Photography by Aya Brackett, unless noted otherwise.
Photo by Mimi Giboin
Erb suggests using an easy-to-cultivate herb, such as mint, as a jumping off point.
To brew a tisane from fresh mint, snip a few stalks from the garden, give them a rinse, and steep the leaves and stems in a pot of hot water for a few minutes.
Generally, brewing a tisane with fresh herbs and flowers will result in a more intense flavor than using dried counterparts.
Using both stems and leaves of herbs such as chamomile or mint will intensify the flavor of a tisane.
Photo by Mimi Giboin
If you're planning on drying herbs, Erb recommends drying your ingredients in little bunches to create "single serving" tisane batches.
When it comes to creating blends, Erb suggests keeping it simple and seeking out complementary flavors.
A broad swath of botanicals--like culinary herbs--found in home gardens can be used for tisanes.
Tap into the roots of tisanes and seek out different herbal blends for their restorative powers.