Grow Your Own Teapot by Emma Cooper

There is nothing quite as British as a nice cup of tea, and sitting down for a good cuppa can certainly brighten up your day.

A tea bush is unlikely to thrive in most UK gardens because of the climate, although there are a couple of tea plantations, but there are plenty of herbs that are easy to grow and make a refreshing brew. They'll even grow well in containers, so make ideal plants for a windowbox or a patio. Having them close at hand means you can harvest leaves as and when you need them.

One of the first plants that springs to mind for herbal teas is also among the easiest to grow. Mints are rampants, happy to grow pretty much anywhere, and are often confined to containers simply to keep them under control. There are lots of mint varieties to choose from, spearmint and peppermint being the most familiar.

To make mint tea, simply steep four or five leaves in water that has boiled then cooled slightly, for upwards of five minutes. A teapot or a mug with a lid helps to keep in the flavour. Moroccan mint tea uses spearmint to add flavour to green tea. Whichever way you like it, mint teas are good for aiding digestion and settling the stomach.

If you are feeling adventurous, try one of the fancier mints – maybe pineapple mint or even chocolate mint will tempt your tastebuds. Check the label when you buy your plant as some mints are hardier than others, and you may need to give yours some protection or bring it indoors for the winter.

Closely related to the mints, and just as easy to grow, is lemon balm. Again, there are several varieties, but most have the same lemony flavour. A cup of this tea is very soothing, and may help if you have a cold or flu.

Mints and lemon balm need repotting or dividing every year or so; they don't like outgrowing their container. Repotting is simply a matter of moving the plant into a larger pot, but a mature plant can be split into pieces in autumn, or early spring. It takes a bit of effort to chop or wrench the roots apart, but each rooted piece can then be replanted and grown on, or given away.

A word of warning: don't grow mint or lemon balm in a container with other plants as they are thugs and will quickly take over.

Three other common kitchen herbs that can be used to make herbal teas are rosemary, thyme and sage. These all originated from warmer climes, so enjoy sunshine and dry weather. They are hardy and easy to grow, and brewing them into a tea is as simple as clipping a sprig or a few leaves and steeping in hot water. Rosemary tea is good for an uneasy stomach and said to aid memory; sage is soothing for sore throats and colds; and thyme tea with a little honey can ease a tickly cough.

Whichever herbs you choose to grow for your teapot, they will bring you an added bonus. Herb flowers are perfect for bees and other beneficial insects, and will attract them into the garden. And if you position them next to paths and seats, all you need do is pass your hands through the foliage to release their scents into the air.