Orange Mint Herbal Tea: Golden Sunshine in a Cup

Sweet Orange Mint Herbal Tea

Last week I was chatting with a fellow herbal enthusiast friend about an herbal tea blend they were trying to make “more tasty.” Our conversation got me thinking about the herbs I find tasty in a tea.

Maybe it’s the chilly winter months, but I find myself regularly opening my jar of dried Sweet Orange Peel when I make tea. To me Orange Peel is a tasty addition to almost every tea blend. I’ve even added it to the occasional cup of black tea. Delicious!

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In this Post:

⭐️Sweet Orange Mint Herbal Tea Recipe

The Sweet Orange Mint Herbal Tea I’m sharing with you today is one of my favorite herbal teas—hot or cold. It’s aromatic and flavorful and completely quaff-able!

This recipe is enough for about 7 generous cups of herbal tea.

• 1 Tablespoon Sweet Orange Peel (Citrus x sinensis)
• 1 Tablespoon Spearmint Leaf (Mentha spicata)
• 1 Tablespoon Rose Petal (Rosa spp.)
• 2 teaspoons Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Tulsi (Holy Basil) Leaf (Ocimum sanctum/O. tenuiflorum, Ocimum gratissimum)
• 3/4 teaspoon Peppermint Leaf (Mentha x piperita)
• 1/8 teaspoon (“pinch”) Stevia Leaf (Stevia rebaudiana)

🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below

Make Sweet Orange Mint Herbal Tea

Use 2 teaspoons of Sweet Orange Mint Herbal Tea for every 8-10 ounces water.

Bring water just to a boil. Remove from heat and let rest for a minute or two.

Pour over herbs. Cover and steep 7-10 minutes.

This blend is full of herbs rich in volatile oils, so covering while steeping will help the tea retain those immune-supporting aromatics. When you remove the cover, inhale deeply to experience the aromatherapeutic benefits, as well!

💚PRO TIP: Whatever steeping method is used (loose in the cup, tea ball, tea bag, etc.) pressing the herbs a bit to remove the water that’s been absorbed by the herbs really enhances the flavor, therapeutics, and of course the beautiful color of your tea.

Why These Herbs?

While the combination of these herbs is beautifully aromatic and tremendously tasty, I always keep in mind the therapeutic impact on body and emotions.

Sweet Orange Peel (Citrus x sinensis)

Dried Sweet Orange Peel is the star of this blend. It’s rich in antioxidants, providing an immune-supporting punch to this herbal tea. Orange Peel is high in volatile oils that are released when combined with hot water and provide an aromatically uplifting aroma.

We all know that eating a fresh orange is a great way to get a boost of vitamin C. But did you know that the citrus peels, which contribute significantly to municipal waste, have more immune-supporting vitamin C, flavonoids, and antioxidants than the fruit itself?[1] So, instead of contributing to waste, contribute to your health by drying the peels and using them in your tea!

Spearmint (Mentha spicata) & Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) Leaf

If Orange Peel is the star, then Spearmint Leaf is the co-star. Sweet and light, Spearmint Leaf is also rich in volatile oils that contribute to its immune-supporting and uplifting properties. It’s stress relieving, calming, and improves mental alertness.

Although Peppermint Leaf is a minor character, this blend would not be the same without its uplifting energy. Peppermint enhances mental alertness and helps relieve tension. When inhaling the steam, you’ll feel the cooling, breath-opening effect of Peppermint’s volatile oils in your sinuses.

Rose Petals (Rosa spp.)

Rose Petals play an important supporting role in this herbal blend. The rose’s sweetly fragrant volatile oils support calm and help release tension and stress. This heart-centered herb elevates mood and provides a rich source of antioxidants. (More on Roses for well-being.)

Tulsi/Holy Basil Leaf (Ocimum sanctum/O. tenuiflorum & O. gratissimum)

Tulsi Leaf, also called Holy Basil, has a soft minty spice flavor with floral and citrus notes. In this blend, Tulsi Leaf plays a supporting, yet central role, bringing together the Mints, Sweet Orange Peel, and Rose Petal. The herb itself is considered an adaptogenic, or balancing, herb that helps the body cope with stress and fatigue, and promotes a sense of well-being. Tulsi is a beautiful herb for a Winter tea.

💚A Note About Holy Basil: Holy Basil is available in several varieties. Peppery Krishna (Purple Holy Basil), clove-like Kapoor, and mellow, cooling Rama are varieties of Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum/O. tenuiflorum). Fragrant stimulating Vana is the East Indian Tulsi (Ocimum gratissimum). You can find them individually or as a blend.[2]

Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus)

Playing a supporting role in this blend, the weedy Mullein is often the first plant to appear in disturbed areas of land. The seeds can remain dormant in the soil for hundreds of years and then as soon as the soil is disturbed they burst forth sending up their tall yellow-flowered stalks. Mullein Leaf is an all-around supportive herb, especially for respiratory issues and painful conditions.

Stevia Leaf (Stevia rebaudiana)

I like using the actual dried Stevia Leaf in my tea rather than the extract. Firstly, I prefer the least amount of processing. Secondly, and more importantly, the flavor of the whole leaf is so much better. Stevia’s other monikers—”sweetleaf” and “sugar leaf”—speak to its tasty flavor! No wonder it has a history spanning hundreds of years as a natural sweetener.(3) In this blend, Stevia Leaf is an important background character that makes this herbal tea truly one the whole family will love.

Sweet Orange Peel, Spearmint, Mullein, and Peppermint are all great for digestive support, making this a wonderful tea to enjoy before or after meals. And as a bonus, every herb in Sweet Orange Mint Herbal Tea supports oral health and fresh breath!

By the way, Sweet Orange Mint Herbal Tea and Zucchini Muffins are awesome together. It’s also really delicious chilled with a tablespoon of Elderberry Syrup!

Mom’s Shopping List

All of the herbs used to make Sweet Orange Mint tea (featuring Elanen naturals and Starwest Botanicals), along with tea strainers, tea baskets, and steeping lids are in Mom’s Herb Favorites on Amazon. And you can also find them at the excellent herb suppliers below.

Here are the specific herbs I use to make my family’s jar of Sweet Orange Mint herbal tea:

• Mullein Leaf (Verbascum thapsus):
  • Elanen naturals, organic (on Amazon).

• Orange Peel (Citrus x sinensis):
  • Starwest Botanicals, organic (on Amazon)
  • Mountain Rose Herbs, organic
  • Make your own, like this!

• Peppermint Leaf (Mentha x piperita):
  • Elanen naturals, organic (on Amazon)
  • Mountain Rose Herbs, organic

• Rose Petals (Rosa spp):
  • TooGood Botanics, organic (on Amazon)
  • Starwest Botanicals, organic (on Amazon).

• Spearmint Leaf (Mentha spicata):
  • Anthony’s Goods, organic (on Amazon)
  • Starwest Botanicals, organic (Direct and Amazon)
  • Mountain Rose Herbs, organic
  • Homegrown from seed from Seed Needs (on Amazon).

• Stevia Leaf Herb (Stevia rebaudiana):
  • Organic Way, organic (on Amazon).

• Tulsi/Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum / O. tenuiflorum):
  • Organic India, organic Tulsi blend (on Amazon)
  • Starwest Botanicals, organic Tulsi blend
  • Homegrown from seed from Botanical Interests.

Cultivate your Green Thumb! Grow your own organic herbs, vegetables, and fruits from seed with the non-GMO, open pollinated seeds from my trusted suppliers: Seed Needs (on Amazon) and Botanical Interests.