Used hundreds of years ago, useful and fragrant herbs are now regaining their well-deserved popularity. More and more health-conscious people prefer natural herbal drinks to their usual tea or coffee. What are herbal drinks and how can you make them at home?

Efficiency and application

In Russia, herbal teas were popular until the end of the 18th century, when Chinese long tea was imported here. For centuries, people have independently prepared and drank daily warming, medicinal and pain relieving drinks, the recipes of which were kept in every family.

Conventionally, drinks made from plants, flowers, fruits, roots can be divided into two types:

• medicinal tea;
• herbal teas for every day.

In the first case, we mean herbal preparations from several types of raw materials, designed to solve existing health problems. The so-called aromatic herbs are suitable for use every day, which do not have a systemic effect on the problem and have mild medicinal properties. These include drinks with oregano, mint, lemon balm, sweet clover and other aromatic plants or flowers.

Medicinal tea is drunk on the recommendation of a doctor, in courses in a certain dosage. As the beneficial components of the drink accumulate over time, their effectiveness increases with each new cup. When treating in this way, mandatory breaks between courses should be arranged.

If the problem is mild, a herbal drink can help alleviate the problem. For more serious diseases, drinks from medicinal plants are used as an additional remedy for drug treatment.

Peppermint is most commonly used to flavor tea

The most popular Russian herbal tea is considered ivan-tea, or fireweed. For the first time they began to procure it in the town of Kaporye, which is not far from St. Petersburg. This immune-boosting, tonic and aromatic beverage has been exported to the UK for a long time and has been an important export commodity. Of the Russian state.

Today, the traditions of making and using fireweed are renewed and many lovers are independently engaged in its preparation, fermentation and drying. Tea is harvested during the flowering period. Both leaves and blossoming flowers are collected.

Useful herbs

Tea at home can be made different ways, because there is a great variety of vegetable raw materials for these purposes. You can add a few leaves or inflorescences of fragrant plants to a regular tea leaves. So the tea will acquire new notes and benefit the body. Herbal drinks that are intended to heal do not include infusions.

To prepare an aromatic tea drink at home, you can add aromatic herbs for tea to the teapot:

• oregano;
• sage;
• mint;
• currant leaves;
• spiraea;
• heather;
• lavender;
• sweet clover medicinal;
• chamomile;
• Linden;
• Clover.

These tea herbs have a pleasant aroma, give the infusion a beautiful color and light taste. If the harvesting of plant materials is carried out independently, you need to be careful with the names of fragrant herbs. V folk medicine and official reference books, they often differ.

The names of herbs with healing effects:

• St. John's wort;
• strawberries;
• anise;
• violet tricolor;
• primrose;
• bear ears;
• cowberry;
• tansy;
• sagebrush;
• chamomile;
• elderberry black;
• thyme.

This is a very modest list of useful herbs that are most often used in the composition of medicinal preparations. Some of them can be planted on your site, others will have to be collected in the forest and in the meadow. Mint, lemon balm, chamomile and wormwood feel good in the garden. Thyme, tarragon, fennel and others can grow.

How to harvest tea plants correctly? They all gather on a clear day in the morning after the dew melts. It is believed that the maximum strength in plants is concentrated during the period of their flowering, and at the very beginning. It is this moment that must be caught when collecting field herbs for tea.

After collecting the herbaceous parts, they are dried in a shaded, ventilated room. Raw materials must be periodically agitated so that there is no rot, and it dries better. After 3-4 days, it can be spread out in linen bags and stored at room temperature away from smelling foods. All aromatic and fragrant herbs are stored in glass or other hermetically sealed containers so that they do not absorb other odors and lose their own.

Fruits and roots

Healthy herbal teas are made up of more than just plants and flowers. It is also numerous fruits, roots and bark of trees, which contain many biologically active components. Most often, herbal tea contains:

• rose hip;
• blueberry;
• currant;
• cowberry;
• cranberry;
• apples;
• plum;
• Rowan;
• dandelion roots;
• burdock roots;
• mountain ash bark, buckthorn, oak, bird cherry.

Before adding dried fruits to tea, they are crushed in a mortar and only after that they are placed in a teapot and poured hot water... Such drinks can be drunk every day, because they are rich in vitamins, antioxidants, pectins and other useful components. You can drink berry broths for children instead of the usual compote.

If the collection includes roots and bark, they are prepared in a special way. Usually, it is practiced to prepare an infusion in a water bath, when plant raw materials are poured cold water and languishes in a water bath for 15 to 30 minutes. Later, the infusion is filtered, its volume is brought to the desired level and drunk in the specified dosage.

The roots and bark have a healing power that is more intense than herbs and fruits. They often contain glycosides, tannins, phytoncides, astringent components. A striking representative of such drinks is an infusion of oak bark, which has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent and wound-healing properties. It is recommended to drink it instead of tea for diseases of the upper and lower respiratory tract, digestive problems. Suitable for rinsing and external use.

Cooking recipes

Healing power of varying intensity is possessed by a mass of herbs. Some can be brewed regularly for a delicious drink, while others are added at a calculated dosage. If tea is made from herbs, it is poured with slightly cold boiled water. Steep boiling water is not suitable, as it destroys some useful elements and provokes complete evaporation essential oils... The infusion time is on average 10 minutes, the prepared drink is drunk fresh.

Recipes for every day

The most popular vitamin drink for daily consumption is rosehip tea. For its preparation, dry fruits are used. If the drink is prepared in a cup, the rosehip is ground in a mortar and 1 tsp. raw materials are poured with hot water. Insist for 15-20 minutes. You can also prepare tea by brewing in a thermos. To do this, pour the whole fruits with hot water, close the lid of the thermos and insist for 3-4 hours. You can withstand the infusion all night, then in the morning it will acquire a beautiful color and rich taste with a slight sourness.

Rosehip is rich in vitamin C and does not cause allergies

Herbal and Berry Tea Recipe:

1. Prepare a mixture of equal amounts of currant and raspberry leaves and fruits.
2. 1 tbsp. l. pour the mixture with hot water and leave for 30 minutes.

A delicious tea for every day is obtained from blackberry and birch leaves, which are combined in a ratio of 8: 1. An additional ingredient can be blackberries or raspberries. The drink made from dried blueberries and mint has an original taste. Rose petals are also often added to tea. They are taken fresh or dried, first poured with cold water, let it brew for 1-2 hours, and later bring the infusion to a boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes. The tea is amber in color and very aromatic.

Which herbs can be combined with each other for daily consumption? These are willow tea and rose, cherry and birch leaves, mint and sage, lingonberry, blueberry and currant. If a tea collection is prepared for consumption in a cold form, then the berry-fruit component should prevail in its composition. On the contrary, hot drinks should contain more herbal components.

Healing teas

Medicinal drinks can be soothing, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, vitamin, help in the treatment of the reproductive system, genitourinary, cardiovascular, and digestive.

Recipes for herbal teas with sedative and calming effects:

1. Take 10 g of motherwort herb, mint and valerian root. Pour hot water over, leave for 15 minutes. Drink 2 times a day after lunch.
2. Take 10 g of lemon balm and veronica leaves, 30 g of strawberry leaves and 40 g of rose hips. A homogeneous mixture in the amount of 1 tbsp. l. pour 250 ml of hot water, leave for 15 minutes and drink in the same way as in the first recipe.
3. Take chamomile, linden and mint flowers in equal proportions, pour 1 tbsp. l. mixture with water, leave for 10-15 minutes. Drink before bed.

Tea collection for weight loss can be used while dieting. It will help regulate internal metabolic processes and improve overall health. For its preparation, take 30 g of buckthorn bark and nettle leaves, 10 g of calamus and mint each. For one serving of the drink, 1 tsp is enough. mixtures. Drink 2 glasses during the day. Spices can be added to such slimming drinks that stimulate the metabolism. For example, ginger.

Buckthorn bark is included in numerous slimming fees

Multivitamin tea made from rose hips, parsley seeds, mountain ash, currant leaves is drunk half a glass a day on an empty stomach. The amount of ingredients is arbitrary, you only need to limit the amount of parsley seeds, as it may not give a very pleasant taste.

Herbal teas designed to meet the vitamin needs of pregnant women.

1. Take 1 tsp. dried rose hips and currant leaves. Pour 400 ml of water and drink 100 ml 3-4 times a day.
2. Take 1 tsp. fruits of mountain ash and rose hips, add 500 ml of water, stand for 30 minutes, drink throughout the day in small portions.

How to brew herbal tea correctly, create herbal teas, combine ingredients - all these questions need to be studied before starting to put them into practice. Any plant material may not always be useful at a certain level of health. Especially carefully formulated teas for children and people with chronic diseases... They are too sensitive to the intake of complex active ingredients.

It is worth returning to the origins, and harvesting fragrant and useful plants and the fruit is even nice. This is another reason to take a break from the bustle of the city and communicate with nature.

Drinks made from plants, fruits, flowers and roots are conventionally divided into two types. These are medicinal teas and those that are suitable for consumption every day. In the first case, herbal preparations consisting of several types of raw materials can be used. Their action is aimed at solving health problems. They are used as directed by a doctor. So called scented plants can be brewed daily, since they do not have a systemic effect. Healing properties they are poorly expressed.

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  List of useful herbs

  The most popular among herbal teas in Russia is fireweed. It also has another name - ivan tea. Differs in a tonic, restorative effect. The list of herbs and plants that have a healing effect includes others:

  • St. John's wort;
  • primrose;
  • strawberries;
  • tricolor violet;
  • anise;
  • cowberry;
  • bear ears;
  • tansy;
  • thyme;
  • chamomile;
  • black elderberry;
  • sagebrush.

  A fragrant tea drink that can be used on a daily basis is prepared with the addition of oregano, currant leaves, linden, clover, mint, sage, heather, lavender.

  Healthy tea is made not only from plants and their buds. Bark of trees, roots, fruits are suitable for this purpose. They contain many biologically active components. Herbal tea usually contains fruits of such plants as blueberries, rose hips, apple trees, cranberries, plums, and mountain ash. Burdock and dandelion use roots, and bird cherry, oak, buckthorn - bark. Medicinal raw materials can be bought at a pharmacy or collected by hand.

  Before adding dried fruits to tea, grind them in a mortar. Only then can they be transferred to the teapot and filled with boiling water. This tea is suitable for daily use, as it contains a large amount of antioxidants, vitamins, pectin.

  Blooming Sally

  Ivan tea is a drink that has practically no contraindications. To cook it properly, you need to rinse the kettle with boiling water. Then you need to pour 600 ml of boiling water into it, add 10 g of grass and close the container. Let it brew for about 10 minutes, stir.

  There are several other recipes. Cold cooking method, 1 tsp. ivan-tea you need to pour 1 liter of water room temperature... Then you should cover the composition with a lid and leave for 12 hours. You can drink this tea with milk. For this, 1 tsp. fireweed need to be poured with a glass of boiling milk. Then you need to leave the mixture for 10 minutes, after which it can be consumed. It is better to drink ivan tea freshly brewed.

  

  Ivan tea helps with headaches, insomnia, as well as diseases of the genitourinary system

  These recipes are the prevention of pathologies nervous system.If a person is already sick, he should use other proportions:

  • For headaches, a feeling of discomfort in the stomach and insomnia, brew 20 g of fireweed herb 200 ml of boiling water. Leave for 2 hours and filter. Take 1 tbsp before meals. l. A ready-made broth can be used to gargle with pharyngitis.
  • With cystitis and other diseases of the genitourinary system, 10 g of leaves are crushed and 200 ml of boiling water are poured. Leave to infuse for 2 hours, filter. Drink a third of a glass before meals.
  • For insomnia, tea is supposed to be prepared in a thermos. 20 g of tea leaves are poured into 0.5 l of hot water, left for 10 hours. Take three times a day for half a glass.

  Ivan tea can be collected with your own hands. In early May, the tops of young shoots are used. Throughout the summer, flower brushes are suitable for the preparation of medicinal raw materials. Beans appearing on lower branches in August should not be used. For this reason, the collection of Ivan-tea is carried out strictly before their ripening.

  

  • Strictly observe the mode of taking the drink.
  • Don't expect immediate results.
  • If necessary, undergo several courses of treatment until the symptoms of the disease completely disappear.
  • Follow a special diet. It excludes products that neutralize the effect of the herbal components of the drink.

  

  Monastic tea is of different composition and helps against many diseases.

  Brewing rules:

  • 5 g of the collection is poured over 200 ml of boiling water.
  • Leave the drink to infuse for 15 minutes. The container is not closed, since it is necessary to provide the mixture with free access of oxygen.
  • Medicinal raw materials are brewed in a cup, thermos or coffee turk.

  If a cup is used, the monastery collection is prepared like ordinary tea - it is poured over with boiling water and insisted. In a Turk, a drink is made like coffee. To do this, it is poured with cold water, brought to a boil, removed from the stove and cooled. If you want to prepare a drink for reusable use, you can use a thermos. To do this, place the required amount of herbs in a container, pour boiling water in the right proportion, cover (not too tightly) and let it brew. After that, the thermos is sealed to keep the drink warm for a long time.

  

  During pregnancy

  There are several types of herbal teas that are allowed for pregnant women:

  • Crimson. Strengthens the walls of the uterus, increases their elasticity. You can use this drink throughout the entire period of waiting for the child. Raspberry leaf helps prevent respiratory viral infections, strengthens the gums. Contraindications apply to women who have chronic constipation, since the plant has astringent properties.
  • Currant. Serves as the prevention of vitamin deficiency. Stimulates the production of hemoglobin. Relieves excessive stress on the kidneys, activates the adrenal cortex. Supports the woman's immunity. The drink contains many beneficial compounds, including minerals (copper, silver, sulfur). Contributes to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. Women should not drink it with elevated level acidity of the stomach and increased blood clotting.
  • Rosehip. Its properties are similar to currant tea. It strengthens the immune system, protects against viruses, supplies the body with ascorbic acid and minerals, including phosphorus and iron. Rosehip fruits are contraindicated for people with diseases of the blood, heart and kidneys.
  • Lingonberry. Relieves puffiness, has a choleretic and diuretic effect. Prevents depression, eliminates muscle spasm. Contains vitamins A and E in large quantities, normalizes the level of hemoglobin. It is a natural remedy for the treatment of impaired intestinal motility. Lingonberries should not be used for gastritis with high acidity. It is contraindicated in people with reduced blood clotting and arterial hypotension.

  For men

  There are herbal teas that are an aphrodisiac, that is, they affect the level of sex hormones, increase the production of serotonin and increase the sensitivity of the sexual zones. This effect is possessed by ginger, hibiscus, vanilla, cinnamon, thyme, raspberry. Men should not drink tea with lemon balm, as well as mint-based. They lower testosterone levels, which directly affects potency.

  There are special fees for men's health, consisting of several components. The most popular ones are chinese lemongrass, calamus root, cloves, St. John's wort, nettle, dill, bergamot.

  Recipes to improve potency

  The simplest drink is prepared as follows:

  • Peel the ginger root, cut off a 20 cm piece and grind it. Squeeze out the juice.
  • They heat the water to +75 degrees, rinse the cup or kettle with boiling water.
  • Raw materials are brewed. After 5 minutes, add a slice of lemon and ginger juice to a cup.

  This tea fights the initial manifestations of impotence in men. You can drink this drink in the morning, afternoon and evening. It is undesirable to use it for men who periodically suffer from insomnia.

  Linden tea is effective. Prepare it as follows:

  • Place several linden blossoms in a teapot or cup.
  • Water is boiled, allowed to cool slightly and medicinal raw materials are poured into it.
  • Insist 5 minutes under closed lid, filter.
  • Add a spoonful of honey and take it throughout the day.

  Linden tea relieves inflammation, heals hemorrhoids and prostatitis. These conditions also provoke sexual weakness.

  To maintain male strength, you can make thyme tea. 10 g of herbs are placed in a thermos. 1 liter of water is boiled and cooled to +90 degrees, medicinal raw materials are poured in and left overnight. Strain in the morning. It is taken 4 times a day in equal portions. The course of treatment with such a drink is 2 weeks or more.

  Several herbs can be used at the same time. Stinging nettle and St. John's wort go well. When brewing such tea, it is allowed to add several dried hawthorn fruits, sugar or honey to the ingredients. Pharmacies sell ready-made drinks for men. There is special variety monastery tea, increasing sexual function. It contains lingonberry leaves, fennel, chamomile, thyme, calendula, ginseng and oregano. These components relieve spasms, increase potency, improve blood circulation and smooth out the effects of stress.

  Soothing formulations

  Herbal soothing tea is designed to fight insomnia, irritability, anxiety and nervousness. It does not contain caffeine, so it can be consumed before bed. It is also allowed for people suffering from arterial hypertension.

  The ingredients of the drink are plants with a sedative effect. These include chamomile, lavender, mint, lemon balm, linden flowers, currant leaves, jasmine, ivan tea. Oregano and thyme are also popular treatments for stress and sleep problems.

  With nervous excitement

  Mix 5 g of leaves of water trefoil and mint, 1 tsp. hop fruits and the same amount of valerian root. 20 g of the composition is poured into 400 ml of boiling water. Insist 20 minutes and filter.

  Take half a glass twice a day. To combat insomnia, they drink directly at night.

  For headache

  Headache caused by nervous strain is treated with the following composition. Mix 3 parts of mint leaves, 4 parts of valerian root, 1 part of chamomile inflorescences and 2 parts of fennel fruits. Add to them 1 part of the flowers of the May lily of the valley and pour 200 ml of boiling water 1 tsp. finished composition.

  Insist 2 hours in a thermos and filter. Drink one glass throughout the day.

  For insomnia

  6 g of valerian root is mixed with 9 g of chamomile flowers. Add 15 caraway seeds and chop. Pour 0.5 liters of boiling water and leave for 20 minutes.

  Take 2 weeks for half a glass. Drink in the morning and evening (before bedtime) and on an empty stomach.

  From irritability

  Mix 1 part lemon balm and 2 parts perforated St. John's wort with 1 part lavender flowers, 1 part orange leaves. 30 g of the finished composition is poured into 1 liter of boiling water, insisted in a thermos for 3 hours.

  Strain and take one glass 4 times a day for 30 days.

  In childhood

  In pediatrics, herbal and flower teas are used as a natural medicine with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. Individual plants used to treat the liver and gallbladder, kidneys and urinary system as a whole.

  The most popular types of teas:

  • Lime. Allowed for use in children from 6 months. It is an effective diaphoretic for colds and flu. To prepare it, pour 200 ml of boiling water 10 g of flowers and leave for 15 minutes. Strain and give to children three times a day (between meals).
  • From thyme. The only contraindication to taking such a drink is individual intolerance. It is useful for children suffering from colic and abdominal pain. The plant relieves the symptoms of dysbiosis, and in some cases is even effective against worms. Tea made on its basis is useful for mental strain. Thyme relieves cough for colds and flu. To prepare a healing drink, 200 ml of boiling water is poured over dry grass, kept in a water bath for 10 minutes. Then they insist for 20 minutes, filter.
  • Mint. Allowed for children from a year and older. Effectively fights flatulence. To prepare such a drink, 200 ml of boiling water is poured into 5 g of mint leaves. Insist 5 minutes, covered with a lid. Strain and give 3 tsp.
  • From caraway seeds. Assigned to children from 2 years of age. 5 g of seeds are poured over 200 ml of boiling water. Leave for 15 minutes to infuse.
  • From plantain. Allowed for admission to babies early age... It has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory effects. It is used for pharyngitis and other pathologies of the upper respiratory tract. To prepare tea, pour 400 ml of water 10 g of leaves, boil for 15 minutes in a water bath, filter.
  • Crimson. It is used in children from 6 months. Infusion of raspberry leaves softens the throat, lowers body temperature. For its preparation 1 tsp. fresh or dried raw materials are poured with a glass of boiling water and infused for 20 minutes, after which they are filtered.
  • Nettle. You can prepare such tea for a child from 6 months. The drink strengthens the immune system and helps with anemia. To prepare it, pour a glass of boiling water over the dry leaves of the plant and insist under the lid for 15 minutes, filter.

  With nervous disorders

  If the child suffers from nightmares, unreasonable fear and tension of the nervous system, you can make a soothing tea for him. Several popular recipes:

  • Mix 20 g of dry mint leaves and valerian root, add 10 g of hop flowers. Pour 400 ml of boiling water, leave for 20 minutes and cool. This tea is given to a child 4 times a day for 1 tbsp. l. The course is 3 days.
  • Mix in 2 tsp. wheatgrass, licorice and dry marshmallow root. Add to them 5 g of chamomile and fennel flowers, pour 400 ml of boiling water. They put it on the stove, boil it. Keep on fire for 20 minutes, insist. After cooling, the broth is filtered. Give before feeding the child 1 tsp. such a drink.
  • Mix in 1 tbsp. l. lemon balm and chamomile inflorescences. Pour 250 ml of water, boil. Turn off the heat and leave the mixture to cool. They give children such tea before bedtime for 60 g.

  Provencal herbs can be added to regular tea to help protect against stress and keep you in a good mood. These include rosemary, thyme, basil, peppermint, sage, marjoram, savory, and oregano.

  With pancreatitis

  Herbal teas support the work of the pancreas during exacerbations of pancreatitis. They consist of components that have anti-inflammatory, choleretic effects and normalize the peristalsis of the gastrointestinal tract. Commonly used:

  • Chamomile. Relieves spasm in the muscles of the pancreas, reducing pain... Protect the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract from the aggressive effects of bile and hydrochloric acid. The plant can be used not only in the form of tea, but also to make infusions from it, as well as add it to other herbal preparations. For example, you can mix dry chamomile flowers with regular black tea. After that, you need to brew the components with boiling water, insist. The plant goes well with the immortelle. To make tea from these herbs, equal parts of the ingredients are poured with water and kept in a water bath for 30 minutes. You can take the finished drink after a meal, having filtered it in advance.
  • Peppermint. Like chamomile, it relieves spasms. It soothes attacks of pancreatitis, but people with low blood pressure should be careful. Mint is brewed like regular tea. It is possible to use the herb as one of the collection components.
  • Yarrow. Its beneficial properties are expressed in the fact that it relieves inflammation, promotes the excretion of stagnant bile. Equally effective in chronic pancreatitis and cholecystitis. A medicinal drink is prepared by boiling the herb for 15 minutes.

  When pancreatitis is used and fees. Effectiveness has next lineup: mint, string, elecampane. These components are taken in the same quantity. The total volume of finished raw materials must be at least 3 tbsp. l. The mixture is poured with boiling water and put on low heat for 3 minutes. The ready-made broth is drunk 2 times a day, 60 ml each before meals. It is good to combine St. John's wort, chamomile and mint. By mixing these components in the same amount, you can add a little tea leaves to them. It is recommended to drink 100 ml of this tea before meals.

  Slimming

  There are many herbal formulations for weight loss. Among them, diuretics and laxatives are the most popular. However, they can provoke health problems. At home, it is better to make such a drink with your own hands. For this, rosehip infusion is suitable. 20 berries are poured over 1.5 liters of hot water, insisted overnight. Rosehip has a mild diuretic effect that does not harm the body. The berry is a source of vitamin C.

  Another popular cleansing tea for weight loss is made on the basis of senna leaves. 1 tbsp. l. dry raw materials are poured into 200 ml of water and cooked over low heat for 5 minutes. Then leave for 15 minutes, filter through cheesecloth. They drink throughout the week every 2 hours and after the last meal. The amount of tea for one dose is increased gradually. First, drink a third of the glass and observe the reaction of the body. If side effects did not arise, over time, increase the amount to a whole glass.

  Drainage teas

  They have almost the same properties as diuretic drinks. However, they act softer and do not remove useful compounds with excess water. Several herbal teas options:

  • With calendula. To 10 g of dry raw materials add 200 ml of hot water. Insist 25 minutes, take 100 ml three times a day before meals.
  • With a mother and stepmother. Pour 200 boiling water with 20 g of the dried plant. Brew, leave for an hour, putting in a warm place. Drink 2 times a day for 1 tbsp. l. - in the morning (before meals) and just before bedtime.
  • With strawberries. 20 g of crushed leaves are poured with 200 ml of boiling water. You can put some berries in your tea. Brew and leave for several hours. Ready tea is drunk throughout the day.
  • With birch leaves. You can use both dry and fresh raw materials. Pour 200 ml of boiling water 7 leaves, brew and insist for several hours. Drink in small sips throughout the day. A little honey is added to the finished drink, in otherwise its taste will seem bitter.
  • With currant leaves. The algorithm for preparing such a drink is similar to the previous recipe.

  With chamomile

  Of all natural remedies, chamomile is the most effective for weight loss. Tea is prepared on its basis in this way: 2 tsp. dried flowers are poured with a glass of boiled water, cooled to +90 degrees. Insist 5 minutes. Drink 20 minutes before meals and one more time before bedtime. Chamomile not only allows you to lose a few pounds per month, but also relieves stress and anxiety.

  Ivan tea for weight loss

  Helps in the fight against excess fat deposits. Better to brew it in a ceramic or glass vessel. For 1 liter of hot water, take 1 tbsp. l. dry leaves. Insist for half an hour, stir and pour into a cup.

  Slimming daily dose is 2 liters per day.

  These include flax and sesame seeds, marshmallow root. They can be steamed with boiling water or filled with hot water overnight.

As you know, everything new is well forgotten old. This expression perfectly fits the topic of today's article. Herbal, fruit and flower teas are growing in popularity, and it's not just fashion. Very often, those who are seriously concerned about their health, abandon traditional tea and coffee and switch to herbal teas. The motivation is simple: the "regular" tea is high in caffeine and tannin - substances that excite the nervous system. In addition, few people follow the instructions of tea masters and brew tea leaves correctly - alas, a brew that has stood for 2-3 days is not at all uncommon in our kitchens, and such tea cannot be called tasty and healthy. And children can be given tea only after 2-3 years.

Good old herbal teas are another matter. It was them that our ancestors drank some 500 years ago, before real tea appeared in our country. Strictly speaking, an infusion or decoction of herbs, roots or flowers should not be called tea, because it is not prepared from leaves of a tea bush. But we won't be too picky.

Herbal teas are very different: vitamin, medicinal, cooling or, conversely, warming, aromatic and not very, but in any case they are all useful. And most importantly, you yourself can collect and compose your own unique tea, you just need to know several important rules... Going for the right grass, remember that nature is very vulnerable - do not pull out everything, leave a part of the grass at the collection site for its renewal. When collecting leaves (strawberries, raspberries, drupes, blackberries), cut off only a few leaves from a branch, and they must be collected fully unfolded. Collecting flowering plants such as mint, St. John's wort, thyme, oregano, always leave some plants with flowers for seed ripening. Flowers of jasmine, rose hips, lindens should be picked only in full bloom. Pick berries and fruits fully ripe. The best time for harvesting raw materials is the beginning of flowering or full bloom plants. You need to collect the grass in dry weather, immediately after the dew has melted.

Drying herbs is also a science. The collected herbs are dried in a shaded room (under a canopy, in the attic or in a well-ventilated room) until completely dry. Never let the grass rot. Do not use blackened grass!

... Herbs containing essential oils (oregano, calamus, thyme, etc.) should be dried slowly at a temperature of 30-35 ° C. This is to prevent the essential oil from evaporating.
... Herbs containing glucosides (tansy, mint, adonis, St. John's wort, coltsfoot) are dried in a dryer at a temperature of 50-60 ° C.
... Fruits (rose hips, black currants, barberry, mountain ash), containing a lot of vitamin C, are dried in a dryer at a temperature of 80-90 ° C.

You need to store the finished raw materials in paper or linen bags, away from strong-smelling products, preferably each type separately. Fragrant herbs can be stored in glass or ceramic jars with tight-fitting lids. On each bag or jar, be sure to attach a label with the name of the herb and the time of collection. The shelf life of leaves, flowers and herbs is 1-2 years, fruits and berries - 3-4 years, bark and rhizomes - 2-3 years.

Another important skill in preparing herbal teas is collecting a bouquet of herbs. You can, of course, make tea from any one herb, but who would refuse the opportunity to conjure over a teapot? If you are using aromatic herbs (mint, lemon balm, oregano, thyme, etc.), then it is advisable to include only one of them in the mixture. Otherwise, the flavors can destroy each other or, even worse, merge into bad smell... That's why the best option may be mixing several neutral herbs with one fragrant one.

You also need to know how to make herbal tea. If you are making tea from flowers, then they need to be brewed in a large porcelain teapot with water boiled with a "white key" and let it brew for 5-10 minutes. Leaves can also be boiled with boiling water, or you can boil for 3-5 minutes, but many useful substances will disappear. Dry berries must be crushed before brewing, pour boiling water and let it brew for 5-10 minutes. The roots, bark and rough parts of plants are finely cut, put in cold water, bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, then let it brew for 10-15 minutes. Properly brewed herbal tea has a wonderful aroma, rich taste and bright color, and is also just a storehouse of useful substances. You can even say that herbal teas can be considered a food product, because they contain great amount biologically active substances: enzymes, vitamins, organic acids, micro and macro elements, etc.

All herbal teas can be roughly divided into vitamin and medicinal. As the name implies, vitamin herbal teas are safe to drink. all year round as much and whenever you want, but with medicinal teas you need to be careful. These teas are prescribed by doctors, and you can drink them for a limited time. The herbs that make up medicinal tea may have contraindications for some diseases.

In the morning, you can drink a tonic vitamin tea, consisting of strawberry leaves, angelica, lemongrass, lavender, clover leaves and flowers, lovage, etc.
... In the evening, on the contrary, you need to drink soothing herbal teas - St. John's wort, raspberry leaves, peppermint, lemon balm, chamomile, willow tea, cherry leaves, primrose, etc.
... In winter and in early spring it is good to prepare multivitamin herbal teas from raspberry leaves, black currant, blackberry, nettle, carrot, barberry, dog rose, sea buckthorn, mountain ash.
... But in summer it is best to drink tea from fresh herbs and leaves - this is best time for "live" vitamins.

Here are a few sample recipes collection of vitamin herbal teas.

Lingonberry: 2 g of heather flowers, 2 g of rosehip leaves, 10 g of strawberry leaves.

Rowanberry: 30 g of rowan berries, 5 g of raspberries, 2 g of currant leaves.

Strawberry: 10 g of strawberry leaves, 2 g of mint, 2 g of St. John's wort.

Primrose tea: 5 g of primrose leaves, 5 g of St. John's wort.

Honey rosehip tea: 20 g of rose hips, 15 g of honey, 5 g of lemon juice.

Vitamin: 20 g of rose hips, 10 g of rowan fruits, 5 g of oregano leaves.

General strengthening: 3 g of strawberry leaves, 3 g of blackberry leaves, 3 g of black currant leaves, 10 g of thyme, 10 g of St. John's wort. 1 tbsp brew the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water and leave for 10 minutes.

General strengthening number 2: 6 g rose hips, 6 g sea buckthorn fruits, 2 g centaury herb, 2 g licorice root, 3 g dandelion root, 20 g honey.

General strengthening number 3: 30 g of rose hips, 20 g of blueberries, 10 g of bird cherry, 30 g of nettle leaves. 1 tbsp brew the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water and cook for 10 minutes, insist for 1 hour. Drink with honey.

General strengthening number 4: 30 g of rose hips, 10 g of lingonberry leaves, 30 g of nettle, honey. 1 tbsp pour 400 ml of boiling water into the mixture, cook for 10 minutes, insist in a thermos for 2 hours. Drink hot. This tea is contraindicated for constipation.

Medicinal herbal teas are used only on the recommendation of a doctor and under his supervision. Doses and the number of herbs in the collection of medicinal teas are not strictly required, it depends on the state of health and your well-being, they can be reduced, but you should not increase them. Unlike vitamin teas, which can be drunk at any time of the day or night, medicinal herbal teas are consumed 20-30 minutes before meals. Prepared tea can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Usually, medicinal teas are prepared in a water bath. For this, the dishes with the collection filled with boiled water are placed in a bowl with slightly boiling water and boiled. Infusions are prepared in a water bath for 15 minutes, decoctions - 30 minutes. Then the medicinal tea is removed from the heat and insisted: infusions - 10-15 minutes, decoctions - 30 minutes. After that, the resulting tea is drained, the remaining raw materials are squeezed out and all the liquid is filtered through cheesecloth. Then the finished medicinal tea is added with boiled water to the original volume.

The judicious use of natural remedies will help relieve your condition and get rid of the ailment. However, one should not self-medicate, exceed the indicated doses of herbs, and use unknown herbs. This is fraught with poisoning!

Here are some recipes for medicinal teas.

Diuretic tea: 5 g sainfoin, 5 g St. John's wort, 5 g black currant leaves.

Blueberry tea (for colitis): 2 g of blueberries, 2 g of chamomile flowers, 2 g of peppermint, 2 g of nettle leaves.

Diaphoretic tea: 10 g of raspberries, 10 g of linden flowers. 1 tbsp brew mixture 2 stack. boiling water, leave for 5 minutes, drink hot.

Healing tea for colds: 10 g of chamomile flowers, 10 g of linden flowers, 10 g of black elderberry, 10 g of peppermint. 1 tbsp mix the mixture with a glass of boiling water, wrap for 30 minutes, strain. Drink hot.

Breast tea: 40 g of coltsfoot leaves, 30 g of plantain leaf, 30 g of licorice root. 1 tbsp brew mixture 2 stack. boiling water. Insist 30 minutes, drain. Drink 2 tablespoons. every 3 hours. This tea helps to get rid of phlegm in the lungs.

Warming tea: 10 g ginger, 10 g cinnamon, 10 g cloves. 1 tsp brew the mixture with 200 ml of boiling water, insist a little. Ginger improves blood circulation, has antiseptic, expectorant, stimulating properties. This tea is very peculiar, harsh.

Soothing tea: 10 g of lemon balm leaves, 10 g of veronica leaves, 30 g of strawberry leaves, 40 g of hawthorn fruits. 1 tbsp brew the mixture with 250 ml of boiling water, leave for 5-7 minutes. Drink with honey.

Soothing Tea # 2: 30 g of strawberry leaves, 20 g of peppermint, 40 g of hawthorn fruit. The mixture is prepared in the same way as in the previous recipe.

Soothing Tea # 3: 10 g of peppermint, 10 g of lemon balm, 10 g of valerian root, 10 g of leaves and flowers of prickly tartar. 1 tbsp pour 200 ml of boiling water into the mixture, leave for 30 minutes, drain. Drink half a glass 3 times a day.

Soothing Tea # 4: 10 g of peppermint, 10 g of motherwort, 10 g of valerian root, 10 g of hops. The mixture is brewed and taken in the same way as in the previous recipe.

Separately, it must be said about herbal teas for weight loss. Such teas gradually restore metabolism, promote the breakdown of fat, and remove toxins. Of course, you will not achieve a miraculous instant effect, but by taking herbal tea for weight loss for a long time, you will significantly improve the general condition of the body.

Slimming Multivitamin Tea: 30 g buckthorn bark, 10 g dandelion root, 10 g parsley, 10 g peppermint. 1 tbsp pour 200 ml of boiling water into the mixture for 15 minutes. Take 2 tbsp. in the morning on an empty stomach for 2 months.

Rowanberry Slimming Tea: 70 g of rowan berries, 30 g of nettle or rosehip leaves. 1 tbsp pour 400 ml of boiling water into the mixture for 10 minutes, leave for 4 hours, drain. Take half a glass between meals 3 times a day.

Blackberry Slimming Tea: 80 g of blackberry leaves, 10 g of birch leaves, 10 g of coltsfoot leaves. Pour the whole mixture with boiling water in a ratio of 1:20, leave for 15 minutes. Take 1 stack. before breakfast and lunch.

Buckthorn bark slimming tea: 30 g buckthorn bark, 20 g peppermint leaves, 30 g nettle leaves, 10 g calamus root. 1 tbsp pour 300 ml of boiling water into the mixture, leave for 4 hours, drain. Take half a glass 3 times a day 30 minutes before meals.

Be careful! Slimming teas are contraindicated in case of exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases, general weakening of the body, urolithiasis, as well as during pregnancy and lactation.

And finally, a few words about the benefits and dangers of herbal tea during pregnancy. The safety issue of herbal teas during pregnancy is controversial. Experienced herbalists claim that some of them can have a beneficial effect on the course of pregnancy and the condition of the fetus, but contraindications are also known. For example, chamomile tea can be drunk, but a little and infrequently - no more than one cup a day, but with the threat of miscarriage, this dose can become fatal. Teas containing ginseng, marsh mint, Voronets, Chernobyl, rusty elm, fennel, licorice (or licorice), fenugreek, sage, hops and wormwood are generally forbidden to drink during pregnancy. These herbs can tone the uterus and cause miscarriage. If you don't know exactly what the effect of a particular herb on uterine activity is, it's best not to risk it.

For pregnant women, vitamin herbal teas can be a good solution.

Vitamin tea for pregnant women: 10 g of rose hips, 10 g of black currant fruits. 1 tbsp pour 400 ml of boiling water over the mixture. Insist 40 minutes in a sealed container. Take half a glass 3-4 times a day.

Vitamin tea for pregnant women # 2: 10 g of rose hips, 10 g of raspberry leaves, 10 g of currant leaves, 10 g of lingonberry leaves. 2 tbsp collection, pour 200 ml of boiling water, boil for 10 minutes, insist for 45 minutes. Drink half a glass 2 times a day.

Vitamin tea for pregnant women # 3: 10 g of rose hips, 10 g of rowan fruits. 2 tbsp pour 600 ml of boiling water into the mixture, boil for 3 minutes, leave for 30 minutes. Take half a glass 3-4 times a day.

As for the kids, any vitamin herbal teas can be given to them, only, of course, diluting them by about half.

Enjoy your tea!

Larisa Shuftaykina

Undoubtedly, tea made from aromatic herbs grown in their own garden is fundamentally different from tea brewed from store bags or twisted loose leaves of unknown origin.

The herbs that we have collected in this review are ideal for creating unique recipes for homemade herbal teas, aromatic and healthy, rich and invigorating, or on the contrary, soothing and helping to restore strength. All these herbs you can grow on your site.

1. Hyssop

A perennial shrub, remarkably similar in appearance to lavender, has many healing properties. For cooking healthy tea it is best to use the shoots of the plant at the very beginning of their flowering. This tea is great for “calming the mind,” and is especially recommended for relieving tension and relieving headaches. In addition, hyssop is an excellent antispasmodic. Of its unusual properties, it is worth noting that in folk medicine it is used as a remedy for increased sweating.

Hyssop is unpretentious, grows best in sunny areas and drained soil.

1. Verbena Lemon

The Druids called this plant a cure for all diseases, and in later times even magical properties of getting rid of the evil eye and damage were attributed to it. Tender verbena leaves are used to make tea. Its consumption improves digestion, relieves joint pain and helps with asthma. Acts on the nervous system as a tonic. And the plant, due to its attractive aroma, is often used in the perfumery industry.

Verbena loves the sun and does not survive cold winters Middle lane Russia, therefore in our climate it is grown as an annual. As a perennial, it can be grown in containers or pots.

1. Mint

Among herbal tea lovers, mint is one of the most popular herbs. In addition, it is one of the easiest plants to grow. Grows in almost any soil, in the sun or in light shade. It grows easily, so it needs to be limited. Mint tea fights digestive disorders, pain and cramps in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, mint tea is well suited for little ones, it stimulates appetite, reduces flatulence and has a very refreshing taste.

1. Melissa

Melissa is a relative of the aforementioned mint, but it has a pronounced citrus aroma.

Melissa grows well not only in sunny areas, but also in dry soil and in partial shade. For the winter, the aboveground part of the lemon balm dies off, but in the spring it grows again. Like mint, it spreads vigorously, so it is best to plant such plants in an area limited on all sides, or, for example, in a leaky bucket that can be dug into the ground. The properties of lemon balm on the body are similar to those of mint.

1. Thyme

Thyme is an effective ingredient in herbal tea that fights gastrointestinal problems and diseases of the upper respiratory tract. For example, we often use this tea as an aid for sore throats.

The leaves and flowers of the plant are used to make tea.

Thyme grows well in the sun and in light shade, is not picky about the soil, grows even on a poor one.

1. pharmaceutical camomile

Chamomile is the queen of medicinal herbs. But not every kind of it will do. Chamomile is considered to be the most useful. Tea with it is traditionally used as a sedative, sleepy remedy (for those with sleep problems). In addition, chamomile is an excellent antiseptic (it can also be used for gargling). It is best to use chamomile flowers for making tea. You can also rinse your hair with the remains of this herbal tea after washing, this will give it extra shine.

Chamomile loves sandy soils and a lot of sun, and also requires periodic watering.

1. Jasmine

Jasmine flowers are also great for making tea. It can be made directly from jasmine, or added to green tea, with which they go well.

Jasmine, like others, loves the sun.

1. Marjoram

This culinary plant has a juicy sour taste with a hint of mint. Marjoram tea will help with gastrointestinal diseases, liver diseases, cholelithiasis, intestinal gas and abdominal cramps.

It grows well in the sun, but can tolerate light shade and needs loose and well-drained soil.

1. Cilantro

Usually cilantro is used for cooking, but it is also suitable for making tea. To soften the acidity, honey is added to the tea. It removes toxins from the body and prevents indigestion.

Cilantro grows in both full sun and partial shade and is an ideal plant for planters. Cilantro grows in any climate as an annual herb.

1. Rosemary

Rosemary tea improves digestion, enhances cognitive function, and acts as an antioxidant, protecting the body against cancer and heart disease.

The plant prefers partial shade, light and well-drained soil.

1. Fennel

Fennel tea is very beneficial for digestion and suppresses irritable bowel syndrome, bloating and flatulence. You can use such tea from the first days of life, which is very helpful for parents of babies who are feeling unwell due to infant colic. Fennel loves fertile soil, open sunny places or very light shading. It grows without much care. It reproduces easily by self-seeding. Can also be grown in pots / containers on balconies and windowsills.

1. Sage

Sage has many medicinal properties starting with bactericidal, ending with the fight against depression and Alzheimer's disease. He loves moist soil, so caring for him involves periodic watering.

1. Basil

Brew basil, add honey and ginger to this tea, and you get an incredibly healthy and tasty drink, especially for the cold season. This tea will help with asthma and coughs, flu and colds. In addition, consumption of basil tea lowers blood sugar levels and helps in heart disease. Basil is also used against unpleasant odor from mouth.

The plant loves warmth and sun. In our climate, it is grown exclusively as an annual.

1. Valerian

Of all the drinks known to mankind, tea is considered the most noble. It does not cause intoxication, refreshes, and the most sophisticated connoisseurs admire the exquisite tastes of its various varieties. V broad sense tea can be any drink prepared by steeping leaves, herbs, pieces of fruit or berries in boiling water. This drink was originally used as a medicine. Depending on the plant raw materials, the properties of tea and its intended purpose changed. This article will discuss the methods of collecting and preparing tea raw materials, methods of brewing tea, its blends, indications and contraindications for the use of this drink.

What plant leaves

Almost all cultivated garden plants are suitable for collecting leaves and then brewing them. This raw material does not contain theine and caffeine, but it gives tannins, sugars and vitamins to boiling water, strengthening the immune system and stimulating digestion.

First of all, pay attention to the foliage of fruit and fruit trees. These include quince, apple, chokeberry, cherry, red cherry, pear, plum, sea buckthorn.

Tea from such foliage turns out to be fragrant and with a lot of tannins. It invigorates, tones, has an immunomodulatory effect. This drink softens the mucous membranes, thins the blood.
The second group includes raw materials from deciduous trees. These are maple, linden, walnut. Not everyone will like this tea, but its benefits are undeniable. The drink strengthens the walls of blood vessels, cleanses the liver, and prevents the occurrence of age-related heart problems. It is recommended to drink it for people who are exhausted by a long illness, those who suffer from overwork.
The third group is foliage from berry and nut bushes. This group includes red and black currants, raspberries, blackberries, hazel, dogwood, rose hips, gooseberries, blackthorns. A real vitamin bomb, a drink made from shrub leaves is useful for hypovitaminosis. It improves the health of the oral cavity, increases vascular tone, has a slight astringent effect and produces a cleansing effect.
The last group, the leaves of herbs and berries, includes the well-known mint, lemon balm, strawberries, strawberries, chamomile, dandelion. Such teas help with disorders of the nervous system. They have a calming effect, eliminate sleep problems, and quickly quench thirst.

Did you know? Teais an oriental drink, and its homeland is China. The exact origin of the tea remains unknown. There is a version according to which the Chinese Emperor Shen was resting at lunchtime under a camellia tree when his servant brought him a cup of boiling water. Several camellia leaves accidentally fell into the cup. Out of curiosity, the emperor decided to try this gift of nature, and he liked the taste of the drink so much that the emperor ordered to treat it exclusively to him ever since. This happened presumably in the 2700s BC. Camellia leaf tea is still prepared today.- this is known to all of us black and green tea.

When to collect

Leaves of plants reach their peak at the time of flowering, so be guided by it. The collection time for different climatic zones will differ in this case. On average, the collection starts in April and ends on the twentieth of July. Plan your collection for the first half of the day. Do it in clear weather immediately after the dew has dried.
In April-May, collect raw materials from all trees - fruit, fruit and berry and simple deciduous. The younger the leaves, the more tannins they will contain, which cause a pleasant, pronounced taste. The harvest time for bushes and berry leaves begins in early June and lasts until early July.

Important! In rainy weather, you should not collect raw materials for homemade tea. Foliage accumulates a large number of moisture and becomes too brittle after drying or deteriorates even during fermentation.

Be sure to leave some of the leaves on the bush so that the plant can recover after harvest and give fruit. Collect herbs throughout July as they begin to bloom. Even if you plan on preparing a tea mixture, collect the raw materials in separate bags or pouches. Each plant needs a separate treatment.

How to dry

Drying on outdoors will take from a week to two, depending on the raw material. Before starting drying, you need to cut cuttings from the leaves, as they worsen the quality of the raw materials, and sort out the green mass, removing all damaged leaves. The drying room must be dry, warm and well ventilated.
Spread sheets of clean paper on a flat surface. Newspaper will not work, as printing ink gives off toxic substances. Spread the prepared leaves over it with an even thin layer.

Stir the leaves every day, swap the sheets so that the raw material dries evenly. Do not leave the leaves unattended for too long so that mold does not attack them. To check if the product is ready, you need to bend several large leaves across the line of the central vein. If there is a distinct crunch, the tea leaves can be stored.

Video: how to dry currant leaves for tea at home Another drying method involves the use of an oven. This method is suitable for those who do not have enough time or space to dry the leaves. the traditional way... Preheat the oven to +100 ° C.

Important! Avoid direct contact with raw materials you dry sun rays... Under their influence, essential oils evaporate, the final product becomes tasteless and loses its rich color.

Line a baking sheet with parchment and spread the leaves on it in one layer. Leave the oven door ajar a quarter. Dry the leaves at this temperature for an hour and a half, and then reduce the temperature by half and dry them until tender (30-40 minutes). Please note that some of the nutrients are lost during such processing.

Fermentation

This method of preparing tea leaves improves the taste of the tea. The juiciest and cleanest leaves are selected for him. Before fermentation, they should be cleaned of dust and fine debris, but not rinsed with water, so as not to disturb the natural microflora.
Leaves harvested in the early ripeness phase lend themselves better to fermentation and give the final product a richer flavor. Fermentation begins as soon as the green mass is rolled and the leafy juice emerges on the surface.

Did you know? Green and black tea are prepared from the same leaves. Difference in taste and appearance these teas are conditioned by various methods of processing raw materials. For the production of black tea, raw materials are curled and fermented, while green tea is simply dried and dried. Based on this, it can be argued that green tea- the drink is more natural and healthy, although many people like a more pronounced "black" taste.

The raw material is pre-dried, twisted through a meat grinder or twisted by hand and tightly placed in a container. It can be an enamel pot or a food grade plastic bucket. Tamp the green mass with clean hands until a layer 7-10 cm high is obtained.
Put a clean ceramic plate on top and press it down with oppression (a brick or a kilogram pack of cereals will do). Cover the container with a kitchen towel and leave the mixture to ferment for 6-8 hours at a temperature of + 23-25 ​​° C. If the temperature is lower, fermentation will not start, if it is higher, the deciduous mass will deteriorate.

The finished mass must be chopped with kitchen scissors, if you did not pass it through a meat grinder before fermentation. The pre-shredded sheets will themselves break up into small lumps. The fermented tea leaves must be spread evenly over a baking sheet covered with parchment and dried in the oven for an hour and a half at a temperature of + 60 ° C.

Video: Fermentation of Currant Leaf

Twisting

Before sending the leaves for fermentation, you need to destroy their structure and release juices to the surface. For this, twisting in a meat grinder and twisting by hand are suitable. The second way will require more time, but the tea will end up being refined leafy, not granular.

Important! If you don't have time to keep an eye on the withering, spread the foliage in a thin layer on a towel and roll it up. Place a towel in an enamel pot and place it in a warm place. The raw materials folded in this way will dry up in five to six hours instead of the usual twelve.

If you are using a meat grinder, then set a coarse mesh on it, otherwise the granules will disintegrate into small particles when dried. If you plan to roll the leaves by hand, then take 7-10 leaves, folded in an even pile, and roll them with effort between your palms. You will get an even, dense roll. Treat the remaining leaves in the same way.

Withering

it preparatory stage, which allows you to remove excess moisture from the green mass. At this stage, chlorophyll begins to break down, the concentration of essential oils and tannins increases, which will give the tea a rich taste. Spread on work surface Using a cotton dishcloth, spread the leaves over it and let them dry for 10-12 hours.

Did you know? The tea leaf, as well as the tradition of brewing tea, entered Europe along with other oriental goods through Portugal. It was this country on the edge of Europe that once paved the sea trade route to China and began to import outlandish varieties of this drink. Remarkably, the most "tea" country in Europe, England, had no idea how to handle tea leaves. When the camellia leaves first came to the chefs of the royal family, they added them to meat salad and without a shadow of a doubt served them to the royal table.

If the humidity outside is high, it can take up to a day to wither. Determining the readiness of raw materials is simple: fold one of the large leaves in half. If it crunches, then leave the mass to dry out for a while. If the body of the leaf is malleable, then you can proceed to the next cooking stage.

Making tea from leaves

You can brew only one type of leaves, or you can make a tea mixture. Boil water in a kettle until bubbles appear, pour it into the teapot, add tea leaves at the rate of 1 tsp. leaves in 250 ml of water. Cover the teapot with a lid and leave to infuse for 5-7 minutes. There is no need to dilute such an infusion with water, but if the tea leaves are too strong, dilute it in a cup warm water in a 1: 1 ratio.

Recipes

There are many herbal teas and leaf teas, but there are some particularly popular recipes among them.

It is made from raw fireweed, also known as Koporye tea. Its unique taste properties are due to the long fermentation process (up to 48 hours) and the high juiciness of the raw materials.

Ingredients:

• Ivan tea leaves - 2 tsp;
• hot water - 0.5 l.

Preparation:

Pour the tea leaves into the teapot, pour boiling water over it and close the teapot tightly with a lid. Leave the tea leaves to infuse for ten minutes. Strain through a strainer. This infusion can be drunk with dried fruits, homemade cakes and honey.

To make experimenting easier, start mixing two or three flavors. When you figure out which leaves give the best flavor in the blend, move on to four- and five-part blends.

Important! Before twisting, the withered mass can be put in the refrigerator for an hour and a half, and then let it thaw. The mass processed in this way will give a lot of juice, and the fermentation process will be more intense.

Ingredients:

• mint leaves - 2 tsp;
• strawberry leaves - 0.5 tsp;
• raspberry leaves - 1 tsp;
• apple leaves - 1 tsp;
• hot water - 1 liter.

Preparation:

Pour boiling water into a teapot. Add the mint and leave, covered for one minute. Add raspberry and apple leaves and soak under the lid for two minutes. Add strawberry leaves, brew for another two minutes. Strain the resulting infusion, dilute with hot water in a 1: 1 ratio before use.

From rosehip leaves

When chilled, this tea has best taste... In addition, it is better to insist it not on boiling water, but on hot water in order to preserve vitamin C and get the maximum benefit.

Ingredients:

• rosehip leaves - 5 tsp;
• hot water - 1 liter.

Preparation:

Pour the tea leaves into the teapot. Pour in hot water and leave under the lid for half an hour. Strain through a strainer, cool and serve with dried fruit.

Contraindications and harm

For all its benefits, leaf teas have a number of contraindications. Infusions with thyme, nettle and maple should be used with caution by nursing and pregnant women. People with a tendency to allergic reactions should beware of dogwood and rose hips.

Did you know? Down to d From the beginning of the 20th century, all tea was sold in cans. A lucky chance changed the situation. One American tea supplier named Sullivan began packing tea leaves in small silk bags to save on tin packaging. One of Sullivan's clients accidentally dropped such a bag into a teapot of boiling water and saw that the tea leaves were infused even through a silk cloth. So, in 1903, a patent appeared for the use of tea bags.

For those who suffer from a weak stomach, it is not recommended to consume teas based on walnut, hazel and chokeberry too often. If you plan to give tea from the leaves to a small child, consult a pediatrician so as not to harm the baby.

Storage

First of all, make sure that the storage container is minimally permeable to air. In a relatively sealed package, the infusion will retain its properties longer. Suitable for this purpose are porcelain and ceramic dishes with tight-fitting sealed lids, polypropylene bags with a string fastener along the top edge.

If you plan to store small portions of different infusions, then put them in separate paper bags and close in a large airtight bag. The room in which you will store teas should be dry, warm (+ 18-20 ° C) and dark. Once every three months, take out your supplies and air them by pouring them into new bags.
Leaf tea garden plants- these are guaranteed high-quality products that you can prepare yourself. Choose the plants from which you will collect raw materials, prepare the leaves in the early maturity phase, carefully sort them and dry or ferment for the best taste.

Store the tea leaves in a suitable environment for maximum flavor and health benefits. Drink a cup of healthy homemade tea every day and then you will remain healthy even in winter period hypovitaminosis.