Raspberry leaf tea not only has a pleasant taste, it can also be wonderfully mixed with other types of tea and is also used in herbal medicine. If you want to harvest, dry and prepare raspberry leaves yourself, you will find out below what to look out for - and when the tea should not be drunk due to its effect.
Tip: For raspberry bushes with thorns, protective gloves should be worn to avoid injuries to the hands.
Dust, soil, insects and their legacies can be found on the raspberry leaves. For this reason, they should be washed thoroughly before drying. If it is a raspberry with thorns, it is advisable to remove the stems from the leaves beforehand. So that the leaves can dry as quickly as possible despite being washed, they can be freed from excess liquid in a salad spinner. Alternatively, they can also be placed in a clean cloth and thrown out in this.
If, on the other hand, branches have been harvested, they can be loosely tied together and hung airily. In this case, too, care should be taken to ensure that neither mold nor rot can develop and that the leaves dry out completely. The best way to achieve these results is to cut the hanging branches to different lengths and not tie them too tightly together. They should also hang in a well-ventilated and dry area.
Tip: Alternatively, they can again be dried in a dehydrator or the oven.
Before the raspberry leaves for the raspberry leaf tea are stored, they must be dried completely. As mentioned, this means a crumbly and brittle consistency. The leaves should break with light pressure. If they still feel pliable, they contain too much moisture and could form mold during storage. When it comes to storage, the following points are also important:
In addition to the vitamins already mentioned, raspberry leaf tea also contains tannins. These substances can inhibit bacteria and inhibit inflammation as well as contribute to the supply. However, the raspberry leaf tea also loosens the muscles, which is why it is used, among other things, in herbal medicine during childbirth. As the muscles are loosened, contractions can start early. For this reason, raspberry leaf tea should only be drunk during pregnancy when the calculated due date is imminent. Even then, however, the advice of a midwife and doctor should be obtained beforehand in order not to take any unnecessary risks.
Tip: Women with heavy menstrual bleeding should also only be used after consulting a doctor, as the bleeding may otherwise intensify again.
harvest
The raspberry leaves for a tea infusion can in principle be harvested all year round. However, the most aromatic result can be achieved with young, still light green raspberry leaves. There are, however, two options available for harvesting. Individual leaves can be removed from the bush or entire branches can be harvested. The harvest of individual leaves is a little more time-consuming, but they can be dried more quickly. Branches can be cut off quickly and easily, but drying takes a little more time.Tip: For raspberry bushes with thorns, protective gloves should be worn to avoid injuries to the hands.
cleaning
Dust, soil, insects and their legacies can be found on the raspberry leaves. For this reason, they should be washed thoroughly before drying. If it is a raspberry with thorns, it is advisable to remove the stems from the leaves beforehand. So that the leaves can dry as quickly as possible despite being washed, they can be freed from excess liquid in a salad spinner. Alternatively, they can also be placed in a clean cloth and thrown out in this.
dry
When drying the raspberry leaves, the decisive factor is whether only individual leaves or entire branches have been harvested. The following procedure is recommended for the individual sheets:1. Wash the leaves as described and pre-dry them by spinning or dabbing to remove as much excess liquid as possible.
2. Loosen the raspberry leaves and spread them out on a net, a close-meshed grid or a linen cloth.
3. Put in an airy, sunny and warm place to dry. Protect from rain and wind.
4. The leaves should be checked daily until they are dry and ideally turned over. In this way, the spread of
Prevents mold and rot and promotes even drying.5. Drying is complete when the leaves break and crumble even with light pressure.
An alternative to this approach is drying in a dehydrator, especially with loose leaves for the raspberry leaf tea. This process should be carried out at 20 to 30 ° C so that the vitamins are retained as much as possible. This type of drying is also possible in the oven with circulating air, but ovens usually only allow a minimum temperature of 50 ° C. A loss of vital substances must therefore be expected here.If, on the other hand, branches have been harvested, they can be loosely tied together and hung airily. In this case, too, care should be taken to ensure that neither mold nor rot can develop and that the leaves dry out completely. The best way to achieve these results is to cut the hanging branches to different lengths and not tie them too tightly together. They should also hang in a well-ventilated and dry area.
Tip: Alternatively, they can again be dried in a dehydrator or the oven.
Store
Before the raspberry leaves for the raspberry leaf tea are stored, they must be dried completely. As mentioned, this means a crumbly and brittle consistency. The leaves should break with light pressure. If they still feel pliable, they contain too much moisture and could form mold during storage. When it comes to storage, the following points are also important:- Keep leaves airtight to preserve the aroma
- Avoid sun exposure to reduce the deterioration of vital substances
- Keep storage container cool to prevent heat decomposition
Prepare
One or two finely crumbled teaspoons of the raspberry leaves are required for a cup of tea. The preparation is as follows:1. Crumble the raspberry leaves and measure out one or two teaspoons.
2. Bring water to a boil.
3. Pour boiling water over the raspberry leaves and cover the vessel.
4. Depending on the desired intensity, a steeping time of five to ten minutes is required.
Tip: The raspberry leaf tea can also be combined with herbal teas or blackberry leaf tea.Be careful during pregnancy
In addition to the vitamins already mentioned, raspberry leaf tea also contains tannins. These substances can inhibit bacteria and inhibit inflammation as well as contribute to the supply. However, the raspberry leaf tea also loosens the muscles, which is why it is used, among other things, in herbal medicine during childbirth. As the muscles are loosened, contractions can start early. For this reason, raspberry leaf tea should only be drunk during pregnancy when the calculated due date is imminent. Even then, however, the advice of a midwife and doctor should be obtained beforehand in order not to take any unnecessary risks.Tip: Women with heavy menstrual bleeding should also only be used after consulting a doctor, as the bleeding may otherwise intensify again.