I’m always delighted when a restaurant serves fresh mint tea. It feels luxurious! It’s super easy to make your own fresh mint tea at home and with the cold, dark months ahead this has become a staple at our house.
The recipe for fresh mint tea is simple: water and mint. You really can’t mess it up. I like to add some lemon and honey if I have it. I often have leftover mint from cooking. I make these thai chicken bowls a few times a month that call for fresh mint but not much so I use the rest of the package making fresh mint tea!
Related: Next learn to make homemade Starbucks Medicine Ball tea. So good!
Ingredients
You can add other ingredients like lemon juice, honey (or other sweeteners), ginger root or other herbs like lavender.
Any kind of fresh mint will work well. Spearmint is what I see sold most often at the grocery stores I frequent, but peppermint or thai mint work well too.
How to make Mint Tea
Heat the water to around 200°F. It’s OK if it comes to a boil. I have an electric kettle that will heat to a specific temperatures and for most tea I heat the water to 200°F. If you are heating water on the stovetop and don’t have a way to check the temperature then simply bring the water to a boil and then remove from the heat.
Roll and mash up the leaves a little in your hands. The goal is to let them release some of their natural oils. Another option is to muddle or mash the leaves into the bottom of your mug.
Add the water and allow to steep for 5 minutes. At this point you can remove the leaves if you like.
Add any honey or lemon and enjoy warm.
Notes
- You do not need to measure the mint to water ratio. If you use more mint leaves the tea will have a stronger flavor, less and the the flavor will be more subtle. I use around 8-10 mint leaves for 16 oz (2 cups) of water.
- You can add the mint leaves to a tea infuser or steeper if you want to remove them before drinking. I don’t because I like the look and don’t mind drinking around them (they are also safe to consume if you like).
- If the water from your tap has a strong flavor use filtered water.
More Tea + Drink Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
Is mint tea good for you?
Yes, mint tea is good for digestion, aiding in leaving upset stomach / nausea, and can help reduce stress.
Does spearmint and peppermint taste different?
Yes, although it’s subtle. Spearmint is sweeter and less bold while peppermint a sharp almost spicy taste with a cooling effect.
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homemade hot tea made with fresh mint and water
Instructions
-
Heat the water to around 200°F. It’s OK if it comes to a boil. I have an electric kettle that will heat to a specific temperatures and for most tea I heat the water to 200°F. If you are heating water on the stovetop and don’t have a way to check the temperature then simply bring the water to a boil and then remove from the heat.
-
Roll and mash up the leaves a little in your hands. The goal is to let them release some of their natural oils. Another option is to muddle or mash the leaves into the bottom of your mug.
-
Add the water and allow to steep for 5 minutes. At this point you can remove the leaves if you like.
-
Add any honey or lemon and enjoy warm.
Notes
You do not need to measure the mint to water ratio. If you use more mint leaves the tea will have a stronger flavor, less and the the flavor will be more subtle. I use around 8-10 mint leaves for 16 oz (2 cups) of water.
You can add the mint leaves to a tea infuser or steeper if you want to remove them before drinking. I don’t because I like the look and don’t mind drinking around them (they are also safe to consume if you like).
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Fresh Mint Tea
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.