Catnip Tea
This quick and easy herbal catnip tea can be made with either fresh or dried catnip, and is a delicious way to use this fast-growing type of mint.
Prep Time2 minutes mins
Steep Time10 minutes mins
Total Time12 minutes mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 15kcal
Mint Tea Base:
- 20 fresh catnip leaves, use more for extra flavor See Recipe Notes for dried catnip
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey (optional), use more or less to taste
- 2 lemon slices (optional), to serve
Herbal Tea Variations (Choose 1, or Smaller Amounts of Both)
- 2 teaspoons 2-3 sprigs fresh mint, any variety
- 2-3 springs fresh thyme
- 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
Rinse catnip leaves (and other herbs, if using), and set aside to dry.
Bring tea water to a boil. Pour into a teapot or a French Press.
Crush leaves with your hands to release oil and then add them to the teapot, or add them to the pot and use a cocktail muddler or the back of a wooden spoon.
Add any additional ingredients (except lemon). Cover pot. Steep 10-15 minutes.
Serve hot, with lemon if desired. For iced tea: make a larger batch of tea, let the tea cool slightly, and then store in a pitcher or glass jar in the fridge. Use within 2-3 days.
Recipe Variations:
- Stronger tea: Use more catnip
- Dried catnip leaves: Crush them, and use 1 ½ tsp per 8 ounces of water.
Please Note: You should be using catnip from the garden in this recipe. DO NOT USE dried catnip purchased in the pet aisle. (Catnip sold specifically for cats is not food-grade.)
Since catnip nutritional values are not known (in our nutrition database), the nutritional values for the closely related mint plant are used.
Calories: 15kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 425IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg