I didn't want all those leaves to go to waste if I could make tea from them. I will cut my plant down and dry the leaves. I should have a lot of tea for winter time as my plant is about 4 ft now and as you say will grow several times through the summer. It looks so nice in my garden. I will check out the root process as well. I thought if I took out the root I would kill my plant so will check it out when I cut it down.