Win Suttons Herb Seeds and ‘Wild Tea’ Book Bundle

This competition has now closed but thank you to all those who took part. Congratulations goes to our 5 winners who each won a bundle of Suttons herb seeds and a copy of ‘Wild Tea’ from Two Thirsty Gardeners.

For more inspiration on growing herbs that you could grow for culinary use or enjoying as a healthy homegrown tea, have a look at our list below.

5 of the best herbs for homegrown tea

Growing your own organic herbal teas couldn’t be more simple. And if you raise the herbs from seed, it’s a cost-effective way to fill your garden with aromatic plants to flavour your fresh brews. 

From invigorating lemon to warming sage and refreshing mint, you only need a few herbs to create a wide range of interesting teas. In fact, The Two Thirsty Gardeners’ have written a whole book on the subject – ‘Wild Tea’. 

Here are five of our favourite botanical flavours to get you started.

1. Lemon Grass

With anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits, the woody stalks of lemon grass are easily infused into an invigorating, healthy brew. Simply steep the stems in hot water, add honey (or your sweetener of choice), and enjoy. Alternatively, allow the tea to cool and add ice for a refreshing summer drink. 

Sow the lemon grass seeds in a tray and pop them in a propagator or on a sunny windowsill to germinate. Plant outdoors during the summer months in a warm, sheltered spot in the garden and harvest the young stems as required.

2. Rosemary

Widely used in herbal medicine, add some fresh sprigs of rosemary to hot water, let it steep for a few minutes and enjoy this caffeine-free hot drink throughout the day. With immune-boosting goodness, drinking rosemary tea is thought to help with digestive issues, regulate blood sugar levels and even reduce anxiety levels and boost your mood! Sweet tooth? Enhance the fresh pine flavour with honey or agave syrup if you prefer.

Sow your rosemary seeds directly outdoors from late April-May, and allow up to 40 days for germination. As they grow, simply thin the seedlings to about 38cm apart, or transplant them to a sunny spot. A low-maintenance and attractive perennial herb, rosemary grows best in well-drained soil and benefits from regular picking & trimming.

3. Sage

While traditionally used in the kitchen to accompany meats and stuffing, aromatic sage leaves can also be added to boiling water for a delicious, caffeine-free drink. Or if you want something more celebratory, try pairing sage with Bourbon or gin-based cocktails for a hint of warmth that will thrill your tastebuds.

Sow your sage seeds in a tray of compost on a sunny windowsill, ready to transplant out into the garden from late May. Attractive to honey bees and beneficial pollinators, sage is the ideal herb for kitchen gardens or ornamental borders. Harvest throughout the summer and into autumn.

4. Mint

An incredibly popular herb, mint has been used to flavour food and infuse restorative teas for many centuries. In ancient Egypt it was used as a digestive, and a few sprigs of fresh leaves added to a cup of boiling water is still one of the most refreshing drinks we can think of. Often enjoyed after a rich meal, mint is also believed to improve concentration, relieve cold and flu symptoms and alleviate headaches. Add a slice of fresh lemon for a zesty twist. 

Mint seeds are easy to raise and can be grown on a kitchen windowsill or outdoors. We recommend growing them in a pot as mint is an extremely vigorous perennial plant. It grows to a height of 40-50cm and can be harvested from April to September. 

5. Lemon Balm – Lemon Calmer

Smelling both minty and lemony, lemon balm is irresistible to bees and humans alike. Used since the middle ages to reduce stress, quell mild anxiety and improve sleep, a warm cup of lemon balm tea before bedtime is a natural way to soothe the soul. 

Simply sow your lemon balm seeds onto the surface of good quality compost and cover with a thin layer of vermiculite. After about 21 days the seeds will germinate and the seedlings can be transplanted into individual pots. Plant out in moist, free-draining soil about 30cm apart, or pop these vigorous growers into containers near the kitchen door where they will release an intense aroma when brushed against. Each plant reaches a height and spread of 50cm and flowers from late May to June. 

Best brew-it-yourself recipe book

Terms and conditions

1. This giveaway is only open to United Kingdom mainland residents aged over 18, excluding employees of Suttons Consumer Products, their families and all those professionally associated with this Promotion.
2. Employees or agents of Two Thirsty Gardeners or Wellbeck Publishing, their families or other persons connected with this promotion are not eligible to enter.
3. This giveaway is free to enter and no purchase is necessary.
4. Closing Date: 12 noon, Monday 27th June 2022.
5. To Enter: You must use the Rafflecopter widget supplied. Choose from the methods available, including sharing an email address for great offers, tweeting about the giveaway, and visiting the Suttons Facebook page.
6. The Prize: 5 winners in total.  Each winner will receive a bundle of herb seeds and a copy of ‘Wild Tea’ from Nick Moyle and Richard Hood. The prizes will be sent to the winners by post and will arrive separately.
7. The Prize is non-exchangeable or transferable and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers, promotions, or discounts. Due to current regulations, we are not able to send this prize to winners in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. 
8. The winners will be randomly selected from all valid entries received during the promotional period within 2 working days of the Closing Date.
9. The winners will be contacted by an email from blog@suttons.co.uk within 3 working days of the Closing Date. If a winner does not respond within 14 days of being notified, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and Suttons shall be entitled to select another winner. If a winner rejects their prize, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and Suttons shall be entitled to select another winner.
10. No cash alternative for the Prize stated is offered.
11. Suttons Consumer Products may substitute the Prize for a prize of an equal or greater value if, for any reason, the original Prize is unavailable.
12. Suttons Consumer Products may request that the winner participates in publicity arising from the Promotion. The winner is under no obligation to participate and may decline this request. Participation is at the winner’s discretion.
13. By entering this giveaway, entrants confirm that they have read and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions and by the decisions of the Suttons Consumer Products, which are final in all matters relating to the giveaway. Failure to do so will result in the forfeiture of the Prize. No correspondence will be entered into.
14. Aside from the use of the winner’s postal address data and email address data to arrange delivery of the prize associated with this giveaway, Suttons Consumer Products will not use personal data for any other purpose without the express consent of the entrant and data will be held in accordance with all relevant data protection legislation. Click here for our full privacy policy. We will only share your data with our Fulfilment Partners for the purposes of and in order to fulfil this giveaway.
15. If you agreed to sign up to our mailing list, you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and catalogues from Suttons Seeds, from which you can unsubscribe at any time. This is a voluntary entry method, and not a mandatory condition of entry.
16. Suttons Consumer Products or its agencies will not be responsible for the non-inclusion of entries as a result of technical failures or otherwise, including any such failure which is within the control of the Suttons Consumer Products or its agencies. Proof of submission of entry is not proof of receipt of entry.
17. Suttons Consumer Products reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any person it finds to be tampering or to have tampered with the operation of the giveaway, or to be acting in violation of these terms and conditions.
18. All entries must be made by the entrant themselves. Bulk entries made from trade, consumer groups or third parties will not be accepted. Incomplete or illegible entries, entries by macros or other automated means (including systems which can be programmed to enter), and entries which do not satisfy the requirements of these terms and conditions in full will be disqualified and will not be counted. If it becomes apparent that an entrant is using a computer(s) to circumvent this condition by, for example, the use of ‘script’, ‘brute force’, masking their identity by manipulating IP addresses, using identities other than their own or any other automated means in order to increase that entrant’s entries into the promotion in a way that is not consistent with the spirit of the giveaway, that entrant’s entries will be disqualified and any Prize award will be void.
19. To the full extent permitted by law Suttons Consumer Products will not accept liability for any loss, damage, injury or death arising from this giveaway beyond its reasonable control. Suttons Consumer Products does not accept any liability for the acts of any third-party Prize provider.
20. If any provisions of these Terms and Conditions are judged to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, this shall not affect or impact the continuation in full force and affect the remainder of the provisions.