Sage Herbal Tea Recipe

Written by
Lindsey Goodwin
Lindsey Goodwin is a food writer and tea consultant with more than 12 years of experience exploring tea production and culture.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Lindsey Goodwin
Tested by
Renae Wilson
Updated 03/05/21
Sage tea in a glass mug with sage and lemon

The Spruce
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 35 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings
Yields: 3 to 4 cups
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
98 Calories
3g Fat
10g Carbs
9g Protein
See Full Nutritional Guidelines Hide Full Nutritional Guidelines
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 98
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 1g 6%
Cholesterol 21mg 7%
Sodium 21mg 1%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Protein 9g
Calcium 88mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Herbal teas are easy to buy in the grocery store, but there's so much reward in making your own tea at home, using the freshest ingredients possible—maybe even with fresh sage from your own garden?

A basic sage tea is easy to make. Simply pour about 1 cup boiling water over about 1 tablespoon of sage leaves and steep to the desired strength before straining out the leaves. However, you also can make a more refined (and surprisingly delightful) version of sage tea with the recipe below. It combines fresh sage leaves with lemon and a bit of sugar.

A naturally caffeine-free drink, sage tea can be enjoyed hot or iced anytime day or night, without causing the wakefulness that caffeinated drinks can induce. It can be a relaxing way to end your day, or a calm way to start your morning.

This recipe works well with any of the popular culinary sages including garden sage, dwarf garden sage, pineapple sage, Greek sage, golden garden sage, tricolor garden sage, window box sage, grape sage, and Spanish sage.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups water
  • 1/2 ounce fresh sage leaves (roughly 45 leaves)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for sage tea
    The Spruce

  2. Bring the water to a boil.

    Bring water to boil
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  3. Keep water at a simmer and add the sage leaves, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Stir well.

    Add sage leaves and simmer with lemon zest and sugar
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  4. Allow to steep for 20 to 30 minutes, or to taste, stirring occasionally. Then strain out the sage leaves and lemon zest. 

    Sage leaves removed from hot water
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  5. Serve hot or chilled with ice.

    Sage tea with lemon and sage leaves
    The Spruce

Does Sage Have Health Benefits?

This herb not only has a distinctive taste but also several nutritional benefits. Sage is high in vitamin K and is a good source of vitamin A, fiber, calcium, iron, folate, magnesium, and manganese. It also boasts high doses of B vitamins, vitamins C and E, and copper and thiamin. Sage is also loaded with antioxidants.



Variations

Sage pairs well with many other herbs and natural sweeteners, too.


  • Try lavender for a floral note, or mint to play up the refreshing aspect of sage.
  • Rosemary will accentuate the earthy pine taste of sage.
  • Maple syrup will bring a sweet complexity, and honey will offer a bright sweetness along with a floral aroma.
  • Fresh grated ginger will bring a little bit of heat and a zing to the tea.
  • Make the tea iced instead—chill it after steeping—and infuse some fresh blackberries or blueberries instead of the raspberries in this recipe.

Tip

If at all possible, seek out herbs that are organic from reputable growers. The best herbal teas are those made with herbs that are homegrown and have not been subjected to insecticides or fertilizers.