Dried Herbs

Our dried herbs are single herbs, cut and sifted and packed to order in 0.5 oz and 1 oz bags. Brew them on their own (Mullein Leaf, Lemon Balm, Nettle Leaf, Tulsi (Holy Basil) and Hibiscus Flowers are favorites for tea) or blend your own. For the kitchen, try Oregano, Thyme and Rosemary; for steam bowls, Eucalyptus Leaf and Peppermint Leaf; and for oil and salve making, Calendula Flowers and Arnica Flowers (external use only).

Cut & Sifted · Packed To Order in Virginia

How to Choose and Use Dried Herbs

Our dried herb shelf holds 29 single herbs, each one plant per bag, cut and sifted, and packed to order in 0.5 oz and 1 oz sizes. Use them on their own for tea, blend your own, cook with them, add them to a steam bowl or infuse them into oil. Here is how to find the right herb and get the most from it.

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One plant per bag

Single herbs, not pre-mixed blends, so you control exactly what goes in your cup.

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Cut and sifted

Chopped to an even size and screened of dust and oversized stems: easy to measure, easy to strain.

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Small sizes, packed to order

Half-ounce and one-ounce bags, so your herbs are used while they still smell like something.

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Honest safety notes

Every herb page lists its cautions, including the two herbs on this shelf that are for external use only.

Choose Herbs by How You Will Use Them

All 29 herbs are above. Here they are grouped by their most common use.

For Tea

Everyday cups, on their own or blended.

Evening Herbs

Gentle, traditional herbs for the end of the day.

Traditional Apothecary Herbs

Old-fashioned herbal-cabinet staples. Read each page’s cautions.

Kitchen, Steam & Skin

Cooking herbs, steam herbs and herbs for oils and salves.

Blends to Try

Every blend below uses only herbs on this shelf. "Parts" can be any measure; a part of 1 teaspoon makes a mug.

Bright and minty2 parts lemon balm · 1 part spearmint
Ruby iced tea2 parts hibiscus · 1 part rose hips · 1 part lemongrass
Green daily cup2 parts nettle · 1 part oat straw · 1 part peppermint
Warm and floral2 parts tulsi · 1 part elderflower
Quiet evening2 parts lemon balm · 1 part passion flower · a pinch of lavender

How to Use Dried Herbs

Hot tea

1–2 teaspoons per 8 oz of just-boiled water. Cover and steep 5–10 minutes. Simmer rose hips for 10–15 minutes to draw out their flavor. New to herbal tea? Start with our guides to making mullein tea and lemon balm tea.

Cold infusion

Hibiscus, lemon balm and mint are lovely cold-steeped: 2 tablespoons in 32 oz of cold water in the fridge overnight, then strain.

Cooking

Dried herbs are stronger than fresh: use about one third as much. Crush them between your fingers as you add them.

Steam and oils

Add a tablespoon of eucalyptus or peppermint to a bowl of hot water for a steam. Calendula can be infused into a carrier oil for salves (skin use only).

Safety Notes Worth Reading

  • External use only: Arnica Flowers and Comfrey Leaf must never be brewed or swallowed.
  • St. John's wort interacts with many medications, including antidepressants, birth control and blood thinners. Check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
  • Pregnancy: mugwort, shepherd’s purse, hyssop and blessed thistle are traditionally avoided during pregnancy. If you are pregnant or nursing, check with your provider before using any herb.
  • Relaxing herbs: passion flower and California poppy can cause drowsiness; do not combine them with alcohol or sedating medication.
  • Strain mullein well: its fine leaf hairs can irritate the throat, so use a coffee filter or fine cloth.
  • Allergies: calendula, arnica, mugwort and blessed thistle are in the daisy family; take care if you are allergic to ragweed.

Dried Herbs FAQ

What does "cut and sifted" mean?

The dried plant has been chopped to a consistent small size and then screened to take out the dust and the oversized stems. It is the standard tea-and-tincture cut: big enough to strain easily, small enough to measure by the spoon.

How much dried herb do I use per cup?

As a rule of thumb, one to two teaspoons per 8 oz of water for leaves and flowers, and a little more for stems, roots and hips. Strong-flavored herbs like lavender, hyssop and mugwort need only a quarter to a half teaspoon. Every product page gives its own amount.

Which dried herbs are best for tea?

For everyday cups, start with lemon balm, peppermint, nettle, tulsi or hibiscus. For something gentle and mild, mullein or oat straw.

Is 1 oz a lot?

It is more than it looks. An ounce of a light leaf like mullein or nettle is a surprisingly large bag and will make roughly 25 to 40 cups. An ounce of something dense like rose hips is a smaller bag but goes further per spoon. The 0.5 oz size lets you try an herb first.

Can I mix these together?

That is the point of buying single herbs. Every product page has a "Blending With Other Herbs" section that names partners from this shelf, the ratio and what the cup tastes like. Start with two herbs, not five.

How should I store dried herbs?

Airtight, out of direct light and away from the stove. Heat, light and air take the aroma out of an herb. Cut herbs generally hold their character for about a year; the most aromatic ones, like lemon balm, fade faster. Judge by smell rather than by date.

Do you sell herbs in bulk?

Not by the pound. This shelf is built for people making a cup or a small batch at a time, which is why it is sold by the half ounce and the ounce. Buying small and often keeps your herb cabinet fresh.

What is the difference between these and your teas?

Our loose leaf teas are finished blends, balanced to go straight into a cup. These are the single ingredients: for building your own blend, adjusting a ratio, or using one plant on its own for cooking, steaming or infusing.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.