Homemade tea blends make wonderful gifts for the tea lovers on your list.

As a New England native, I grew up drinking tea. There was tea in the morning. Tea during dinner. Tea in the afternoon. Tea and toast before bed. There wasn’t much a good cup of tea couldn’t solve. There still isn’t. Although I no longer live in New England, I have passed my love of tea on to my sons, and at least one grand-daughter is a budding tea connoisseur.

Making your own tea blends is a delicious way to use some of the herbs you dried during the summer, and the leftover orange peels that dot your counters in the fall.

Tea Gifting Tips

• Place your loose tea mix in a plastic zip-top bag (to keep it fresh) and then in a fancy tin.
• Make your own tea-bags like I did above with blank tea sacs. Sew or glue closed.
• Gift teas in an antique tea cup. This is a great way to use those estate-sale tea cups you just couldn’t resist but now have no room for.
• Include some honey sticks with the gift.

Christmas Tea Mix

This mix was always popular with my Gifts from the Kitchen class. A strong black and spicy tea, it makes a good pick-me-up.

• 2 tsp loose black tea leaves
• 2 tsp coarsely crushed cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp dried orange peel
• 3 whole allspice berries
• 3 whole cloves
• ½ star anise

Place all ingredients in a tea bag or a 5-inch square of cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth together with a string.

To brew tea, place bag in a mug with 6-8 ounces of boiling water; steep 4-5 minutes. Makes 1 serving.

Rose Mint Tea Mix

I dry prolific garden mint all summer to make this unique herbal tea mix.

• 1 ½ tsp lightly crushed dried garden mint
• 1 Tbsp dried rose petals
• ¾ tsp snipped dried lemon grass
• 2 tsp lightly crushed dried lemon balm

Place all ingredients in a tea bag or a 5-inch square of cheesecloth. Tie cheesecloth together with a string.

To brew tea, place bag in a mug with 6-8 ounces of boiling water; steep 4-5 minutes. Makes 1 serving.

More Tea Making Tips

You can find additional tea mix recipes and other homemade gifts in Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen. Order your print or pdf copy now.

Purchase tea filter bags and honey sticks at one of my favorite tea purveyors, Stash Tea.

To dry your own orange peel:

• Cut into thin strips
• Layer on a parchment lined baking sheet
• Let dry in oven (set to lowest temperature) until dry

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