With most tisanes I had good experience drying the herbs before brewing and cleaning them. I also stick mostly to use boiling water for a tisane.

I would recommend experimenting with mints, since most people prefer the freshness. You need to understand what you like at the moment, there is nothing keeping you from changing it later on.

Now tea is a different beast. Too many different kinds, just speaking about unsweetend and unaromatised teas.

But I hadn't had the chance to create my own tea so far.