Catnip Tea

4.67 from 3 votes

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

Steep Time10

Total Time12

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: people

Calories: 15kcal

Author: Sarah Trenalone

Ingredients

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

Instructions

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.

Notes

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.

Nutrition