Sometimes there’s just nothing better on a rainy day than a warm cup of tea. While the feeling of spring is in the air, we’re all subject to April’s wet, unpredictable weather.

While we patiently await the promise of sunny days ahead, satisfy your taste buds by steeping your favorite aromatics in hot water — without any tea bags or packaging — and voila! You’ve got yourself a natural, beautiful brew. I promise, going au naturel is easier than you might think. Here are my favorite tea “recipes”, which I’ve listed from easiest to easy — so if this if your first bag-less attempt, look to the top for the most foolproof blend:

Click on each blend for the specifics. Otherwise, freestyle the proportions to your liking. Now the only thing left to do is sip, smile, and enjoy!

PS, Don’t forget to compost the scraps!