Loose herbs for tea: mullein, raspberry leaf, nettle, hibiscus and more

A jar of one loose herb is the simplest herbal tea there is: mullein, raspberry leaf, nettle or hibiscus, hot water and a few minutes. You know exactly what's in your cup, you can buy as little as you like by weight, and you can mix your own blends at home.

This guide sticks to single herbs and loose leaf. For boxed blends chosen by flavour and moment, see our herbal tea guide, and for honey, slippery elm and throat teas in cold season, our natural cough syrup guide.

Why choose loose single herbs?

A single-herb tea is an infusion of one plant, with nothing else added: one of the shortest ingredient lists in the store. It's the way herbal tea has been made for centuries, and it lets you learn each herb's flavour on its own before you start mixing. Loose leaf also gives you control: a stronger or lighter cup, a big pot or a single mug, and only as much as you'll use while it's fresh.

Our bulk section sells organic herbs by weight, so you choose the size, and you can try a small amount first. All the herbs here are naturally caffeine free, unlike green tea or black tea.

How do you brew loose herbal tea?

Use about one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water, cover it, and let it steep for five to ten minutes before you strain it. Leaves and flowers are quick; fruits like rosehips need longer.

1. Measure. One to two teaspoons of herb per cup, in a tea ball, infuser basket or straight into a teapot.
2. Pour. Add freshly boiled water.
3. Cover and steep. A lid or saucer keeps the aromatic oils in the cup. Five minutes for a light brew, ten for a fuller one.
4. Strain well. Remove the infuser or pour through a fine strainer. For mullein, use a coffee filter or a fine cloth to catch its soft hairs.
5. Sweeten if you like. A little honey suits most herbal teas, especially tart hibiscus.

What is mullein tea?

Mullein tea is made from the dried leaf of Verbascum thapsus, a tall, soft-leaved flowering plant native to Europe that now grows along roadsides and fields across Canada. In the cup it's mild and slightly sweet. Mullein has long been used in folk herbalism as a soothing winter tea for the throat and chest, and it's one of the herbs people ask us about most once the weather turns.

The cut leaf is light and fluffy, so use a heaping tablespoon or two per cup and give it a longer steep than most herbs, 10 to 15 minutes, covered. Note that the leaves carry fine hairs, so always strain mullein through a coffee filter or a fine cloth. The leaves are rich in mucilage, a soft, slippery plant fibre, and contain flavonoids, and traditionally the tea is sipped two or three cups a day through the colder months. Our organic mullein leaf is sold by weight from the bulk section, and Celebration Herbals makes it in tea bags. Mullein sells out quickly, so if the online listing shows it's out, ask at either store when the next batch is due.

What is raspberry leaf tea?

Raspberry leaf tea is made from the leaves of the red raspberry plant, Rubus idaeus, not the fruit. It brews a robust yet delicate cup, a little like a mild black tea without the caffeine. Raspberry leaf has been a favourite of women for generations, and it's one of the teas people ask us about most during pregnancy.

We sell organic raspberry leaf loose from the bulk section. Traditional Medicinals Organic Raspberry Leaf is a single-herb tea bag; some of its leaf grows wild in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where families collect it by hand under FairWild certification. Steep it covered, two bags per cup.

What does stinging nettle tea taste like?

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) tea is green and hay-like, pleasantly refreshing and a little bitter. The fresh plant is covered in tiny stinging hairs, but drying takes the sting away. Nettle is one of the best-known herbs in European folk medicine, and it has long been drunk as a spring tonic. Think of it as a leafy green of the herb world: many people add it to their routine for its nutrients and its earthy taste. It's rich in flavour on its own and pairs well with other herbs, like peppermint and lemon balm, or a slice of ginger.

Buy it loose by weight, or in single-herb tea bags from Traditional Medicinals, whose nettle is gathered by hand by wild collectors in Poland, and from Celebration Herbals.

Celebration HerbalsOrganic Nettle Leaf TeaSingle-herb nettle in 24 caffeine-free tea bags.Shop →

How do you use dried hibiscus?

Steep a few dried flowers in boiling water for about five minutes. Hibiscus brews a deep ruby red with a tart, cranberry-like flavour, and it's caffeine free. Sweeten it with a little honey, or brew it strong, chill it and pour it over ice with lime. The part we use is the calyx, the fleshy red cup at the base of the flower.

Hibiscus also makes a pretty pink syrup for sparkling water, and it pairs well with rosehip or mint. Traditional Medicinals Organic Hibiscus softens the tartness with blackberry leaf and lemongrass, if you'd like a gentler cup. Check the ingredients on any boxed hibiscus tea, since many are blends.

Start with one herb at a time. Once you know how each one tastes, blending your own is half the fun.

More single herbs worth a try

Chamomile flowers make a mild, earthy cup that's a little like apples, and a favourite before sleep. Peppermint brews clear and cooling. Lemon balm has a honey-lemon scent and has been grown around the Mediterranean for over 2,000 years; our lemon balm tea guide covers it in more detail. Rosehips, the dried fruit of the wild rose, give a tangy pink cup and need a longer steep.

Celebration Herbals, a Canadian herbal tea maker, packs dozens of single herbs in tea bags, from lemon balm and spearmint to alfalfa, oatstraw and hawthorn. They're handy for work or travel, or for trying an herb before you buy it loose.

Is loose leaf herbal tea good for you?

It's an easy, caffeine-free way to enjoy a warm drink and get more water into your day, and many herbs have a long history of traditional use. Choose organic herbs, store them well, and enjoy them as part of your everyday routine. Most people find a cup or two a day of their favourite herb fits in easily.

What are the health benefits of mullein, nettle and raspberry leaf?

We talk about these herbs by their traditional use. Mullein has long been used as a soothing tea in cold weather. Stinging nettle is a traditional spring tonic and a nourishing green. Raspberry leaf has a long place in women's herbal traditions. Hibiscus is commonly enjoyed simply as a refreshing, tart drink, hot or iced.

The potential health benefits of herbal teas get a lot of attention, but research into the possible benefits of many herbs is still young, and the effects of drinking a cup of tea are gentle. It's helpful to think of herbal tea as part of a daily routine you enjoy, not a quick fix, and it's important to buy good-quality organic herbs.

How to buy and store loose herbs

Buy small amounts often. Dried herbs keep their colour, scent and flavour best in a sealed jar, away from light, heat and damp, so a few weeks' worth at a time is ideal. Browse our bulk organic herbs and bulk coffee and tea online, or bring a clean jar to the bulk section at either store.

Once you know a few herbs, try simple blends: nettle and peppermint, hibiscus and rosehip, or chamomile and lemon balm.

Questions we get a lot

Can I drink nettle tea every day?

Many people enjoy a cup or two of nettle tea most days, especially in spring. Steep it for five to ten minutes and add peppermint if you find it a little grassy.

Is mullein tea caffeine free?

Yes. Mullein, raspberry leaf, nettle, hibiscus and the other herbs in this guide are all naturally caffeine free.

What's the difference between loose leaf and tea bags?

Loose herbs are usually larger pieces, so they keep more of their aroma and let you control the strength. Tea bags are quicker and tidier. The herb is the same, so choose whichever fits your day.

Can I mix my own herbal tea blends?

Yes, and it's the best part of buying loose. Start with two herbs in equal parts, taste, then adjust. A mild base like nettle, chamomile or rooibos with a brighter herb like peppermint or hibiscus is an easy place to begin.

How long do dried herbs keep?

Stored sealed, dark and dry, most dried herbs keep their flavour for several months. If the colour has faded and the scent is gone, it's time for a fresh batch.

Loose herbs are in the bulk section, and single-herb tea bags are in the tea aisle, at both stores: 486 Starboard Drive in Bedford and 590 Portland Street in Dartmouth, open seven days. In HRM, order by 11 am with Luminate Express for same-day delivery, or choose pickup. Anywhere else in Canada, orders over $80 ship free.

This article is general information, not medical advice.