Every year we have a nice crop of fresh mint tea growing in our back yard. Living in the city, we do not have the room for a large garden, but we did make it a point to create a tea garden many years ago. In the summer, a glass of cold sweetened mint tea can't be beat. Last year we began spreading grass trimming around the shrubs, and my Wife spread some of the trimmings over the tea garden as well. Well, it worked well to keep the weeds down around the shrubs, but to our disappointment, it also prevented the tea from growing. This Spring we noted that the tea was not sprouting as usual. We feared the grass trimmings killed all hopes of having our mint tea. So the other day, my wife diligently cleaned away all the dead grass trimmings from the tea garden. Today, we were pleased to see the tea pushing its way up through the ground. So, even though this is not a flower or vegetable garden, it is, nontheless a garden, a tea garden. So here's to a healthy crop of fresh mint tea.
Mint is very hardy. Typically grows like a weed and can be hard to manage. I am glad yours came back, thought no doubt it would have this year. At the greenhouse I used to work at, we grew 15 different mint varieties. Chocolate mint and pineapple mint are my favorite.
Wonderful focus!
i have never had a glass of cold sweetened mint tea before but it sounds VERY tasty!!! i think it is great that you and your wife make a tea garden! this plant looks nice and green AND healthy!!
I so love mint, one day I planted one,and it was so beautiful that I could not nothing with it, it just vanished by itself, it was on a vase.
Very nice capture, I like the green.
Few things are as refreshing as mint tea. A cup of it always brings back memories of my father mowing the back lawn and the associated scents of cut grass etc, a sort of fresh earthiness in a cup!
love mint but like Isis it grows out of control around here, it's nice to have the garden you want when living in the city, just a little escape from it all....mmmm, might go make a tea now, must be chamomile though as I should be sleeping...lol....
..Looks like a healthy plant. I love mint tee. and my hubby is laying out a vegy garden maybe he can make a little room for mint tee. how do you harvest this mint so that you have some in the winter??
@bruni Bruni, I know one year we dried it and kept it in the freezer, then used those little tin tea strainers. It really didn't work that well, so now we just have it during the summer and then wait in eager anticipation for the Spring return.
@ts The way we do it is according to Pa Dutch tradition. We fill a pot with water. While heating the water to a boil, we take a handful of snips (cut stems about 6 - 8 inches) and ploace them in the water. Once the water boils,l turn it off, and cover. Allow it to steep for a c ouple hours. Remove the stems from the water, and then you pour the tea into a jug, using a cheese cloth or other means of straining., Sweeten to taste. chill, and you have yourself some delicious chilled mint tea.
Beautiful mint and thanks for the reminder! We have been thinking of things we want to start growing once we get settled in PA...mint would be awesome!
April 18th, 2011
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Wonderful focus!
Very nice capture, I like the green.
I like the texture & dark green of the leaves.
The mint we grow here has more veins in the leaves & is thinner through.