Herbal, Strong or Sweet: How to Make a Bath Tea

A fancy spa isn’t the only place to go for some much-needed self care. There are plenty of things you can do right at home to pamper yourself, and that includes getting creative with your bath. You probably already know about the relaxing powers of a cup of tea. But a bath of tea? That’s where the real indulgence happens. Like bath bombs, bath salts, candles, and calming music, bath tea can elevate your time in the tub and turn your bathroom into aspa-worthy sanctuary. And it’s surprisingly simple to make on your own.

So, how do you make bath tea? We’re going over the basics for all you need to know, including some of our favorite bath tea recipe ideas for a truly transformative soak. 

Bath tea, also known as tub tea, is an infused collection of ingredients designed to create a more blissful bath. Typical ingredients include herbs, salts, and flowers, with additions such as rolled oats or citrus peels depending on the benefits you’re trying to achieve.

There are many upsides to taking an herbal bath. Aside from creating a more luxurious atmosphere to relax in, bath tea can help with stress relief, dry skin, muscle aches, and inflammation, as well as support for skin rejuvenation and detoxification. And because your ingredients are secured nicely in a little pouch, there’s no need to worry about a tricky clean-up when you’re done.

The ingredients that you put in your bath tea will depend on exactly what you’re trying to get out of this self care activity. Here are some examples of common ingredients and how they can elevate your bath.

Calendula: Inflammation relief and healing support

Chamomile: Relaxation and sleep support

Cinnamon: Congestion relief

Epsom salts: Relief from pain and sore muscles

Green tea: Inflammation relief and skin-boosting antioxidants

Lavender: Relaxation, sleep support, and pain and inflammation relief

Pink Himalayan salt: Relaxation and skin exfoliation

Rolled oats: Skin hydration and moisturization

Rosebuds: Relief from itchy, dry skin

Rosemary: Relief from anxiety, joint pain, and fatigue

Choose multiple ingredients, focusing on herbal additions that you personally find to be calming and beneficial. If you’d like, you can also add a few drops of essential oils to your bath water to get even more out of your soak. Be sure to write down your ingredient list as you figure out what combinations you prefer so that you know how to recreate your favorite blends later on.

You have two options for making bath tea: making a homemade satchel or steeping a homemade brew and pouring that in directly. Either will work well, so the choice is up to you.  

Combine all of your ingredients and portion out into paper tea filters or unbleached muslin bags—about three to four tablespoons’ worth per bag. Then simply add to a hot bath.

If you find a combination of ingredients that you really like, make a large portion of the blend and store it in an airtight container so it stays fresh for future herbal baths.

Simmer three to four tablespoons of your blend in a quart of water for 15 to 20 minutes to create an infused mixture. When done, strain the mixture using cheesecloth or a tea strainer and add the infused tea directly into your bath before soaking.

The hardest part of making bath tea might just be figuring out what you want to put in it. Get inspired with these ideas for calming, cozy herbal infusions.

You don’t have to do much to enjoy the benefits of bath tea. Simply add your bag or your infused brew into a warm bath, then get in and relax. If you’re using tea bags, you could add in two to get a richer infusion.

To get the most out of the experience, you may want to combine your herbal bath with other relaxing sensory touches, such as mood lighting and quiet music. If you can, try to plan your bath for a time when you don’t have any responsibilities to worry about, then let yourself soak for as long as you want to.

When you’re done with your bath, simply remove your bag and drain the infused water, and you’re good to go.

The goal when storing unused bath tea bags is to keep the ingredients as fresh as possible. Store loose leaf ingredients or sealed bags in an airtight container such as a Mason jar, and keep the container under the bathroom sink until you’re ready for your next herbal bath.

Bath tea bags make great gifts, too, especially when paired with other DIY bathing treats! If you’ve made more than you think you’ll use—or if you just want to help someone get in some extra self-care—spread the love and share your homemade bath brew with a friend.