Content
- 1 Can raspberry leaves be used for tea?
- 2 When to harvest raspberry leaves for the winter
- 3 Which raspberry leaves to collect
- 4 Rules for collecting raspberry leaves for tea
- 5 How to properly dry raspberry leaves for the winter
- 6 Fermentation of raspberry leaves
- 7 How and where to store dried leaves
- 8 Best before date
- 9 Conclusion
Drying raspberry leaves for tea must follow special rules. Only in this case the raw materials will retain a full supply of vitamins and microelements.
Can raspberry leaves be used for tea?
Raspberry leaves are a useful plant material with numerous medicinal properties. Based on them, not only healing decoctions and infusions are prepared, but also aromatic tea. You can drink this drink both for general health promotion and for pleasure.
Raspberry leaves contain many vitamins and organic acids, tannins and essential oils. Properly brewed tea based on raw materials:
- improves digestion and relieves inflammatory processes in the stomach and intestines;
- normalizes the functioning of the cardiovascular system and activates blood circulation;
- lowers cholesterol levels and prevents the development of atherosclerosis;
- has a diaphoretic and antipyretic effect;
- thins mucus and promotes coughing;
- improves memory and increases performance;
- accelerates recovery from influenza and ARVI;
- stimulates kidney function and cleanses the liver of toxins.
It is recommended to drink loose leaf tea no more than twice a day. In excess quantities, it can provoke the development of side effects.
Raspberry leaf tea normalizes sleep and relieves stress
When to harvest raspberry leaves for the winter
It is recommended to harvest raspberry leaves for drying in early or mid-June. During this period, active formation of stems and young green plates occurs. Plant raw materials are of the highest quality and contain a maximum of vitamins and organic acids.
During the flowering period, the foliage also remains useful, but cutting it off for drying is no longer recommended. This will negatively affect fruiting and reduce the yield of the bush. You can also collect raspberry leaves in September, but they will contain much less nutrients. In addition, it will be more difficult to find plates that are not damaged by diseases and pests and are suitable for drying in the fall.
Which raspberry leaves to collect
For drying tea, you must use only healthy and undamaged raspberry foliage. When collecting, you need to tear off whole plates with a bright green uniform color, without yellow, brown or black spots. The best and most useful leaves are those located closer to the top of the bush.
Plates with a dark or light coating on the surface, as well as with large or small holes, should not be taken for drying. Such leaves are most likely damaged by insects or fungus.
Rules for collecting raspberry leaves for tea
To collect leaves for drying purposes, choose raspberries that grow in an environmentally friendly place.You cannot cut off bushes located near roads and railways, near industrial facilities and within the city. The leaves of such raspberries accumulate too many toxic substances and heavy metals. There will be almost no benefit from them, but they can cause harm to the body.
It is also not recommended to remove leaves for drying from shrubs that have recently been subjected to chemical treatments against fungi and pests. Fungicidal and insecticidal agents remain on the surface of the plates for a long time, forming a protective film. It may not be visible to the naked eye, but such raw materials are not suitable for drying food consumption.
Green and whole, but deformed raspberry leaves should not be collected - they may be infected with viruses
To properly prepare raspberry leaves for the winter, you need to choose a warm and dry day without rain. Collection is carried out early in the morning after the dew has dried, but before the bright sun appears.
You need to pick leaves from a raspberry bush for drying by hand, very carefully. Neither the plates themselves nor the shoots on which they are located should be damaged. Each leaf must be very carefully inspected for integrity and cleanliness before being removed from the bush. If there are holes or suspicious spots on the plate, it is better to leave it on the shoot.
How to properly dry raspberry leaves for the winter
Drying allows you to preserve beneficial substances in raspberry leaves for a long time after picking. Proper implementation of the procedure stops the oxidation process in the plates, preventing them from rotting and deterioration.
You can properly dry raspberry leaves for tea using the following algorithm:
- The collected plates are washed in cool water to remove dust and dirt until the liquid becomes completely transparent.
- Before drying raspberry leaves for tea, they are sorted. Yellowish or damaged plates that accidentally end up with the green ones are thrown away. Then the remaining raw materials are dried on a towel to remove excess moisture.
- The leaves are laid out on thick paper in a thin layer and left in a cool, well-ventilated room or outside under a canopy. From time to time, the plates are turned over so that drying occurs evenly and mold does not appear.
- After 5-7 days, the foliage is checked for readiness. The raw materials should become soft, lose their elasticity and acquire an olive green color.
Raspberry leaves should be dried in autumn or summer away from direct sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation destroys vitamins and organic acids, so the plates lose most of their benefits.
In damp weather or if you need to quickly prepare, you can dry raspberry leaves for tea using an oven or dehydrator. In the first case, the plates are first treated for 15 minutes at 100 °C, and then the heat is reduced to 60 °C. When using a dehydrator, the temperature for drying raspberry leaves should be 50-60 °C.
It is recommended to dry on paper or a baking sheet, but not on newspaper, so that harmful substances are not absorbed into the raw material.
Fermentation of raspberry leaves
Theoretically, raspberry leaves can be stored immediately after drying. But more often the plates are additionally fermented. This process consists of successive drying, freezing, kneading and infusing the leaves in their own juice.After fermentation, the raw material acquires a more pronounced aroma and taste.
How and where to store dried leaves
After drying, raspberry leaves should be stored in a dry glass container, in a paper bag or in a linen bag. The raw materials are placed in a dark place with low humidity, away from direct sunlight. From time to time, the workpieces are removed and turned - this must be done so that mold and insects do not grow in them.
Best before date
If you follow the storage rules, you can use raspberry leaves after drying for two years. After the expiration of the period, the collection and processing of raw materials is carried out again.
It is not recommended to use too old plates for preparing decoctions and teas. Such raw materials not only lose their benefits, but also accumulate dangerous aflatoxins. In large quantities, they cause damage to the liver and kidneys, and can provoke cancer and other serious disorders in the functioning of the body.
Conclusion
Drying raspberry leaves for tea must follow simple rules. With proper processing, plant raw materials retain maximum benefits and allow you to prepare tasty and aromatic drinks with healing properties.
