How to store Ivan tea at home, rules and methods of drying
How to properly store Ivan tea, few people know. This is a medicinal plant that will not only enrich the body with useful microelements, but also delight you with excellent taste. You can harvest the herb for this tea yourself. To extend the life of valuable raw materials, they are processed and fermented. This makes it possible to preserve the beneficial properties of the plant and enjoy it at any time.
Peculiarities of the plant
It is not difficult to recognize the flowers of Ivan-tea. The plants reach a height of 50-200 cm. The stems are dense, cylindrical, pink in color. The leaves are lanceolate, elongated, green with a brown tint. The flowers are bright pink or purple. Consisting of 5 petals, in the center are stamens of the same color.
Plants grow in families, in the wild they are found in whole glades. They are easily recognizable by their bright colors. The biological name of the plant is fireweed. The flower is perennial and grows in one place for several years. Flowering lasts from June to September.For tea, the flowers are harvested in bulk in mid-summer.
Beneficial Features
People have long known about the beneficial properties of willowherb. Even in the Middle Ages, this tea was served at the royal table and exported to other countries. Ivan tea has many medicinal properties:
- anti-inflammatory effect, fireweed has a very strong effect in comparison with other medicinal plants;
- stops the development of tumor cells, is not used to treat cancer, suitable for prevention;
- enveloping action, helps to cope with gastritis or gastric ulcer;
- strengthens the walls of blood vessels, has a beneficial effect on the work of the heart;
- is a mood modulator;
- improves sleep, relieves insomnia;
- has a positive effect on the nervous system, improves blood circulation, accelerates brain activity.
The beneficial properties of willowherb do not end there. The plant has a real healing effect. In the Middle Ages, Ivan tea was used as a panacea against all diseases.
Important! In traditional medicine, fireweed is still used to treat many diseases.
How to collect correctly
The plant begins to bloom at the end of May. However, it is recommended to collect the flowers for drying in early July, during the most active flowering period. A small number of flowers are carefully removed from each shoot, they do this, trying not to damage the stem of the plant. Several flowers are removed from each inflorescence, the rest are left.
The procedure is carried out in dry weather, preferably in the morning. Sometimes the raw materials are harvested in May. But they do it selectively. May pruning is thought to stimulate the growth and development of new shoots.
Preparation for drying
Leaves, roots and flowers must be prepared before drying. The roots are washed and freed from sand and soil, the flowers are immediately dried in the oven. The leaves require preliminary preparation. Before starting the fermentation, the leaves should not be washed with water, this will eliminate beneficial microorganisms and the fermentation process will not work.
Turn and roll with a rolling pin
For a small amount of grass, rolling the leaves by hand or rolling them out with a rolling pin is fine. To do this, each sheet is taken in the hand and twisted into spirals. Using a rolling pin, the pieces of leaves are rolled out with a rolling pin, they are securely attached.
The resulting "snails" are placed in a glass jar and closed with a nylon lid, left for fermentation.
Fermentation
Fermentation is the fermentation process during which beneficial enzymes are produced. This happens when optimal conditions are created. After the procedure, the willow tea leaves acquire a certain taste.
Easy
First stage of fermentation, it lasts 3 to 6 hours. After that, a pleasant floral and sweet smell remains. When brewed, the tea has a soft, bright aroma, the taste is delicate, light, sweet.
Mean
The second degree lasts 10-16 hours. A longer process gives a sour taste. The tea will turn out tart and rich in aroma. It should be mixed with regular green or black tea.
Deep
The longest fermentation lasts from 20 to 36 hours. After her, the grass has a sour and bitter taste, a slight floral smell. It is added to tea compositions in small quantities. It is not very pleasant to drink in its pure form.
Important! The shorter the fermentation, the more pleasant the taste of Ivan tea.Better not to hold than to overexpose.
With a meat grinder
It is difficult to manually twist the leaves into spirals if there are a lot of them. Therefore, large volumes of raw materials are rubbed in a meat grinder. The tubes obtained are pressed and sent to fermentation. They are put in glass jars with a lid and kept for the required time.
Drying methods
After fermentation, the tea leaves must be dried so that they can be stored for a long time. Damp environments often harbor bacteria that cause rot and mold. If it starts, then all the tea will have to be thrown away.
In the oven
Drying raw materials in the oven is as easy as peeling pears. The cabinet is heated to a temperature of 100°C. The leaves of the willowherb are laid out in an even layer on a baking sheet lined with a permanent. Send it to the oven for 2-3 hours. Then the door is slightly opened, the temperature is lowered to 50 ° C. Dry again for 1.5 hours. Then they take out the leaves, allow time to cool to room temperature. After that, the tea is poured into a linen bag and air-dried.
If the weather is wet, they choose a suitable place at home.
Electric drying
Electric dryers are equipped with special trays. The resulting raw materials are laid out on it in an even layer. Set the mode to 50°C, leave to dry for 4 hours. The condition of the leaves is checked periodically. The main thing is that they dry evenly. If necessary, interfere with them with a wooden spatula.
In the sun
Sun drying takes 4-5 days. This requires consistent sunny weather for several days.The leaves are laid out on the newspaper in an even layer. Leave in the sun and wait to dry. The willowherb is shaken periodically. They hide under a canopy at night and in cloudy weather.
Home cooking methods and secrets
Ivan tea, properly brewed at home, is no worse than ready-made mixes from the store. Outwardly and in taste, it resembles a mixture of green and black tea. Drying and fermenting willowherb on your own is not difficult. You can prepare it using a few secrets:
- Ivan's tea leaves are added to regular green or black tea;
- infused willowherb has a pleasant taste combined with honey and lemon;
- the use of such a decoction in the morning fills the day with good humor and cheerfulness;
- chopped willowherb grass is added to dishes as a spice;
- it is better to drink a freshly prepared drink, which is bitter;
- proper storage is the key to a delicious drink.
Storage requirements
To extend the life of processed raw materials, you need to create the right storage conditions. The better the conditions, the longer the tea is stored.
Temperature
Prepared raw materials are stored at a temperature of 15-20 ° C. Tea keeps well at room temperature.
Humidity
The humidity in the room should not exceed 80%. At higher values, the grass saturates with water and begins to deteriorate.
Lighting
Do not expose the dried leaves to the sun. They will become very dry and lose some of their nutrients. It is better to cover the finished tea from ultraviolet rays with the help of paper labels and shaded areas.
Container
The utensils in which the tea is stored play one of the main roles.You can't use metal products, they draw some of the beneficial nutrients into themselves.
Glass
It is best to use a glass jar with a nylon lid. It fits in a kitchen drawer, away from direct sunlight.
Ceramic
Ceramic is more suitable for Ivan tea. This material has a suitable composition, does not attract nutrients to itself. Retains useful properties for several years.
Important! It is believed that with proper storage, willowherb retains its properties for up to 10 years.
Common Mistakes
When harvesting medicinal herbs for the winter, some people make mistakes:
- you can not wash the leaves of willowherb before rolling them, because of this, the fermentation process is disturbed;
- on the first day after collecting raw materials, it has time to wither;
- too dried in the oven or in the sun, ivan tea loses its properties;
- drying is carried out strictly according to the instructions, periodically stirring the leaves;
- the leaves, roots and petals are harvested separately;
- it is worth keeping fireweed in a glass container in a shady place.
Additional tips and tricks
Dried willowherb has many beneficial properties. It is often used to treat stomach upset, inflammation, and good sleep. When using willowherb, it is recommended to follow some useful tips:
- dried tea can be stored in linen or paper bags, with additional ventilation the shelf life increases;
- willowherb is mixed with common types of tea;
- purchased finished raw materials are stored much less;
- Ivan tea half an hour before rest strengthens sleep, calms the nervous system;
- it is not recommended to drink medicinal herbs for lactating and pregnant women, children without consulting a doctor.