not just for your teas, but also chocolates, chewing gums, cookies, and candies.

How to Steep Mint Tea

Steep mint tea like an expert no matter what time in the day. You need to steep mint in hot water to brew tea. This process extracts the health compounds and flavor from the herb.

Take note that the techniques of steeping vary depending on the herb you are brewing. 

For this write-up, we will focus on the herb mint. Enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of tea every time through the best ways of steeping the mint.

 Let us learn about the significant factors to consider when steeping tea.

Use Fresh Ingredients

It is always best to use fresh mint right after its purchase or cut. You may use dried mint tea leaves with their long shelf life as long as they are kept out of direct light and kept in an airtight container.

On the other hand, the extended storage times may have a negative effect on the flavor, aroma, and quality of the tea.

Teas are rich in polyphenol antioxidant compounds including theaflavins, thearubigins, and catechins.

These compounds are responsible for the health benefits of teas. However, they degrade over time.

Also, the quality of water used in brewing greatly affects your tea’s flavor.

Tap water treated with chlorine or high in minerals likely impart an off-flavor on your tea. It is advisable to use cold, filtered, and freshwater when you brew.

Time and Temperature

Steeping extracts tea caffeine, aromas, flavors, and antioxidants. It will take you five minutes to brew mint tea with hot water. 

Meanwhile, 12 hours is what it takes for brewing it with cold water producing smoother tasting tea, and with high antioxidants.

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How Long Should Mint Tea Steep

Although there is no exact science in mint tea steeping time, it is advisable to do an experiment and find out what taste suits you right.

 Meanwhile, there are general guidelines to consider on how to make homemade mint tea. 

According to studies, a longer steeping time or hotter temperature is not that better. The brewed tea was found to have a low aroma, flavor, color, and overall acceptability.

On the contrary, you will not be able to extract enough antioxidants and flavors if your steeping time is too short.

Using hot water to steep your tea is the quickest way to brew your mint. It is good to steep mint tea for up to 15 minutes or according to the instructions of its manufacturers. 

You might opt for cold steeping if you want to sip your mint tea iced. In cold to room-temperature water, steeping the tea produces a more aromatic and less bitter taste for higher antioxidants. 

Take note that brewing time becomes longer as the steeping temperature lowers.   

Cold steeping can be as long as 12 hours, and this extracts and retains more polyphenols than in hot steeping. There is an alternative for this though. 

Try to steep the tea for 3-5 minutes then add ice to come up with similar antioxidant content and taste as the 12-hour cold steeping method.

Read More:

How to Dry Mint for Tea

How Do You Prepare Mint Tea?

Generally, you may have known that there is only one way of making a cup of tea: adding hot water and then waiting. However, tea lovers may want to find out details of a greatly steeped tea. 

how to make mint tea at home

The techniques and styles for tea preparation also differ. Since the preparation of teas varies according to their variety, we will focus on the preparation of mint tea.

Remember to learn the significant factors to consider in the preparation. These may include the following:

Use of good tea

Try using fresh and loose-leaf tea to gain the best results. 

Use of good water

Always start with good water as it makes up over 90% of the product. Consider the variation of mint tea’s taste and quality between locales.

 You will probably come up with an excellent tea if your water tastes good, though it is out of the tap. 

Any unpleasant taste like chlorine, earthiness, metallic, etc. will just come through your tea. When this happens, you may just use a water filter available at any store near you. You may also try using spring water. 

Heating of the pot

Just put a small amount of hot water into your pot before making your tea. It is always advisable to make your tea with fresh water.

Avoid using previously boiled water or the water that has been sitting around.

Measurement of the amount of tea

By standard, use one rounded measuring teaspoon or three grams of tea for every 8-ounce cup of water. Include the leaf when getting the measurement. 

Measurement of Water Temperature

As earlier mentioned, fresh teas require different water temperatures when you steep them. Make sure that the water temperature in preparing your mint tea is at 212 degrees. 

You may notice that its temperature is right when it is in a full and rolling boil.

Using boiling water is a common error that people practice when preparing their tea because this produces a bitter taste. Use visual cues or a thermometer to gauge the exact temperature of the water. 

Leaf Expansion

There should be room for the mint leaf to expand three to five times in its size when it steeps. brew loose leaf in the pot then straining works well just like when using T-sacs and tea infusers.

This produces the full flavor of the mint tea which is then released into the cup. 

Time to Stop the Steeping Process

When the proper steeping time is already reached, you must separate mint tea leaves from the liquid.

You would not want your tea to taste bitter, right? This step will be a lot easier when you are using filters or T-sacs. Your ready will be ready for serving after removing the leaves.

In preparing mint tea, heat your water to 208 degrees Fahrenheit. Add a teaspoon or one pyramid of loose tea for 6-8 ounces of water to the cup.

 Pour hot water over your tea. Leave the tea steeping for at least five minutes. Add honey or sugar for sweetness.

How to Make Mint Tea from Dried Mint Leaves

While there are bagged teas available, most of them were loose leaves. It may take some effort, but this produces a more flavorful and fresher cup of tea.

In the case of plants like mint, it must be cut as you need its branches for the air-dry method of making tea.

Tie the branches together then hang them. Also, its branches will hold small leaves from falling from the drying racks if you are planning to use a dehydrator.  

How to Make Mint Tea from Dried Mint Leaves

After drying the mint leaves, store them in an airtight container. Check on their days after for the possible presence of moisture. If you notice moisture, take them out then dry them more.

Otherwise, mold will develop, which you need then need to throw out. Storing the dried leaves in a dark place and away from any source of light is the best.

We will assure you that you will enjoy your tea for months.

How to Make Mint Tea from the Garden

Just imagine brewing your tea right from your mint garden. This is a step-by-step process from planting to growing to harvest up to making your tea. 

A great mint tea comes from harvesting the leaf bud and the top two leaves of the plant on its new spring growth.

Its new stems will turn green in contrast to its brown stems from its growth in the previous year. 

Rinse the fresh mint before brewing to prevent dirt, insects, or other contaminants on plants which are likely to taint the tea.

Crush or tear the mint to prevent wasting the flavors and important essential oils since other plant parts are already bruised. 

Next up is heating the leaves before they will dehydrate or oxidize. Steam the leaves for 1-2 minutes then run cold tap water over to stop heating and keep their color. Use a sushi-rolling mat or your bare hands in rolling the leaves to become soft. 

Spread the rolled leaves in a dish then put them in a preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. Turn them after five minutes for even drying.

This process will be done once the leaves are crispy and dry. Last, store the leaves in a sealed container (glass). 

Place six leaves inside the tea bag for brewing, then put the bag in a cup preheated with water. Use boiling water for the tea to steep. Do this in three minutes.

Make sure to strain the tea before you even sip your tea. This is to ensure that all its bits are nowhere to be found in the liquid and its overall flavor will be even. 

Brewing tea right from your garden will be very rewarding. You will have an abundant harvest of mind to come with an amazing mint tea with less care. You will then enjoy drinking your tea throughout the year.

Delicious Mint Tea Recipes You Should Try 

Out of the nutritious and refreshing mint tea, you will be able to come up with different mint tea recipes. Learn how to make homemade mint tea with the following recipes. 

Delicious Mint Tea Recipes

1, Lemon and Mint Tea Recipe

This easy mint tea recipe is easy to prepare in just 10 minutes then cook for another 10 minutes. It yields four to six servings. You may also come up with a mint lemon iced tea recipe, just add ice.

Ingredients:

  • 1 lemon
  • 1 bunch of fresh mint leaves
  • 1 ½ quarts of water

Instructions:

  • Boil water in your saucepan. Peel the lemon but leave its bitter white pith and remove its yellow peel.
  • Add mint leaves and the lemon peel to the boiling water. Stir once, then boil for one minute. 
  • Strain the tea into the teacups then serve it hot. Pass sugar if you desire. 

2, Arabic Mint Tea Recipe:

Note that Arabic mint tea is sweetened with sugar. Add a significant amount of sugar if you would prefer it sweetened. 

This recipe is quick to prepare in two minutes. Its steep time is three minutes and yields four servings.

Ingredients:

  • 4 teaspoons mint tea
  • 4 cups hot water
  • Handful fresh mint leaves
  • Sugar to taste

Instructions:

  • Steep mint tea in hot water for three to four minutes.
  • Strain out the tea then add fresh mint. Steep the mint for two minutes.
  • Pour the tea into the cups and/or mugs, then garnish with a sprig of mint.

3, Hibiscus Mint Tea Recipe

Phenomenal during summer, hibiscus mint tea is excellent when served iced. 

Hibiscus-Mint-Tea-Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 18 hibiscus petals (dried)
  • ½ cup mint leaves (fresh)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or more of this to taste)
  • 3 ½ cups water

Instructions:

  • Boil a stovetop kettle with water. Remove it from the heat then add hibiscus petals, lemon juice, and mint leaves.
  • Stir once or twice then cover. Steep the tea for three to five minutes before serving it iced or cold. 

4, Ginger and Mint Tea Recipe

Have a colorful lemonade-stand upgrade refreshing summer sip of mint and ginger tea. Here’s how to make homemade mint tea with ginger.

Ingredients:

  • 4 bags of mint tea
  • 6 ounces ginger (peeled then smashed using a meat mallet)
  • Mint sprigs
  • 2 tablespoons of honey
  • 8 cups boiling water
  • Ice

Instructions:

  • Combine mint tea, ginger, and boiling water in a large pot. Let it steep for eight minutes.
  • Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve in a container then remove the solids.
  • Stir in honey.
  • Allow it to cool for 2 hours.
  • Serve the tea over ice with the mint sprigs.
Ginger and Mint Tea Recipe

5, Rosemary Mint Tea Recipe

This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prepare and makes two servings. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons rosemary (minced),
  • 2 tablespoons mint (minced),
  • 1 teaspoon orange zest (grated)

Instructions:

  • Put orange and herbs in a teapot
  • Strain the mixture
  • Consume the tea right away
  • If you want to use cranberries, just add them to the water when boiling for five minutes before putting it into the teapot.

6, Iced Mint Tea with Honey Recipe

Prepare a semi-sweet honey mint iced tea, which is perfect for the summer. This recipe will be ready in less than 30 minutes and makes six servings. 

Ingredients:

  • ½ cup mint leaves (fresh)
  • 4 cups boiling water
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tea bags (black or green)

Instructions:

  • Pour boiling water over tea and mint bags in a large pitcher (heat-proof). Whisk in honey. Allow the tea to steep in five minutes.
  • Remove the tea bags and let them cool.
  • Refrigerate the tea bags until they are ready to serve. Pour the tea over ice and enjoy your sip.  
  • Iced Green Mint Tea Without Sugar Recipe
  • Enjoy a sip of your mint iced tea recipe with no sugar without guilt. 

Ingredients:

  • 9 cups strong green tea (freshly brewed)
  • 2 ½ cup mint sprigs (fresh)
  • 16 ½ cups ice cubes
  • Extra mint sprigs (fresh for garnish)
  • Honey or stevia (optional)

Instructions:

  • Brew the strong green tea. Add the mint sprigs to the green tea and bring to brew in 10 minutes.
  • Put ice cubes in a pitcher then pour the green tea over ice cubes.
  • Add the extra mint sprigs to your pitcher for it6s green look and flavor.
  • Garnish the mixture with mint sprigs when being served.

7, Green Tea with Mint Recipe

This mint green iced tea recipe is offered as a symbol of friendship and hospitality.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons green tea (leaves)
  • 2 cups mint (fresh)
  • 2 tablespoons honey (for a taste)
  • 1-inch ginger root (peeled and thinly sliced)
  • 1 orange (sliced)
  • 6 cups water (boiling)
  • 6 mint sprigs (for garnish)

Instructions:

  • Bruise the mint, then place the tea, mint, honey, and gingerroot in a teapot or pitcher. Put boiling water over the tea then stir to mix all the ingredients.
  • Allow the tea to brew or steep it for 10-12 minutes.
  • Strain the hot tea (infused) into another teapot or pitcher.
  • Place an orange slice along with a mint sprig to serve.
Green Mint Tea

8, Moroccan Mint Tea Recipe

This recipe for mint tea can be prepared in 10 minutes and yields 6 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 5 cups water (boiling)
  • 1 tablespoon Chinese gunpowder green tea (loose)
  • 1 ounce or a bunch of mints (fresh)
  • 3-4 tablespoons sugar (to taste)

Instructions:

  • Place tea inside the teapot then pour boiling water. Swirl it to warm the pot and then rinse the tea.
  • Strain out and discard the water, which reserves tea leaves in the pot.
  • Add boiling water to your tea then let it steep for 2 minutes.
  • Stir in the mint sprigs and sugar then steep it for 3-4 minutes.
  • Your tea is now ready to be served.

What is Moroccan Mint Tea?

Moroccan mint tea, also called Maggrebi mint tea, originates from the tea culture of Morocco. The key ingredients of this tea include fresh mint tea, gunpowder tea, water, and sugar.

 Every cup of this tea offers calcium, copper, selenium, magnesium, and fluoride.

The tea signifies both affection and hospitality. How to make mint tea at home in Moroccan style? Patience is required in preparing this tea. It is an art that is passed down from one generation to another.

This type of mint tea helps strengthen immune function. It contains caffeine at around 30 mg in every 8-ounce cup. Research shows its effectiveness in weight loss, acne treatment, and digestion issues.

9, Homemade Ginger & Mint Iced Tea Recipe:

Learn how to make ginger mint tea and indulge in a refreshing iced tea with this recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 4 bags mint tea,
  • 6 ounces ginger (fresh, peeled, then smashed)
  • 2 tablespoons honey,
  • 8 cups water (boiling)
  • Mint sprigs
  • Ice

Instructions:

  • Mix mint tea, boiling water, and ginger in a pot. Allow it to steep in eight minutes.
  • Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve in a large container then discard the solid parts.
  • Stir in honey.
  • Let it cool for 2 hours (at room temperature).
  • Serve the tea over ice along with mint sprigs.

10, Egyptian Mint Tea Recipe

Have a mint tea ensemble Egyptian style with this recipe that yields 2 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon black tea
  • 500 ml water
  • 50 grams mint (fresh)
  • 50 grams honey
  • 2 slices lemon

Instructions:

  • Boil water in a pan.
  • Pour the hot water into your teapot, then put in the mint leaves.
  • Allow the tea to steep for 3-4 minutes.
  • Strain the dry tea then pour the mint water over a transparent cup.
  • Add honey, more mint leaves, and lemon.
  • Stir to dissolve the honey.
  • Serve and drink.

Conclusion

Knowing and learning how to make homemade mint tea may not be as simple as you think. However, it is doable. There are a lot of recipes for your mint tea depending on your preference. This article would be very helpful in choosing which mint tea is best for you. Make one for yourself now and enjoy your refreshment.

FAQs

The best way to prepare your mint tea is by using fresh mints. It is advisable to make your tea at home and come up with the blend according to your preference.

It is not always about how to prepare mint leaves for tea but also the consumption. Drinking mint tea every day is not safe for your health. It contains caffeine and other substances which can harm your body when taken daily. 

Drinking mint tea supports your immune system with its antibiotic and antiviral properties. Mint tea aids in performing complex tasks and eases mental fatigue. The tea eases troubles associated with your stomach. It helps with mental clarity and relieves headaches. 

Mint leaves are edible. You may add it to desserts, green salads, smoothies, and water. It has health benefits when eaten along with your food.

Mint tea preparation does not need the mint leaves to be dried. You can make tea out of fresh and dried mint leaves. All you need to know is to learn how to make homemade mint tea, and you are good to go for your mint tea.

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