Lemon Balm, Mint & Star Anise Tea

Welcome to the Tea Nook. A small monthly pause for steeping, breathing, and tending ourselves.

This cup is fresh, fragrant, and gently calming. Lemon balm and mint bring that bright green garden energy, while star anise adds a warm, sweet spice that makes the whole cup feel special. It’s simple, beautiful, and I’m enjoying a cup while I type.

For this tea, I gathered fresh mint and lemon balm from my yard, and added one star anise from a stash my husband brought home from a trip to India. I’ve been using my star anise from India sparingly, but I bet this will be my new addition to every cup. It’s delish. A little homegrown green magic, a little traveled spice, all steeped together in one Gratitude mug. Psst: this Gratitude Mug is made by my sweet friend Jesse at Gratitude Ceramics.

What this tea supports

This tea supports digestion, the nervous system, immune health, and a calm, uplifted mood.

Lemon balm is one of those gentle herbs I reach for when my nervous system needs a soft place. She has traditionally been used to support calm, ease tension, soothe digestion, and boost immunity. I have a plant profile about Lemon Balm and DIY full moon tea recipe. The moon will be full in a few days…

Mint is cooling, refreshing, and famously helpful after meals. She brings digestive support, fresh flavor, and that unmistakable lift to give me a midday boost.

Star anise adds a lovely warming sweetness and has a long history of use in traditional cooking and herbal preparations. Anise offers digestive support and aromatic, comforting flavor.

Together, these three make a tea that is soothing, cooling, gently spiced, and perfect for this in-between time of year, when the garden is waking up and I can start picking from the yard. This tea would be lovely as a sun tea and/or iced!

Ingredients

Fresh or Dried Lemon Balm
Fresh or Dried Mint
1 Star Anise or 2 if you love that licorice flavor

How I make it

Gather fresh mint and fresh lemon balm from the yard, gave them a gentle rinse, and place them in a cup with one star anise and a whole lot of gratitude.

Poured hot water over the herbs and let everything steep for 10-ish minutes.

Fresh herbs make this tea feel extra special. I like using a generous handful because fresh leaves are softer than dried herbs, and I want the cup to taste like I actually wandered into the garden and came back with something worth sipping.

Strain if desired. I used my favorite in-cup tea infuser to make this tea, so the straining happens auto-magically.

When I drink this

I love this tea in the afternoon or early evening, especially after a meal or when I want something calming but not sleepy-heavy.

This is a good tea for a gentle reset. A little digestive support, & a little nervous system tending.

This cup feels like May to me.

If you live nearby, you are welcome to come and harvest some lemon balm or mint from my yarden. xo