How to make tea from currant leaves and how it is useful for the body

More and more people are turning to natural remedies to boost their immunity and well-being. One of them is tea made from currant leaves. A properly prepared drink brings invaluable benefits to the human body. Let's figure out what rules you need to follow to get the maximum effect.

Is it possible to make tea from currant leaves

Currant greens contain much more vitamin C than berries (about 245 mg per 100 g), so this tea is indispensable for enhancing immunity, especially in spring and autumn, during the season of colds. In addition to ascorbic acid, the product is rich in vitamins A, E, PP, H and group B.

The composition of the drink

100 g of the product contains:

• 158 mg potassium;
• 327 mg calcium;
• 370 mg magnesium;
• 0.5 mg iron;
• 7.5 mg phosphorus;
• 1.5 mg copper;
• iodine, manganese, molybdenum and zinc.

The green parts of the plant are rich in essential oils and phytoncides. The composition contains phenolic acids, flavonoids and many other useful bioactive compounds.

Benefit and harm

Why leaves are useful black currant in tea:

• strengthen the cardiovascular system;
• stimulate the digestive tract;
• increase the general tone of the body;
• reduce pressure;
• increase brain activity and prevent atherosclerosis;
• strengthen the nervous system.

For the treatment of eczema and dermatitis, the decoction is used externally. Due to the presence of phytoncides, currant tea has a therapeutic effect in diseases of the upper respiratory tract. The mild diuretic effect of the drink is used to treat pyelonephritis and eliminate edema.

Important! The catechins contained in currant leaves - the strongest antioxidants - protect the body from the effects of free radicals and reduce the risk of developing cancer.

Despite the obvious benefits, excessive consumption of currant leaf tea can cause allergies. It is recommended to exclude the product for those who suffer from high acidity, hemophilia.

Beneficial features

Currant leaf tea has many beneficial properties, therefore it is very popular. It is used for the prevention of acute respiratory infections and the treatment of many diseases.

For men and women

Currant leaf tea is widely used to reduce inflammatory processes, treat skin and joint pathologies, diabetes mellitus. The drink reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Currant leaves are often used as one of the main ingredients in cosmetics to whiten the skin and reduce inflammation. A positive effect on visual acuity, vascular condition was noted.

Preventive properties make currant leaf tea indispensable in the midst of seasonal colds. It is recommended for pregnant women in autumn and spring as an absolutely natural remedy. Also, the drink helps to reduce edema, which is important at different stages of pregnancy.

Important! Black currants, due to their high vitamin C content, can cause allergies, so you should not abuse this drink during pregnancy.

For kids

Currant leaf tea is useful for both adults and children.Substances in its composition are involved in the formation and regeneration of tissues, help to recover faster after active physical activity, improve memory and concentration. But, since the child's body is much more susceptible to all kinds of allergens, you should not use the drink uncontrollably. Better to limit yourself to small doses several times a week.

What leaves are suitable for making tea

To get the most out of your tea, carefully follow all the rules for collecting and harvesting currant leaves.

Collection rules

It is difficult to name the exact time for collecting currant leaves, since different varieties bloom and bear fruit at different times. The main feature that is recommended to be guided by is the first flowering of the bushes. It was at this time that the currant greens are maximally saturated with useful substances. It is best to pick the leaves in the morning, when the dew has dried up, but the greens have not yet warmed up in the sun. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the leaves: only healthy, undamaged parts of the bush should be collected. Young shoots from the tops of the branches are best suited.

Important! Leaves collected in rainy weather do not dry well and survive worse for the winter.

Preparation and processing

For long-term storage, currant leaves are usually dried, fermented or frozen. Greens are dried in a dry room with good air circulation, away from direct sunlight. The raw materials are laid out in one layer and mixed periodically. In such conditions, it dries up for about 4-5 days.

The oven helps to speed up the process: it is recommended to keep the collected raw materials at a temperature of + 100 ° С for 15 minutes, and then lower the temperature to + 60 ° С and wait until it is completely dry.

Important! When choosing a drying method, it is better to give preference to a longer and more traditional one. In the oven, there is a high probability of overdrying the leaves, as a result of which the beneficial properties are partially or completely lost.

The dried leaves are stored in a glass jar or natural cloth bag in a dark, dry and cool place. Grind them just before brewing tea.

Fermentation

The fermentation process is gaining in popularity when harvesting plant leaves for making tea. Fermentation of green currants is carried out in several stages:

1. It is necessary to dry it slightly for several hours, focusing on the appearance and condition of the cutting. When the leaves become lethargic, and the cutting becomes flexible and does not break, it's time to move on to the next stage.
2. The leaves must be twisted into sausages, crumpled between the fingers, or, if there are too many of them, twisted in a meat grinder. The main task of this stage is to achieve separation of juice from raw materials.
3. Place the rolled leaves in a bowl or saucepan and cover with a damp towel for fermentation. Place the container in a warm room with a temperature of + 25 ... + 27 ° С. When a pronounced currant aroma appears, it is time for drying.
4. Distribute the raw materials evenly on a baking sheet and place in an oven at a temperature of + 100 ° С for half an hour. After that, check the readiness of the leaves and dry them if necessary.

Despite the fact that the fermentation process, namely the rolling of leaves, is very laborious, it is better not to resort to using a meat grinder, but to try to preserve their integrity as much as possible.

It is interesting:

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Black currant leaves - useful and medicinal properties

The best ways to dry black currants at home

How to brew tea from currant leaves

The brewing technique for fresh and dried or fermented currant leaves is slightly different. To maximize nutrient retention, follow these guidelines when brewing tea.

From fresh

To make tea from fresh currant leaves, they are thoroughly washed, cut into small pieces and boiled with boiling water at the rate of 250 ml of water per 2 tsp. leaves.The drink is insisted for 15-20 minutes.

Dried / Fermented

Dried or fermented currant leaves are pre-crushed. 1 tsp raw materials are poured into 200 ml of cool water and brought to a boil over low heat. Immediately after boiling, the tea is removed from the heat and filtered.

Tea recipes with currant leaves

There are many recipes for blackcurrant leaf tea, among which everyone will find a drink to taste.

With berries

To prepare such tea, it is enough to take berries and currant leaves in equal proportions and pour boiling water over them. When the drink is infused, it is ready to drink.

With rose hips

This tea, due to the combination of the beneficial properties of currants and rose hips, is considered an effective remedy for combating colds. 50 g of rose hips are mixed with 10 g of currant leaves and 1 liter of boiling water is poured.

With mint

This combination has a relaxing and calming effect on the nervous system, helps to eliminate toxins and reduce inflammation. Currant and mint tea is an effective remedy for insomnia. To prepare a drink, mix 0.5 tbsp. l. black tea, 2 tbsp. l. currant leaves, 1 tbsp. l. mint. Pour boiling water at the rate of 250 ml of water per 1 tbsp. l. the resulting mixture. Insist for 15 minutes.

With strawberries

Currant leaves are mixed with leaves or strawberries in a 2: 1 ratio and poured with boiling water. After 15-20 minutes, the drink is ready to drink.

With raspberries

This tea improves immunity, and in case of colds, it effectively helps in the fight against coughs. You must take 1 tbsp. l. raspberry and currant leaves and pour 250 ml of boiling water. Insist for 15-20 minutes, then strain. Add honey to enhance the anti-cold effect.

With spices, etc.

Each spice has its own beneficial properties, so you can brew such tea based on your own preferences and the desired effect of drinking. Ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg go well with currants.

Contraindications

It is not recommended to use a currant drink when:

• gastritis with high acidity or stomach ulcer;
• individual intolerance;
• increased blood clotting and thrombophlebitis.

With regular use of this tea, even in the absence of pronounced contraindications, it is necessary to consult a doctor.

Conclusion

Currant leaf tea is one of the most effective and healthy natural drinks. It helps fight colds, increases immunity and is used as part of complex therapy in the treatment of many diseases. However, due to its high vitamin C content, this tea can cause allergies and should be consumed with caution.