Raspberry tea (Rubus idaeus) has been a go-to health tea for centuries.
Growing wild or cultivated, raspberry bushes offered travelers a delicious fruit, and medicine women, doctors, and housewives an herb that makes a tasty tea with specific health benefits.
Native to Asia Minor and North America, raspberries were culturally accepted by Romans, Native Americans and early American settlers. For centuries, ripe red raspberries and raspberry leaf tea have maintained their presence in our lives.
Shaker communities in the United States sold raspberry leaves for medicinal uses in the 1800s. And since at least early Roman times, women have used raspberry tea during pregnancy and childbirth to maintain and strengthen the uterus.
Health benefits of raspberry tea
Loaded with properties, such as Vitamin C, niacin, calcium, magnesium and zinc, and astringent properties from citric and malic acid, raspberry tea has many positive health benefits.
Raspberry tea made from raspberry leaves is used to:
- treat anemia
- regulate the menstrual cycle
- help with menstrual cramps
- relax and tone the uterus during pregnancy
- treat diarrhea and dysentery
- calm motion and morning sickness
Raspberry tea is also used as a mouthwash and gargle for cold sores.
Another interesting use for raspberry leaves is as a fertility booster for male animals. The leaves are dried and added to animal feed.
Harvesting raspberry leaves for tea
Raspberry leaves are picked in the spring before the raspberry bush flowers and bears fruit. At this time, the bush gives all of its nutrients to the leaves and not to the fruit, which means the leaves are full of vitamins and minerals.
Once picked, the leaves are dried and sold as loose leaf or bagged in individual tea bags.
How to make raspberry tea – a recipe
You can use loose leaf or bagged raspberry leaves in this recipe for raspberry tea.
You need…
- 1 cup boiling water
- 1-2 teaspoons loose leaf raspberry leaves or 1 teabag of raspberry leaf
How to make…
- Pour the water over the raspberry leaves or teabag and let sit for 10 minutes.
- Strain if using loose leaf or remove the teabag.
- Enjoy!
Note: Adding ginger, mint, and honey when making tea for morning and motion sickness gives additional digestive benefits for these stomach issues.
Drinking raspberry tea cold or hot
There is a difference in how the body reacts to drinking hot or cold raspberry tea for different issues.
Iced or cold raspberry tea works best for diarrhea, dysentery, motion and morning sickness.
Warm or hot raspberry tea works best for menstrual and uterine issues.
However, as always, if you have an opposite reaction to drinking the tea hot or cold for an issue, then by all means, drink raspberry tea in the manner that works best for you.
As always, consult with your health practitioner before consuming raspberry tea, to ensure raspberry tea is safe for you.
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