Currant leaf tea: benefits, how to brew correctly, harm

Content

1 Properties of currant tea
2 Benefits of tea with currant leaves
3 Is it possible to have tea with currant leaves during pregnancy and breastfeeding?
4 When to collect currant leaves for tea
5 Rules for preparing currant leaves for tea
6 How to brew currant leaves correctly
7 Recipes for tea with currant leaf
8 How to drink tea with blackcurrant leaves
9 Harm of currant leaf tea
10 Conclusion

Tea made from currant leaves is a very tasty and healthy drink. Due to the presence of many vitamins in the composition, tea helps to improve well-being, but in order to benefit from it, you need to know more about the properties of currant leaves.

Properties of currant tea

The benefits and harms of currant tea are very diverse due to the rich chemical composition of currant leaves. Tea brewed from the leaves contains:

essential oils;
vitamins C and B;
carotene and vitamin E;
vitamin K1 and nicotinic acid PP;
large amounts of potassium, iron, manganese;
fluorine and zinc;
sodium;
tannins;
antioxidants and phytoncides;
fiber and organic acids;
pectins and natural sugars.

Thanks to this composition, currant leaf tea has pronounced anti-inflammatory properties.It helps fight infectious processes in the body, relieves irritation of the mucous membranes and allows you to quickly cope with viruses.

Tea has strong rejuvenating properties. Drinking it is useful for maintaining youth and vigor; the drink increases stamina and has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin and hair. The anti-cancer properties of currant tea are known; the drink promotes cell renewal and does not allow the development of cancerous tumors.

Benefits of tea with currant leaves

The beneficial properties of blackcurrant tea can be listed for quite a long time, but the main positive effect is that the drink:

helps to quickly cope with viral infections and colds, bronchitis and sore throat, flu;
increases immune resistance and generally reduces susceptibility to colds;
helps cope with vitamin deficiency and anemia, is of great benefit as a restorative drink after serious illnesses;
improves the condition of blood vessels and protects the cardiac system from the development of diseases;
helps reduce blood pressure in hypertension and reduces the risk of strokes;
protects against atherosclerosis and reduces cholesterol levels;
relieves inflammation of the genitourinary system, drinking currant tea is useful for nephritis, cystitis, sand in the kidneys, and frequent occurrence of edema;
eliminates discomfort from gout and rheumatism, as it removes uric acid deposits from the joints;
improves digestion and helps regulate appetite.

Drinking tea with currant leaves is useful if you are prone to diabetes.It is also recommended to drink a medicinal drink for nervous disorders - currant herbal tea helps normalize sleep and even out the emotional background.

Is it possible to have tea with currant leaves during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Tea with currants during pregnancy is not prohibited for consumption; you can still drink it, it will be beneficial. The drink will help get rid of edema, which often occurs in pregnant women, and will reduce nausea in the early stages of pregnancy. In addition, the vitamins contained in the tea will be valuable both for the woman and for the fetus developing in the womb.

Important! At the same time, tea consumption should be limited to only 1-2 cups a day - you should not abuse the drink either, otherwise it may negatively affect the functioning of the kidneys.

As for the period of breastfeeding, currant tea should be introduced into the diet only a couple of months after childbirth. When drinking currant tea, a nursing mother must carefully monitor the baby's reaction; if the baby develops allergy symptoms, the drink will have to be abandoned.

When to collect currant leaves for tea

For medicinal purposes, currant leaves are collected in late spring during the flowering period of the bush. It usually occurs in May, but the timing may vary in different regions. During flowering, the green parts of the currant contain the maximum amount of useful components; accordingly, the leaves have the strongest healing properties.

It is important to remember that the raw materials must be completely clean from an environmental point of view. Only shrubs that have grown far from roads and industrial enterprises are suitable for collection.You need to pick the leaves to make tea at least a month after the last insecticide treatment; too many toxic chemicals remain on the currant immediately after spraying.

Rules for preparing currant leaves for tea

In order for the benefits of blackcurrant leaf tea to fully manifest itself, the raw materials must be properly prepared. The collection should be carried out in dry and clear weather, and only whole and clean leaves without damage or suspicious spots should be picked from the branches; the leaves should be completely healthy.

Dry currant leaves in the fresh air in a natural way. The raw materials are laid out on a baking sheet or other surface and placed in a dry, shaded place. Leaves should not be exposed to open sun, and leaves should not be dried in a draft.

Dried currant leaves retain their aroma best if they are fermented at home. This requires:

Place the dried leaves in small piles of 5 leaves each;
place the stacks in an enamel pan and cover it with a damp cloth;
remove the pan to a warm place for 12 hours.

After this time, the leaves are again transferred to a baking sheet and placed in a warm oven, preheated to 100 ° C, until they are completely dry.

How to brew currant leaves correctly

There are many recipes for brewing tea with currant leaves. But the basic and simplest recipe looks like this:

dry leaves are crushed in the amount of 2 large spoons;
the raw materials are mixed with a large spoon of black or green tea leaves;
pour 200 ml of boiling water into the mixture and cover with a lid.

You need to infuse the drink for at least 25 minutes so that the currant leaves have time to release maximum aroma and nutrients.

Attention! If desired, you can add a little honey to the finished drink, and also supplement the tea with rose hips, raspberries, strawberries or lemon balm. However, pure currant tea without impurities has a very pleasant taste and unobtrusive berry aroma.

Recipes for tea with currant leaf

Many varieties of healthy aromatic tea are prepared from currant leaves. Depending on the preparation method and various additives, tea can have all sorts of healing properties and have a beneficial effect on the nervous, digestive and immune systems.

Classic currant tea

The simplest version of the drink is tea with currant leaves without additional ingredients. They do it like this:

crush 1 large spoon of dried leaves;
pour boiling water over the raw materials;
put the currant tea in a small teapot and pour in 500 ml of hot, just boiled water;
cover with a lid and leave for 15 minutes.

The finished drink is filtered through a strainer or folded gauze and drunk in the same way as regular tea, adding honey or sugar if desired.

Advice! There is another option for preparing classic tea - currant leaves, dried or fresh, are not brewed in a teapot, but simmered over low heat on the stove for about 15 minutes. In this case, there is no need to chop the leaves; they can be boiled whole, and then traditionally strain the finished drink.

Anti-cold tea

In autumn and winter, tea made from currant leaves with the addition of raspberries will be of great benefit. The drink will strengthen immune resistance and relieve the symptoms of an oncoming cold. Prepare tea as follows:

dried currant and raspberry leaves are mixed in equal quantities, 1 small spoon of raw materials;
pour the ingredients with hot water and close the container with a lid;
The tea is infused for 20 minutes and then filtered.

The vitamins and organic acids in the leaves will help you quickly cope with the first signs of the disease or even prevent its occurrence. The healing properties of tea can be enhanced by natural honey if you add it to the drink in the amount of 1 small spoon.

Soothing tea with mint and lemon balm

Tea made from currant leaves has a beneficial effect on the nervous system and helps improve sleep, as well as normalize the emotional background and cope with stress. During periods of strong psychological and mental stress, it is recommended to brew the following leaf-based drink:

2 small spoons of currant leaves are mixed with mint and lemon balm, you need to take 1 small spoon each;
add only half a teaspoon of regular black tea leaves to the mixture;
The healthy mixture is poured with 2 glasses of hot water and covered with a lid.

You need to infuse the drink for 15 minutes. After this, the tea is filtered, sugar or natural honey is added if desired and drunk warm. The drink will be especially beneficial if you take it a couple of hours before bedtime; in this case, currants will help you relax, tune in to a peaceful rest and fall asleep quickly.

How to drink tea with blackcurrant leaves

Currant leaves are completely safe to eat. You can take drinks based on them in the same way as regular teas, in similar quantities and with the same frequency. It is best to drink tea warm some time after eating - the beneficial substances in it will be better absorbed.

Important! Tea made from currant leaves has pronounced diuretic properties. Therefore, the daily norm should not exceed 5 cups; if the drink is consumed in excess, it can lead to dehydration or cause kidney problems.

Harm of currant leaf tea

The benefits and harms of currant leaf tea are not always clear. Plant raw materials have some contraindications, in the presence of which it is better to refrain from drinking tea. Contraindications include:

individual allergy to black currant or any substances present in the leaves;
pancreatitis or gastric ulcer in the acute stage of the disease;
gastritis with increased production of gastric juice, natural acids in herbal tea will irritate the mucous membranes;
hepatitis and other severe liver diseases;
tendency to varicose veins of the legs and thrombophlebitis;
large kidney stones - a diuretic drink can dislodge the stones and cause severe pain.

Currant tea is not recommended for young children; it is better to wait until the child is at least 3 years old.

Conclusion

Tea made from currant leaves, when consumed correctly, has a beneficial effect on the body and improves health. But it is necessary to remember the daily norms of the drink and not to overuse medicinal tea, otherwise its effect may be reversed and the currant leaves will be harmful.