Steeping, properly
Weak tea is almost never the herb's fault. Different plant parts give themselves up differently, and the fix is knowing which is which. Then keep the drawer itself in order — twenty minutes, once a season.
| Part | Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Flowers | 5 min, just off boil | chamomile, lavender — covered, or the good part escapes |
| Leaves | 5–7 min, covered | mint, balm, sage — longer turns bitter |
| Roots & barks | 10–15 min simmer | ginger, cinnamon — steeping isn't enough, simmer them |
| Seeds | crush, then 10 min | fennel — whole seeds give you nothing |
The tea-drawer reset
Let go
- Anything past a year — smell it — you'll know
- Dusty half-bags — they're done
- Teas you never reach for — gift them
Set up
- Tins over bags — light is the enemy
- Label the lids — see them from above
- Front row = daily — chamomile, mint, ginger
- One scoop lives here — never wanders
Keep this one — and get early access.
Steepie is a cozy little web app for your home apothecary: recipes, ratios, and a place to keep the ones you love. Join the beta waitlist and we’ll email you the three-sheet Home Apothecary Set — the cold-season shelf, five make-ahead recipes, and the starter shelf. Printable, and yours to keep.
Steepie shares traditional and educational information about herbs and home rituals. It isn’t medical advice, and it’s no substitute for a professional when one is needed.