Since ancient times, Ivan tea was famous for its beneficial properties. The plant improves immunity, calms, normalizes the digestive system. To the grass brought the most positive effect, it is desirable to properly collect, dry and cook. Before use, you need to know about possible side effects and contraindications.
When and how to collect
Ivan-tea loves a large amount of heat and light, so it grows in forests on the edges, glades, dried marshes. In early May, when the flower buds begin to open, you can begin to collect the tips of the shoots. The remaining parts are harvested from mid-summer to early autumn. When collecting, it is important not to harm the plant: the stem is clamped with the hands and carried along it from top to bottom. Leaves are harvested during flowering. After the plant begins to push (from the middle to the end of summer), the leaves stop collecting. Flowers harvested without seeds and leaves. The roots continue to dig in the fall.
It is necessary to collect the plant in the morning in dry weather so that it will not rain the day before. Do not recommend to engage in harvesting in hot weather, as the leaves "burn". You can not collect dusty, dirty and sick leaves. Also, do not pay attention to plants that grow along factories, railways and highways: they “absorb” all harmful substances. The bush is not removed entirely, but taken gradually from different places.
Different ways of drying plants
Fresh leaves are stored for long. In addition, fresh herb tea causes an upset stomach, so it’s better to use dry leaves. Dry the grass under a canopy away from direct sunlight in a well-ventilated area. The leaves are washed, laid out a layer of not more than 5 cm, occasionally turning.
There are several ways to dry.
Fermentation
The leaves must be rubbed between the palms to make sausages or balls. When they turn dark from the released juice, they are spread on the enamelled tray with a thin layer, a moist cloth is put on top and left for 12 hours to mature. The temperature should be at least 26 degrees. Mature leaves are cut with scissors, put on a baking tray, pre-covered with parchment paper, and dried at 50 degrees in an ajar oven, stirring occasionally.
Twist
Dampen a linen cloth with water and decompose the willow tea so that the layer does not exceed 3 cm. Then the cloth should be twisted like a roll, well sealing, moistening it with a spray bottle (otherwise the cloth will absorb juice). Twist to pull the rope and stretch your hands well. The resulting mass is transferred to the bank for two days. While the plant will be in the bank, the fermentation process is completed. Next, take out the grass, rub it with your hands until the juice starts to stand out, and leave it under the wet cloth for 7 hours. After this, the tea is transferred to a baking sheet. Dry it in the ajar oven at a temperature of 100 degrees. The mixture is stirred periodically.
Fermentation under the yoke
The available raw materials must be divided into two equal parts. From one squeezed juice using a juicer. The second part is shifted to the pan, where the juice is poured. The mixture is pressed down with a weight of 20 kg. After three days, the plant is dried at a temperature of 90 degrees.
Dug out the roots cleaned from the ground, washed, slightly dried. After that, they are cut and dried in the oven at a temperature of 20 degrees.
How to know that the leaves are dried properly? When you press on dry leaves, they break and do not crumble. If the workpiece smells like dry paper, then they are overdried. The color of properly dried tea is brown, with shades ranging from light to dark.
Storage features willow-tea
After the leaves have been collected and dried, they should be stored at room temperature in a glass container with the lid tightly closed, with paper or cloth bags. Tea should not be exposed to direct sunlight or temperature changes. If all conditions are met, the leaves and flowers can be stored for 2 years, the roots - 3 years.
Brewing Secrets
The tea brewed according to the rules is superior to Ceylon in taste. Its fortress occupies a middle position between the black and green varieties. One of the advantages of willow-tea is that it can be drunk chilled, it perfectly quenches thirst. In addition, the healing properties and taste are stored in the finished drink for up to three days. Brewed willow tea alone or with other herbs (mint, dogrose).
Teapot is better to choose porcelain or earthenware. It should be heated by rinsing with boiling water. Pour in dried grass and pour boiling water at the rate of 3 tsp. 0.5 liters of water. It is recommended to first pour a third of boiling water, let it brew for 5 minutes, then add the rest of the water and leave for another 10 minutes, mix. For tea, it is better to take spring or filtered drinking water.
Boiled water can be added to the used tea leaves another 3-5 times, while its healing properties are preserved due to the essential oils that are part of the plant. It is undesirable to add sugar to tea, instead it is recommended to use dried apricots, dates and other dried fruits, as well as honey.
The second method of brewing: put the leaves of the plant in an enamel bowl and pour it with purified water at room temperature. Infusion put on low heat and bring to a boil. Tea insist 10 minutes.
If you plan to drink tea as a therapeutic agent, it is consumed within a month instead of tea and coffee (no more than 5 cups a day).
The use of ivan-tea in cooking
For a long time, the willow tea plant has been used not only as a healing drink, but also in cooking. Soups were cooked from leaves, various salads were made, fried, stewed. Here are some popular recipes.
Schi green
Ingredients:
water - 1 l;- leaves of ivan tea - 100 g;
- nettle leaves - 100 g;
- sorrel - 100 g;
- potatoes - 200 g;
- onion - 1 pc .;
- carrots - 1 pc .;
- chicken eggs - 2 pcs .;
- oil - 20 g;
- sour cream - 20 g;
- salt, pepper to taste.
water - 1 l;Pour oil into a frying pan, pour finely chopped greens, simmer on low heat. While the greens are stewing, wash and chop the carrots and onions. Add them to the pan, mix. Boil water in a separate saucepan. Wash the potatoes, chop and put in the pan. 5 minutes before being ready to pour braised greens and vegetables to the potatoes. Salt and pepper as desired. Before serving, add half a boiled egg and sour cream to the soup.
Vitamin Salad
Ingredients:
- roots of willow-tea - 100 g;
- carrots - 2 pcs .;
- green pea;
- garlic clove;
- mayonnaise.
Boil salted water in a saucepan, put the cleaned crushed rhizomes into it and cook for 10 minutes. Add roots of plants, grated carrots, green peas, garlic, mayonnaise. Mix everything thoroughly.
Salad of fireweed and spring onions
Ingredients:
- leaves of fireweed - 100 g;
- green onions - 50 g;
- sour cream;
- lemon - 1 pc .;
- salt, spices.
Rinse the leaves of fireweed, pour boiling water, finely chop. Add chopped onion, salt and spices. Sour cream mixed with lemon juice and season the salad.
Side effects and contraindications
Despite all the benefits of willow-tea, this plant has some contraindications to use, as it is therapeutic.
It is not recommended to use, if available:
- idiosyncrasy: if allergic reactions have appeared, you should stop drinking sausage;
- heartburn and gastritis: the plant contains a large amount of vitamin C, which increases the level of acidity;
- thrombophlebitis, varicose veins: drinks containing willow tea increase blood clotting;
- tendency to breakdown of stool, weakened work of the gastrointestinal tract.
It is not recommended to drink tea for more than one month, as diarrhea may appear. After a course of tea you need to take a break for 2 weeks. Cyprus helps to reduce the heat, so it is not recommended to use it together with antipyretic drugs.
Before use in children and during pregnancy and lactation should consult with experts.
To get the most out of willow tea, it should be properly harvested: away from the roads, choosing whole plants. It is also important to determine the method of drying so that the grass does not deteriorate ahead of schedule. Preparing a drink, you need to make sure that there are no contraindications. If you follow all the recommendations, you can improve physical and emotional health.
