When to Harvest Herbs for Tea: Leaves and Flowers
The flavor of homegrown tea depends a lot on when you pick. Here is the best time of day, the right stage for leaves and flowers, and how much to take.
Growing your own tea herbs is a quiet pleasure. A pot of mint, a lemon balm by the door or a patch of chamomile can give you fresh cups all summer, whether you like a Moroccan-style mint tea, a European chamomile or a simple lemony infusion.
When you pick makes a real difference to flavor. The aromatic oils that give herbs their taste rise and fall with the time of day and the stage of the plant. This guide covers when to harvest leaves and flowers for tea and how much you can cut without weakening the plant.
The best time of day
North Carolina State Extension and University of Illinois Extension give the same advice: harvest early in the morning, after the dew has dried but before the heat of the day. University of Tennessee Extension adds that plants hold more moisture in the morning, so they are less wilted.
Waiting for the dew to dry means you start with dry leaves, which is especially useful if you plan to dry some of your harvest. For drying itself, see our separate guide to drying herbs at home.
Morning Harvest for Tea Herbs
You need
- clean, sharp scissors or pruners1 pair
- shallow basket or tray1
- healthy, unsprayed leaves or flowersas needed
- cold water for a quick rinseas needed
- clean towel1
Method
- Go out in the morning once the dew has dried and before the day gets hot.
- For leaves, choose healthy stems before the plant flowers and cut cleanly with sharp scissors.
- For flowers such as chamomile, pick the heads just before they are fully open.
- Take no more than about a third of a perennial plant at a time, and up to half or more of a vigorous annual.
- Lay the harvest loosely in a shallow basket so it does not bruise or heat up.
- Rinse quickly in cold water, shake off the excess and pat dry with a clean towel before use.
Tips
- Use fresh leaves the same day for the brightest flavor.
- Make clean cuts with sharp scissors or pruners rather than tearing stems, as Illinois Extension advises.
- To keep a harvest for a few days, see our guide to keeping fresh herbs fresh.
Leaves: pick before the plant flowers
For tea leaves such as mint, lemon balm, sage and lemon verbena, aim to harvest before the plant flowers. NC State advises that herbs grown for their foliage should be harvested before they bloom, and Illinois explains that herbs should be picked when the oils responsible for flavor and aroma are at their highest. Tennessee notes that some herb flavors can shift after flowering as the chemistry of the plant changes.
Illinois also notes that leaf production drops once plants bloom. Pinching off flower buds as they appear encourages a steady supply of fresh leaves, so you can keep picking for longer.
Start once the plant has enough foliage to keep growing, then pick little and often through the season.
Flowers: pick just before they fully open
For flower teas, timing is about the bloom itself. Tennessee advises harvesting flowers such as chamomile and borage just before the blooms are fully open. NC State notes that oil concentration in flowers peaks after the buds appear but before they open.
Pick flowers on a dry morning and use them soon, or dry them promptly.
What the evidence says
The guidance on timing is consistent across the extension services we checked: morning, after the dew, and before full flowering for leaves. It is based on how plants store their aromatic oils, so it is mainly about flavor and aroma.
How much to cut varies a little by source. For annual herbs, Illinois says you can cut back 50 to 75 percent and the plant will recover. For perennials, Illinois suggests about one third at a time, while Tennessee is more cautious and suggests less than 20 percent. If in doubt, take less. Both NC State and Tennessee advise stopping heavy harvests of perennials in late summer, about a month before the first frost, so new soft growth does not get damaged by cold.
This guide is about picking, not about health effects. Herbal teas vary in how well studied they are, and none of the sources here make health claims about homegrown tea.
Questions people ask
Can I still use mint leaves after the plant flowers?
Yes, you can still use them, but the flavor may change and the plant makes fewer new leaves. Pinching off flower buds keeps the leaves coming.
Is evening a bad time to harvest?
The extension services we checked recommend morning, after the dew dries and before the heat. Evening harvests are fine for a quick cup, but morning is best for flavor and for drying.
How often can I pick?
Through the growing season, as long as you leave enough foliage for the plant to keep growing and stay within the limits above: about a third of a perennial, or more of a vigorous annual.
Sources
- Harvesting and Preserving Herbs for the Home Gardener — NC State Extension
- Harvesting herbs — University of Illinois Extension
- Growing Culinary Herbs in Tennessee Gardens — University of Tennessee Extension
- Chamomile: Usefulness and Safety — NCCIH
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. Herbs can interact with medicines and health conditions. Talk to a doctor or pharmacist before trying a herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, giving it to a child, or taking any medication.
