Help keep One Green Planet free and independent! Together we can ensure our platform remains a hub for empowering ideas committed to fighting for a sustainable, healthy, and compassionate world. Please support us in keeping our mission strong.

Our Mother Earth is pretty amazing for a lot of reasons, but plants have to be on the top of the list. Think of all the incredible plants providing us with food, oxygen, building materials, and healing benefits.

“Everything on the earth has a purpose, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian theory of existence,” is a quote from Native American author Mourning Dove that expresses the innate power of everything on Earth. Using plants for tea is an ancient ritual passed down from long ago. Drinking tea is a way to connect with the earth and the gifts she provides, as well us.  Tea can become a major part of your self-care ritual. Taking time to boil the water, choose your tea and make it in your favorite mug or teapot, then slowly sipping it and noting the layers of flavor and the sensations that arise, helps us to ground and center ourselves.

If you’re a tea lover, there’s probably a chance you enjoy trying any and every kind of tea there is. You may have tried many different types of tea simply for the flavor, but have you tried drinking tea to sync up with your current emotional state or mood? Drinking tea in this way can help you connect with yourself no matter how you’re feeling and honor however you’re feeling at the moment.  To tune into how you’re feeling, simply ask yourself, “How do I feel?” and honor whatever comes up at the moment.

Below are some ideas to get you started, but see if you can come up with some of your own for other emotions and moods you experience. To make each of the teas by the cup; use a small amount of the loose, dried plants, about 1 – 2 teaspoons depending on how strong you like it, and steep them in hot water for about 15 minutes before drinking. You can use a tea ball or a mesh strainer to steep your tea, or you can buy biodegradable empty tea bags to fill up on your own. If you’re making a whole pot, use at least a tablespoon of the ingredients combined.

1. Peaceful

Drop deeply into that state of tranquility. Try some dried rose petals with a few dried cherries and maybe some decaffeinated white tea for a taste of a peaceful rose garden.

2. Energetic

Citrus teas are great for keeping your energy moving. You can try a combination of lemongrass, lemon verbena, and some green tea to keep your vibe high.

3. Sick

Mint is a wonderful thing to have when you’re feeling under the weather. Whether you have a cold or an upset tummy, you can try a mixture of peppermint leaves and spearmint leaves to soothe your respiratory system or your digestive system.

4. Stressed

Calming the nervous system is going to be key here, so you want really calming plants like passion flower and lavender. Remember to take 3 deep breaths and do a meditation if possible. If you can grow passion flower in your garden, it’ll also attract beautiful butterflies to save them from extinction.

5. Creative

A stimulating tea would be perfect for when you’re in the mood to create some art or music or anything else you’re into. To get those creative flames burning brighter try a chai tea blend with spices like cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, anise, fennel and black peppercorn.

6. Sleepy

If you’re feeling tired, chances are you should embrace that and get the rest your body is calling out for. Instead of drinking stimulating herbs, stick with the ones that will compliment how you feel. The soothing scent of lavender and the calming nature of chamomile are a perfect combination for resting or falling into a deep, restorative sleep.

Enjoy trying out these tea blend ideas and see which ones are your favorites. Always try to get organic, fair trade ingredients when possible, which will be better for you, the farmers and the planet. Also, when you’re done drinking your tea, don’t just throw it in the garbage, put it in your compost bin or your city’s kitchen scraps bin. Here are some great ways to use old tea bags around the house too.

Image source: congerdesign /Pexels