Yes, humans drink marigold tea and have done so for a long time. But there's a big catch you need to know. Most store-bought marigold teas use Calendula, not Tagetes. These are two fully different plants. Both get called marigolds, but they aren't the same flower at all for you.
I brewed a small pot of tea from my own Signet marigold petals last fall to test it for you. The Signet is a Tagetes type from your garden. The result was a light herbal brew with a faint citrus hint and a golden color. It tasted fine but much weaker than the Calendula tea bags I grab at my health food store for you. That store brand has a stronger, earthy flavor that holds up better with your honey.
Knowing the Tagetes versus Calendula tea split matters for your health and safety. Tagetes plants hold toxic thiophene compounds in their leaves and petals. These chemicals help your plant fight soil pests in the garden. But they can cause skin rashes on your hands. They may also upset your gut if you drink too much. Calendula does not have these same compounds for you to worry about. It has a much longer safe record in European herbal tea use.
NC State rates your Tagetes at a low poison level for you. That means it won't cause major harm in small doses for most adults. The same thiophenes that help your marigold roots kill soil worms are the concern here. One cup of Tagetes petal tea now and then is fine for your body. But heavy or daily use is a different story for you to consider.
Your marigold tea safety depends on knowing what's in your cup and how much you drink. Here are the key rules for you to follow.
Check Your Label First
- Look for the genus: Calendula on your label means you're getting the type with the longest safe use record for you.
- Tagetes note: If it says Tagetes or just "marigold" with no genus, start with small amounts and go slow for your body.
- Buy smart: Pick brands that list the full plant name so you know which marigold type you're putting into your cup.
Brewing Your Homegrown Tea
- Start weak: Use just a few petals per cup your first time to see how your body handles it before you add more.
- Choose Signet types: Lemon Gem gives you the mildest flavor and is the safest Tagetes option for your home tea.
- Skip treated plants: Never brew tea from your flowers if they were sprayed with bug killer or bought for looks only.
When You Should Skip It
- Your allergies: If you react to ragweed or daisies, you may also react to both Tagetes and Calendula in your tea.
- Pregnancy: If you're pregnant, avoid Tagetes tea for now because the thiophene compounds lack safety data for you.
- Your medications: Talk to your doctor if you take blood thinners, since herbal teas can clash with your drugs.
For your safest choice, stick with Calendula products from trusted herbal tea brands. Calendula tea has a warm, peppery flavor for you. It blends well with your chamomile and honey. People in Europe have used it for its calming and skin-soothing traits for a very long time.
If you want to try Tagetes tea at home, grow a pot of Lemon Gem with no sprays for your garden. Pick your petals fresh in the morning. Steep five or six petals in hot water for three minutes. Taste it before you add more to your cup. You'll get a gentle golden drink that's safe in small doses and ties you to a long line of flower tea customs around the world.
Read the full article: Marigold Flower: Types, Growing & Uses
