How to Harvest Mint for Tea + Tips for Drying and Tea-Making

Mint is such an easy herb to grow, and there are so many uses for it! We love using it to make tea. It has a such a versatile flavor! And when you know how to harvest mint for tea correctly, your mint will just keep growing back and providing more gorgeous leaves. Whether enjoyed as a fresh, iced tea on a hot summer day, a steaming mug of hot tea on a cozy winter night, or mixed with other flavors like lavender, green tea, lemon balm, nettle, or raspberry leaf, the strong yet calming flavor of mint always seems to hit just right.

You can also use mint in all sorts of cooking – in desserts, curries, cold salads, lemonades and other fresh drinks, and more. And if you’re into making your own DIY home products, it’s amazing for toothpastes, mouthwashes, and skincare products. It is definitely a very versatile herb!

Mint is very easy to grow and harvest and also spreads prolifically. In fact, if you don’t want your garden to be teeming with mint, it’s best to plant it in containers. It really does take over, so once you get started, you’ll never be in short supply! 

There are multiple methods for harvesting and storing mint. You can pick and use it right away in cooking or teas, or you can use one of a few easy drying methods to store it for up to a year or more. 

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How to Harvest Mint for Tea

Harvesting mint is easy, and the plants are quite hardy. However, there are a few things you should know about the best ways to harvest from your mint plants to keep them as healthy as possible so that they continue to grow back and provide the freshest, fullest taste. 

The best method for picking mint – whether you want to harvest a large amount or just a few leaves – is to use scissors or pruning shears to clip off the stems. It’s a good idea to cut down toward the lower part of the stem to encourage them to grow back. Then, pick the leaves off of the pre-cut stems, or leave them on for drying. The reason for this is that picking off individual mint leaves can make your plants more prone to diseases.

It’s important to use scissors or pruning shears to make a clean cut rather than simply breaking the stem, since this can also put your mint at greater risk for diseases. 

If you’re harvesting a large amount, be careful not to harvest more than 1/3 to 1/2 of the plant at a time, as this can shock the plant. When you do take a large harvest, make sure to water your soil thoroughly afterwards and let your plants recover for a few weeks before you harvest again.

Keep in mind that the young leaves are the most flavorful, so if you’re only going to pick a smaller amount, start at the top. This will also encourage the plant to product new growth so that you can have large harvests later in the season. 

When is the Best Time to Harvest Mint?

Mint is delicious throughout the growing season. However, the best time to harvest is usually in the late spring or the early summer before the mint flowers bloom. This is when the leaves are most flavorful. 

If you can, harvest in the late morning on sunny days. As the day gets hotter, the direct sunlight can evaporate the plan’s essential oils, which is why morning is best. This will give you the strongest mint scent and the best flavor.

How to Dry Mint for Tea

You can totally enjoy your mint plants by making fresh tea right away during the harvest season. Fresh mint leaves are incredibly aromatic and delicious for teas and other recipes! 

But, if you have plenty of mint (and you will probably have tons of this prolific herb unless you plant in a small container!), you can dry the leaves and store them in airtight containers so that you’ll have delicious tea all year round. Glass jars (like Mason jars) are perfect for storage. 

Keep in mind that like any herb, mint will shrink quite a lot when it dries. What looks like a lot of mint might turn into just a small jar, so don’t be afraid of starting with a large amount! 

There are numerous ways to dry mint leaves. Here are a few different methods that are the most popular. 

Air-Dry

The air drying method is a pretty easy and hands-off way to make dried mint. Plus, there’s no electricity cost. 

Simply group the fresh stems together, tie them, and hang upside down in a dry, airy, dark place. A basement or pantry works well. Place a container under the plants to collect any leaves that fall. When the whole leaves are thoroughly dry, crumble them up and store in a glass jar. You’ll know they’re ready when the crumble and crackle in your hands. This method usually takes 1-2 weeks. (If the room is too moist, it will take longer.)

Paper Bag Method

The best way in our opinion! This method is super easy. Simply put your plants (you can throw in both the leaves and mint stems) in a paper bag and fill it about 1/2-3/4 full. Punch holes in the top and hang the bag in a dark, cool place, like a basement, pantry, or closet. After 1-2 weeks, the mint will be crumbly and you can crumble the leaves into a jar. (We’ve forgotten about the bag and left it for much longer and that’s also been totally fine.)

Food Dehydrator

If you have a food dehydrator, this is a much quicker way to dry your mint, and you can also easily regulate it along the way. Spread your whole leaves out on a dehydrator tray. Set the temp to around 115°F and check after 2-3 hours. You want the leaves to be crispy, but not brown. When they’re thoroughly dry, crumble and store. 

Oven Method

The oven method is an easy choice since all it requires is an oven and a baking sheet (or a few). Spread your mint out in a single layer on your cookie sheet and set the oven to the lowest setting. Check every 30 minutes. You may need to spread the mint around a bit to make sure that all of it dries thoroughly. Be sure to not use too much mint – just a thin layer – otherwise it will take a very long time.

How to Make Mint Tea

Mint tea is so easy and delicious to make. You can make it with fresh mint leaves, dried mint, or even make mint ice cubes! 

Fresh Mint Tea

For the simplest hot tea recipe, simply add a handful of fresh mint leaves to some hot water. Let them steep for about 5 minutes, then take the leaves out. This aromatic herb produces a flavorful and delicious tea, but you can always add honey or another sweetener if you would like. For iced tea, simply half the hot water and steep. Then, remove the leaves, add any sweeteners, and fill your cup the rest of the way with ice and cold water.

Dried Mint Tea

To make tea with dried mint, add 2-3 teaspoons of dried mint tea leaves to hot water. Steep for about 5 minutes and strain the leaves out. You can also use a tea infuser for this. However, a small strainer works just fine if you don’t have one. Cheesecloth or a french press can also work well.

Mint Ice Cubes

Mint ice cubes are fun to have around to easily add some extra flavor to your drinks! To make mint ice cubes, add large handfuls of mint to a pot of hot water. Steep, remove the leaves, and then cool. When the water is cool, pour it into ice cube trays and freeze.