Content
Basil tea is a healthy drink with a distinct refreshing taste that can quench your thirst on a hot day. To prepare the decoction, a fragrant (noble) and mint-leaved (camphor) type of plant is used. The drink is brewed from dry raw materials collected during the flowering period, or from fresh leaves.
Can basil be brewed as tea?
Basil is an aromatic plant with beneficial properties. It can and should be brewed for medicinal purposes. To prepare the drink, you should use the leaves of the plant.
Drink options:
- brewed leaves of the plant in its pure form;
- basil with herbal mixture;
- black tea with basil;
- green tea with basil;
- a mixture of teas with the addition of basil.
Properties of basil tea
The drink is rich in vitamins (B2, C, PP), essential oils, tannins, saponins, and phytoncides. The plant contains rutin, carotene, fatty acids, thiamine (B1), pyridoxine (B6), beneficial microelements:
- calcium;
- potassium;
- iron;
- manganese;
- copper.
Basil tea has medicinal properties:
- tonic;
- anti-inflammatory;
- painkillers;
- wound healing;
- sedative;
- normalizing the functioning of the digestive system.
The benefits and harms of basil tea
The decoction is good for health and can improve a person’s overall well-being:
- increases immunity;
- adds energy and strength to the body;
- protects body cells from the negative influence of the environment;
- relieves anxiety;
- increases mental abilities;
- normalizes sleep;
- relieves inflammatory processes;
- lowers body temperature;
- relieves headaches and toothaches;
- improves the condition during menstrual periods in women;
- helps normalize the menstrual cycle;
- slows down the growth of cancer cells;
- accelerates metabolism, promotes weight loss;
- increases appetite;
- eliminates bad breath;
- strengthens gums;
- relieves bloating;
- removes waste and toxins from the body;
- prolongs youth.
This drink also has harmful properties. Tea is contraindicated for children, pregnant and lactating women. It is not recommended for use by people suffering from:
- cardiovascular diseases;
- diabetes;
- epilepsy;
- thrombosis;
- individual intolerance (allergy).
Since basil tea is beneficial, but can also be harmful, it is advisable to consult a doctor before drinking it.
Basil tea recipes
There are various options for preparing basil tea. The easiest way is to brew only the leaves of this plant.But the drink becomes more healthy and aromatic if you add strawberries, mint, lemon, green or black tea, other herbs, and ginger to it.
Green tea with basil
The recipe is simple. Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. tea;
- 5 leaves of purple basil;
- water;
- sugar or honey to taste.
Cooking process:
- Pour boiling water over the tea leaves and add basil to it.
- Leave for 10 minutes.
- Remove the brewed leaves and enjoy the drink.
You can brew black tea using the same principle. A bagged product will also work.
Tea with basil and mint
This tea will quench your thirst in the summer, so you can drink it both hot and cold. You need to prepare:
- bunch of basil;
- a bunch of mint;
- 1.5 liters of water;
- sugar to taste.
Preparation:
- Wash the plants and cut off the lower part of the stems.
- Boil water and reduce heat.
- Add sugar and wait until completely dissolved.
- Add basil. Boil for up to 2 minutes.
- Add mint.
- Wait for the water to boil and remove from heat.
- Leave covered for 10 minutes.
- Strain.
- Drink immediately, cool or refrigerate.
Tea with strawberries and basil
This tea is very aromatic. It is usually drunk cold.
Components:
- 40 g black (green) tea;
- 350 g strawberries;
- 1 bunch of basil;
- 1.6 liters of water;
- 3 tbsp. l. Sahara;
- ice (optional).
Cooking method:
- Brew tea in 1.5 liters of boiling water and let it cool.
- Wash, peel and coarsely chop the berries, prepare the basil.
- Combine strawberries, sugar and 100 g of water in a saucepan.
- Place over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Remove from heat, add basil.
- Stir and let cool.
- Remove basil leaves.
- Combine tea and strawberry syrup with berries in one bowl.
- Serve the drink over ice.
Tea with basil and lemon
Lemon basil tea is very refreshing. It is pleasant to drink chilled in the summer. In winter, a hot drink will help treat colds.
You will need:
- 2-3 basil leaves;
- 1/3 part lemon;
- 200 ml water;
- honey or sugar to taste.
Preparation:
- Place the basil in boiling water for 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat.
- Add lemon zest.
- Leave for 15 minutes.
- Squeeze out 1 tbsp. l. lemon juice and pour it into the drink.
- Add honey or sugar.
Herbal mix
Tea will become much healthier if you brew it with medicinal plants: mint, lemon balm, thyme, raspberry or black currant leaves. This drink has a calming effect, so it is recommended to drink it before bed.
Ingredients:
- 20 g basil;
- 20 g raspberry leaves;
- 20 g currant leaves;
- 10 g lemon balm or mint;
- 1 liter of water.
Easy preparation:
- Pour boiling water over the herbs.
- Let it brew for 20 minutes.
Ginger tea with basil
A very healthy drink will help with colds, increase immunity and help speed up metabolism in the body.
Components:
- 5-6 branches of basil;
- 15 g ginger;
- 2 slices of lemon;
- 0.5 liters of water.
Recipe:
- Peel and finely chop the ginger root.
- Pour boiling water over basil, ginger and lemon.
- Leave for 10 minutes.
Tea with basil seeds for weight loss
Basil seeds can be used for health purposes. They speed up the process of burning fat in the body.This drink should be drunk in the morning on an empty stomach. Raw materials can be purchased at the pharmacy.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. basil seeds;
- 200 ml water.
Preparation:
- Pour warm water over the seeds.
- Leave for 5 minutes.
- Add 50 ml of water to the drink.
If desired, at the end of cooking, instead of 50 ml of water, you can add the same amount of natural yogurt or juice.
How to preserve beneficial properties when brewing
There are rules for brewing tea. To preserve all the beneficial properties of the drink, you must adhere to some recommendations:
- Brew only high-quality product.
- Use fresh spring or well-filtered water.
- Remove the kettle from the heat immediately after it boils.
- Before brewing tea, the container must be doused with boiling water.
- Make sure that the lid fits tightly onto the container with tea when brewing.
Conclusion
Basil tea will help in solving many health problems. The drink will quench your thirst in the summer and warm you up in the cold season. Non-standard tea will surprise guests with its aroma and unforgettable taste.