Tea Blending 101: How Herbalists Build Flavor & Function

Written By kelly everett

Tea blending is both an art and a quiet science — a place where intuition, herbal wisdom, and sensory experience meet in a single cup. Every blend tells a story: where the plants came from, how they were grown, what the body needs, and the mood the maker intends to evoke.

In this month’s exploration, we look behind the scenes at how herbalists and tea crafters build blends that are delicious, functional, and beautifully balanced.

The Heart of Tea Blending: Flavor + Function

The best tea blends don’t just taste good — they feel good.

Herbalists think in two layers:

1. Flavor Profile

~ How the tea tastes, smells, and finishes.

  • Sweet

  • Floral

  • Citrusy

  • Earthy

  • Minty

  • Spicy

  • Astringent

  • Smooth / round

2. Functional Intent

~ What the blend offers the body or mind.

  • Calm

  • Digestion

  • Energy

  • Sleep

  • Stress relief

  • Immune support

  • Hormonal balance

  • Heart opening

  • Ritual, grounding, or emotional comfort

Every blend sits at the intersection of pleasure + purpose.

Base–Middle–Top Notes: The Aromatic Structure

Just like perfumery, tea blending follows a sensory architecture:

1. Base Notes

~ Grounding, rich, slow-moving herbs

  • Black tea, pu-erh, roasted oolong

  • Rooibos, honeybush

  • Roots like ginger, licorice, ashwagandha

2. Middle Notes

~ The body of the blend — balancing and harmonizing

  • Chamomile

  • Peppermint

  • Tulsi

  • Green tea

  • Lavender

  • Rose

3. Top Notes

~ Bright, uplifting, aromatic

  • Citrus zest

  • Jasmine

  • Spearmint

  • Hibiscus

  • Spices like cardamom or cinnamon

A good blend usually features one base, two middle notes, and one top note — but herbalists break the rules all the time. hint hint ;)

Choosing a Purpose for the Blend

Before the first leaf or flower goes into the bowl, herbalists ask:

  • What is this tea meant to support?

  • What feeling should it create?

  • What ritual does it invite?

Examples:

  • Relaxation Blend: chamomile (middle), lavender (middle), lemon balm (middle), rose (top)

  • Digestive Blend: peppermint (middle), ginger (base), fennel (middle), orange peel (top)

  • Energy Blend: green tea (base), tulsi (middle), lemongrass (top), ginger (base)

The intention guides every ingredient.

Pairing Flavors That Play Well Together

Great partners in tea blending include:

  • Mint + citrus

  • Hibiscus + rose

  • Ginger + lemon peel

  • Rooibos + vanilla

  • Green tea + jasmine

  • Earl Grey + lavender

  • Cinnamon + apple pieces

  • Chamomile + spearmint

Harmony is everything.

Color, Texture & Aroma: The Herbalist’s Visual Palette

Part of the beauty of loose leaf tea is how it looks.

Herbalists consider:

  • The colors (greens, reds, golds, blues, soft petals)

  • The shapes (roots, leaves, flowers, curls, berries)

  • The aromas (fresh, earthy, minty, warm, floral)

A blend should be beautiful even before water touches it.

Creating Your Own Blend at Home

Try this simple formula:

* Base (40–60%)

Choose the main structure: black tea, green tea, rooibos, chamomile, peppermint.

* Middle Notes (20–40%)

Add herbs that offer body or function: lavender, lemon balm, tulsi.

* Top Notes (5–15%)

Bright aromatics or spices: rose, citrus peel, cinnamon, jasmine.

* Optional: Enhancers (1–5%)

These bring sparkle: vanilla bean, clove, cardamom, fruit pieces.

Start small. Adjust. Taste again tomorrow. Repeat until it’s perfect.

Blending is a relationship — one that deepens each time you pick up the scoop.

Why Tea Blending Matters

Blending teaches us to slow down, to smell the herbs, to reconnect with nature and ourselves.

It is mindful, creative, soothing, and deeply personal.

Every cup becomes a moment of beauty — handcrafted with intention.

kelly everett
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