How to prepare Ivan tea for drying. Preparing fireweed tea at home: how to collect, ferment and dry fireweed

A unique plant, which has been rumored for centuries, is narrow-leaved fireweed. Few will guess that the conversation is about a herb known in Rus', from which a healing drink was made. Of course, this is fireweed. Nature's natural pantry. And the most versatile first aid kit. A traditional Russian drink, Koporye tea (which is made from grass) is known for its healing properties. It is valued not only in Rus', but also in Europe. Our ancestors knew how to properly collect and dry fireweed, and how to brew an aromatic and tasty drink.

Description of fireweed angustifolia

Many Russians can easily come across Ivan tea. It grows in dry open areas. It seems surprising to see such accessibility. Sometimes people who have heard a lot about it collect other types of plants. It is important to be able to correctly distinguish fireweed from numerous representatives of the family. The herb fireweed is a perennial plant. Its trunk reaches a height of two meters. Individual large flowers, collected in a canonical brush, have a color ranging from white to purple. The remaining representatives, as a rule, have completely different tones.

Fireweed blooms throughout the summer. The photo of the meadow simply delights with its pink fog. And the fruits ripen by the end of summer. This is a fluffy box packed tightly with seeds.

How is fireweed tea useful?

The amber drink has a pleasant taste and aroma. It invigorates the body, tones it, and significantly adds vitality. The healing properties of the herb are known. Ivan tea has a positive effect on the entire body. If you constantly drink a strong infusion of fireweed, the hemoglobin level will increase significantly, and the acid-base norm will be restored. It is used in different forms: as a tincture, decoction or powder.

Ivan tea, thanks to its constituent components (copper, iron, manganese), has an excellent ability to normalize the hematopoietic process and perfectly improves immunity.

The soothing properties of the herb are widely known, superior in some respects even to medicinal valerian. Many traditional medicine professionals highlight fireweed in a special way. Quite often they prescribe Ivan tea for neurotic disorders, depression, stress, and causeless states of anxiety. In addition to its calming effect, the herb has a hypnotic effect.

Brewed tea is an excellent remedy for headaches. Treats otolaryngological diseases: sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis.

Fireweed normalizes blood pressure and is beneficial for male diseases (adenoma and prostatitis). Ivan tea is useful for various poisonings. It is recommended for diseases of the gallbladder and spleen. It is worth noting that it is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, it is simply necessary for infections of the genitourinary system.

In cosmetology it is used as an excellent product for caring for problem skin. It has a great effect on hair growth, strengthens it, and protects against hair loss.

In the fight against various tumors (including malignant ones), such medicinal herbs are used. Ivan tea after radiation exposure and chemotherapy allows the body to recover much faster.

How to collect fireweed correctly

To preserve all the healing properties of the herb, it is very important to know how to prepare fireweed. Collection should begin during the flowering period. It was at that moment when the flower clusters did not fully bloom. As a rule, the process begins at the end of June. And it lasts until autumn. Beans appear on the lower branches of the grass closer to August. They contain unpleasant fluff, which under no circumstances should be included in the collection.

The process must be carried out in dry weather. You should not collect fireweed immediately after rain. The procurement of such raw materials will not be of high quality. Dirty, dusty, disease-affected plants are not suitable. Fireweed growing near busy roads is not intended for medicinal collection. It is better to choose a more remote place, not polluted by exhaust from cars and trains.

For medicinal infusions, the entire above-ground part of the plant is used. Therefore, fireweed is cut or broken in the middle, and sometimes closer to the ground.

Leaves are mainly collected, although flowers are also acceptable. Their presence has virtually no effect on the taste of the drink. They matter for the bees and, of course, for future harvests. That is why it is advisable to collect only fireweed leaves. To do this, the stem is pinched between the fingers and lowered down. The leaves remain in the palm. In this case, the plant itself is not damaged and can continue to bloom.

Pre-drying

To make the drink tasty and fragrant, you need to properly process the raw materials. This is why it is recommended to collect as many leaves and flowers as can be recycled.

Now let’s figure out how to prepare fireweed tea. The collected raw materials should be washed and spread on clean paper in a small layer (up to 5 cm). Do not use newspaper. It is not recommended to place fireweed in the sun. The workpiece will dry out greatly and become completely unsuitable for further processing.

The grass should dry out quite a bit. As a rule, a day is enough for this. Leaves and flowers must be turned over and stirred.

As soon as your workpiece has withered, but is still soft enough, you can begin the further process.

Simple Fermentation Method

Next you need to move on to the next stage. Before drying fireweed, the raw materials must be fermented. There are several ways to achieve the desired result. They are all equally correct. And the choice of method depends entirely on personal preference.

Leaves and flowers are rubbed in the palms. The prepared material is compactly folded into three-liter bottles. Covered with a damp cloth, such jars are lowered into a cool, dark room (t up to 25 degrees C). After 36 hours, the fermentation process will be completed. The prepared mixture must be slightly loosened. And you can move on to the fireweed process, which will be described further.

A Forgotten Fermentation Method

Our grandmothers also used this method. It is quite simple and has been undeservedly forgotten. This method is good because it allows you to process a large amount of grass.

Before drying fireweed, our ancestors took a damp linen cloth and laid the raw materials on it. The layer should be small to ensure sufficient fermentation. As a rule, it is up to three centimeters. The fabric along with the grass should be rolled into a roll. It is important to roll it up as tightly as possible. During twisting, the fabric must be moistened with clean water. To do this, you can use a regular spray bottle. If this process is missed, the fabric will become saturated with the most valuable juice of fireweed.

The roll is carefully tied with a rope. It’s a good idea to use a rubber cord for this purpose. It takes about half an hour to grind the grass. To do this, the knotted roll must be bent and straightened alternately. It will be much easier if two people take part in such an event. At this time, the structural cells of the plant are destroyed. Next, the primary fermentation stage takes place within 2-3 hours. The temperature of the roll is monitored tactilely from time to time. When your palms feel warm (approximately 37 degrees C or higher), the initial stage of fermentation is complete.

When the mass is released, a delicate smell is immediately felt, somewhat reminiscent of pear compote, slightly sour. At the slightest pressure on the raw material, a characteristic crunch is heard. This mixture is placed tightly in the prepared container. You can place them in jars, as in the previous method, or use a plastic bucket. For the final fermentation process, the container is closed and left in this form for 36-40 hours.

A little advice. In order not to spoil the raw materials, which are produced in such a careful way, it is necessary to leave small hints. To do this, write the date and exact time of bookmarking on the lids. It would be a good idea to leave a note about the expected end of the process.

Fermentation under pressure

For the third method of processing raw materials, you can use completely cut plants.

They are pre-divided into two parts. Juice is squeezed out of one. It is better to use a press juicer. It turns out a little liquid, even when using the most modern apparatus.

The second half is loaded into a pan (preferably metal-ceramic). Then the juice is poured into it. Everything is pressed down by pressure from above. It is better if it is a wooden circle on which a load is placed weighing at least 20 kilograms. You can use a regular weight (two pounds). It must be wrapped in plastic. Contact of grass with metal is absolutely unacceptable. After 72 hours, the fermentation process is completed.

The raw materials are completely ready for the next stage of procurement.

Drying process

Now let's look at how to dry fireweed. Flowers and leaves should feel like soft rubber to the touch. This means that the fermentation process was carried out correctly. The prepared mixture is dried at a temperature of 95-110 degrees C. For this, you can use a gas or electric oven.

If the raw material was made from long stems, it should be slightly chopped. The resulting “sausages” are cut into smaller pieces.

The mixture spread out on a baking sheet is sent to the oven. During the drying process, the mass must be stirred. Gradually, the future tea will acquire the required color. It varies from light tones of brown to dark. It is impossible to name the exact time of such a process. It is determined by eye. And it depends on the moisture content of the collected grass. Tea is considered ready when it reduces in size in a ratio of 5:1, when compared with undried raw materials.

Before completing the process, the oven temperature should be increased. This calcination, which is also applied to coffee beans, improves the taste of tea and gives it an unsurpassed aroma.

The oven should be slightly open at all times. Another tip will tell you how to properly dry fireweed. A red brick or ceramic tile should be placed under the baking sheet. This will protect the tea from drying out. At the same time, you get a device at home that works according to the principle. This method allows you to normalize the temperature in the oven. The resulting drink fully complies with ancient recipes and retains all its healing properties.

Drying flowers

Quite often, when collecting grass, the stems of the plant are cut off. In this case, along with the leaves there are also flowers. All of the above steps can be carried out for the entire plant. However, it is worth knowing that the most healing and useful thing about fireweed is its leaves.

At the same time, in cosmetology, decoctions are prepared using flowers. Therefore, there is often a need for a separate collection. How to dry Much easier and simpler than leaves. Flowers do not require a fermentation process. It is enough to place them separately from the leaves in a dark room. The sun's rays are also unacceptable for them.

Inflorescences dried in this way are placed for storage in a glass jar.

Making tea

The cooking technology also has its own characteristics. No matter how wonderful Koporye tea is, its taste, color and smell directly depend on the quality of the water. What an exquisite aroma does Ivan tea acquire! Preparing the drink with spring or melt water allows you to fully enjoy the unsurpassed taste.

Proper brewing of fireweed tea is an important condition. It ensures complete preservation of medicinal properties.

Brewing dry tea. Two teaspoons of herbs are poured with boiling water (600 ml). The container with the liquid is tightly closed. It should sit for about fifteen minutes. After this, the tea is stirred.

The infusion contains essential oils. For this reason, it does not spoil for several days.

Tea is delicious both hot and chilled. If desired, the drink can be heated. However, you should not allow it to boil, otherwise the aroma will immediately disappear and the healing properties will be significantly reduced.

Brewing freshly picked tea. Simply amazing! But you can make very tasty tea from fresh leaves. To do this, they are placed in an enamel container in a layer of up to five centimeters. The finished component is poured with water at room temperature. Place the pan on low heat and just bring to a boil. The resulting drink is infused for ten minutes.

Application of fireweed tea

Medicinal decoctions and infusions have a huge spectrum of action. For most diseases, doctors strongly recommend drinking grass. In folk medicine, many recipes that give positive results are created on the basis of this unpretentious plant. For what diseases is the herb Ivan tea useful?

Adenoma. It is recommended to use the drink as an aid in the fight against the disease. For a positive result, you need to drink one glass of tea in the morning on an empty stomach and in the evening half an hour before bedtime. To prepare such a decoction, both grass leaves and flowers are used. One and a half tablespoons of dry mixture per glass.
Gastroenterology. To relieve pain from enterocolitis and gastritis, a decoction of fireweed tea is prescribed. It should be taken 3 times a day, 1 tablespoon. The softening effect of tea and enveloping the walls of the stomach makes it quite easy to get rid of pain. To prepare the decoction, take 1 tablespoon of the prepared mixture per 1 glass of water.
Chronic fatigue. Having a tonic effect that strengthens the nervous system, the decoction gives strength to a person. Drinking 0.5 cups 3 times a day is prescribed. It should be taken before meals. To prepare tea, take the herb (2 tbsp), add water (2 tbsp). The prepared mixture is brought to a boil over low heat. Don't boil!

Headache. Ivan tea is not only a pain reliever. It tends to dilate blood vessels in the brain, which makes it an excellent medicine even in the fight against migraines. You need to take the product three times a day. To prepare this tincture, you need to pour three tablespoons of the herb with a glass of water. The solution should be heated in a water bath for fifteen minutes.
Stomach upsets. The decoction helps stabilize the intestines. If you have constipation or diarrhea, be sure to take the drink (3 tbsp) in the morning on an empty stomach. The root of the plant is best suited for making tincture. It is crushed (2 tbsp), poured with boiling water (2 tbsp) and left for three hours.
Anemia. Ivan tea enhances the formation of red blood cells. It is recommended to take one tablespoon three times a day. The benefits of the decoction for anemia are invaluable. To make it you need one spoon of dry herb and a glass of boiling water. The decoction should steep for two hours.
Conjunctivitis. In this disease, fireweed is an excellent antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent. It is enough to wipe the externally sore area and apply lotions. To prepare the tincture, you need to pour one tablespoon of leaves and flowers with a glass of boiling water. The solution is boiled for 15 minutes, infused for one hour. Be sure to strain it before use.

These are not all the diseases in which fireweed becomes a magic “lifesaver.” It is widely used for teething in infants. It is a component of many cosmetic recipes. It is also extremely useful in dermatology.

Instead of a conclusion

Picked on time, with great love and carefully processed, fireweed tea will allow you to enjoy the exquisite aroma and great taste of the drink gifted by nature itself. Tea will help protect the body and improve health perfectly. Mother Nature is truly generous! You just need to learn how to use her gifts correctly.

To make maximum use of all the healing properties, you need to know how to properly collect grass and process it. The methods described above will tell you how to dry fireweed. And the recipes will allow you to create a magnificent drink with a subtle summer aroma and unsurpassed healing power.

Timely preparation of tea will allow you to provide your family for a year with a healing and tasty drink and raw materials for preparing medicines according to folk recipes in a few days.

Places where fireweed grows

Ivan tea grows in areas with average temperatures. For example, there is a lot of it in central Russia. It exists in Ukraine, the Czech Republic, and Germany.

Ivan-tea chooses well-lit places. It is useless to look for it in the forest or in swampy areas. There is a lot of fireweed grass on the edges of the forest, in roadside strips, and in sunny meadows.

When to collect

The timing of collecting any medicinal herb, like fireweed, is extremely important for preserving its healing properties. It is difficult to indicate exactly what time to choose for collection. It depends on certain climatic conditions in each specific area where fireweed grows. So, in the south of Russia they begin to collect it in early, mid-June, and closer to the center - mid-June, early July; in the northern parts, this medicinal herb begins to be collected in mid-July, early August.

The earlier hot sunny days begin each year, the earlier fireweed begins to bloom. However, too hot a summer also causes the plant to bloom earlier. In ancient Rus', it was considered the ideal time to collect fireweed during the holiday of Ivan Kupala. Traditional healers believed that it was at this time that plants acquired special healing and magical powers.

It is necessary to collect fireweed in dry weather, at lunchtime, when the leaves of the plant are dry, without traces of previous rain or dew. The more moisture in a plant, the longer it will take to dry it, the greater the risk that it will rot.

How to collect

The main requirement for the time of harvesting a plant is the obligatory flowering of the plant.. You need to wait for the time when the lower flowers in the inflorescence begin to appear on fireweed and fluff begins to appear on them. The upper flowers of the inflorescence may not yet be completely open.

To prepare medicinal mixtures and teas, the leaves and inflorescences of the plant are collected. The stem is used in some regions of Kazakhstan. It is used in the preparation of meat dishes and some bread recipes. In Russia, the stem is, as a rule, not in demand.

It is important not to damage the plant when collecting its leaves and to collect them correctly. The stems of young plants are especially fragile. The collection method does not harm the plant at all when the leaves are collected from it by running your hand along the stem from top to bottom. A few of the lower leaves are left as they are rough for making teas and are important for the growth of the plant's roots. You also need to leave 2-3 rows of leaves under the peduncle, as they ensure further growth of the plant.

Finishing its flowering, fireweed produces tendrils. They are located on the top of his head, above the flowers. Young thin branches also appear. This suggests that the flowering process has already come to an end. It is no longer worth collecting fireweed at this time. Its healing properties at this time are already minimal, the leaves are tougher. The taste of the tea will also be much lower.

Naturally, you need to avoid collecting this plant, which grows along roads, in dusty places, and in urban areas.

Rinsing tea

This process is required if the collection took place in places where there is some kind of dust. Ideally, it is better to collect the plant where there is no dust. Then there is no need to wash the leaves. The plant retains its pollen, which is carried by bees during flower pollination. This gives the plant additional beneficial properties, and the tea made from it, a special note of taste.

Wash the plant under running water. After this, dry it further.

Drying

You need to dry the leaves and inflorescences of the plant by laying them on the litter. The layer thickness should be no more than 3 cm. Be sure to stir them periodically.

It is better to choose a shaded place for drying, with a breeze. Drying in direct sunlight is not recommended. Leaves can quickly and excessively dry out and turn brown. The drying mat should be fabric or paper. But not newsprint or other printed paper.

If fireweed is prepared specifically for later use as ingredients for use independently or in medicinal preparations according to folk recipes, then they are supposed to be stored as dry herbs. Then the plant needs to be dried for 24 hours until it is completely dry.

If you plan to prepare them as tea, then several hours (4-7) will be enough for drying and drying.

Fermentation

There are several ways to prepare Ivan tea and ferment it. Different varieties bring different flavors to Cyprus tea.

This fermentation method is the simplest. In this case, after drying, the leaves of the plant are taken between the palms of several pieces and rolled into a sausage. You shouldn't squeeze them too hard. They shouldn't tear.
After this, you need to leave the leaves to dry further. It will take about a couple of days.
Another way to ferment tea is to instead of rolling the leaves in the palm of your hand, after drying, pass them through a meat grinder. In this case, their maximum injury occurs and more juice is released.

Then this pulp is laid out in a container. It is closed and left in a dark place for 15-24 hours. The fermentation that occurs during this process is called deep tea fermentation.

The time the tea needs to ferment in the container depends on the ambient temperature. Readiness should be determined 10 hours after fermentation. Gradually the smell will change from herbal to fruity. It is important not to overcook the tea, otherwise it will turn sour and lose its taste. On average, a rich fruity smell is obtained after 15-17 hours at a temperature of 22 degrees.

The fermented tea then needs to be dried again. To do this, you need to put the mixture out of the container onto a baking sheet. The thickness should be 1-2 cm. Oven temperature 40-45 degrees. There is no need to close the oven.

It’s good if the oven is equipped with a ventilation mode. Then the leaves will dry out faster. It is also important to dry them only until a certain time. They should not be overdried and turn into powder when crushed.

When preparing tea using the second method, the tea turns out to be more delicate and fruity. With the first, it is closer in taste to herbal.

Making tea using the first simple method is considered more useful as a medicinal drink. The second one is more pleasant in taste.

Preparing fireweed tea is not difficult. It can be used not only as a tasty and medicinal drink. Decoctions and infusions are prepared from it, used as components in medicinal preparations, and ingredients in the preparation of medicinal ointments.

Ivan tea is a medicinal plant that perfectly tones and strengthens the body. Guided by the photos and descriptions in the article, you will independently find Ivan tea in your garden or field, and you will be able to prepare healing decoctions and tinctures.

The article also describes in detail the fermentation process of Ivan tea, with which you can prepare the plant for the winter.

How to collect and dry fireweed tea

The medicinal plant Ivan tea will be useful only if it is collected in an environmentally friendly place. Despite the fact that fireweed grows almost everywhere, only plants collected away from roads, large cities and industrial enterprises are suitable for preparing infusions and decoctions.

Ivan tea grows in dry and well-lit places. In swampy areas, marsh fireweed grows, which is also considered a medicinal plant, but has slightly different properties. Ivan tea has large flowers, and the height of the plant reaches one and a half meters. Other similar plants should not be collected.

Ivan tea: beneficial properties and contraindications

Fireweed, or fireweed, grows almost everywhere. Its height reaches one and a half meters, and during the flowering period it is covered with white, pink, red or purple flowers (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Ivan tea in natural conditions

Leaves, flowers and roots of fireweed are used to prepare tinctures, decoctions and ointments. In addition, it is highly valued by beekeepers, since fireweed is an excellent honey plant. Ivan tea is used in folk medicine to treat the respiratory system, heart, relieve inflammation and improve vision. In addition, fireweed tea can be used instead of coffee, as this drink perfectly improves body tone.

Note: The weaker the decoction of fireweed, the greater the tonic properties it has. Therefore, it is recommended to drink weak tea in the morning and strong tea in the evening to relax and sleep soundly.

Fireweed has virtually no contraindications, with the exception of individual intolerance. But traditional medicine experts recommend drinking no more than 12 glasses a day.

Medicinal properties

Ivan tea is one of the universal plants widely used in folk medicine. Due to its valuable medicinal properties and high content of vitamins, tinctures and decoctions of fireweed are used to treat many diseases (Figure 2):

Digestive tract: gastritis, ulcers, colitis and disorders of the pancreas;
Blood vessels and heart: perfectly normalizes blood pressure;
Relieves inflammation in the genitourinary system;
Used to combat male and female infertility;
Has expectorant and antipyretic properties.

Figure 2. Medicinal properties of Ivan tea

In addition, fireweed is used to combat skin diseases, including to eliminate herpes.

For men

The healing properties of Ivan tea for men are considered especially valuable. It has been proven that fireweed is an effective means of combating prostate adenoma, along with traditional medications.

Due to the beneficial properties of the plant, regular use of the decoction helps to slow down or completely stop the growth of the tumor, and avoids surgery to remove the adenoma.

In addition, decoctions of fireweed tea increase potency, help cope with hangovers, and regular use significantly reduces cravings for alcohol.

For women

Menstrual cycle disturbances: helps reduce heavy menstruation or establish a regular cycle;
Relieves unpleasant symptoms of menopause;
Eliminates endomentriosis, thrush and cystitis;
Effectively treats infertility.

Alcohol tincture of fireweed tea can also relieve headaches, swelling and normalize heartbeat.

Note: It is recommended to drink tea from this plant during pregnancy, as it has tonic properties, but does not contain caffeine. But before use, you should definitely consult a doctor and find out if there are any individual contraindications.

However, you should not drink Ivan tea if you have blood clotting disorders, and exceeding the dosage can cause problems with the stomach and liver.

Collection of fireweed leaves

Ivan tea can only be collected during the flowering period, which differs depending on the region. In the southern regions it lasts from June to July, and in the northern regions it lasts until August or even September. To make tea, only partially opened buds and leaves are collected. During collection, the plant is carefully cut a few centimeters from the ground or simply rubbed with palms over the leaves, as shown in Figure 3. Dusty, diseased or damaged plants should not be collected, as they are not suitable for medicinal purposes. In addition, it is not recommended to collect raw materials immediately after rain. To do this, you need to choose dry, sunny days.

Figure 3. Methods of collecting flowers and leaves of Ivan tea

The video shows how to properly prepare and ferment fireweed.

In order for the finished decoction of Ivan tea to be tasty, the prepared raw materials must be properly dried. The leaves are carefully torn from the stem, washed with running water and laid out on clean white paper (not newspapers) in the shade. The fireweed is dried for about a day, periodically turning the leaves over (Figure 4).

Note: The raw materials for making tea should not be completely dry, but only slightly soft.

Figure 4. Methods for drying Ivan tea

The flowers are laid out on paper in a thin layer and rolled into a roll to release the juice. To do this, the roll is left in a warm room for 10 hours. After this, fermentation is carried out.

Fermentation of Ivan tea at home

There are several ways to ferment Ivan tea. Regardless of the method chosen, the finished decoction will be very useful if it is properly prepared and stored. Examples of Ivan tea fermentation are shown in Figure 5.

First way

The collected raw materials are slightly dried in a shaded place (without exposure to direct sunlight). Then the leaves and flowers are ground in hands and transferred to a glass container. Next, you need to cover the container with a damp cloth, transfer it to a cool room and store for 36 hours. At the last stage, the flowers are dried in the oven at a temperature of 100 degrees, stirring constantly. The finished tea should be brown. It is better to store it in a glass or plastic container with a tight lid.

Second fermentation method

This method was used by our ancestors, so it can be considered the most reliable. To ferment Ivan tea, you need:

Take a clean linen cloth, moisten it a little with water and arrange the flowers and leaves in a layer of about 3 cm.
The fabric is rolled into a roll, and it must be constantly moistened. Without this, fireweed juice will be absorbed into the fabric.
The roll is pulled with thread or rope and tightly twisted and unrolled for half an hour.
After this, the fabric is left in a warm place to allow the plant mixture to ferment. In this case, the fabric should become warm.
The finished mass is placed in a glass jar and closed with a lid for two days.
The finished mass is removed from the fabric, thoroughly rubbed with hands and placed on a pile, covered with a soft and damp cloth. When the finished mixture is similar in consistency to rubber, it is sent to the oven to dry at a temperature of 100 degrees. This not only increases the shelf life of the tea, but also makes it more fragrant.

Figure 5. Methods for fermenting Ivan tea

The finished tea is placed in jars and stored in a dry, dark place.

The third method (in its own juice)

The collected raw materials are divided into leaves and flowers. Juice is squeezed out of flowers using a regular press or juicer. There will be a little liquid, but this is considered normal. The leaves are placed in a pan, poured with juice and pressed down on top with a weight weighing about 20 kg.

The mixture is left for 72 hours, after which it is removed and dried in the oven as described in the previous versions.

The video shows in detail how to prepare, dry and ferment Ivan tea at home.

Cooking method

To make the Ivan tea drink aromatic, it is recommended to use a mixture of dried leaves and flowers. Dry plants are simply ground by hand and poured into a jar for storage.

The recipe for making tea is very simple: pour 2 teaspoons of herbs into a glass of hot water and leave for 10 minutes. After this, the drink is ready to drink. To add flavor, tea can be supplemented with dry berries.

The preparation of Ivan tea for medicinal purposes differs depending on the disease that needs to be eliminated:

For diseases of the digestive system and headaches. A glass of dried herb is poured with the same amount of boiling water, left for several hours and filtered. After this, drink the finished infusion one tablespoon 4 times a day.
For bleeding, ARVI and anemia, pour a tablespoon of raw material into a glass of hot water and boil for 15 minutes. Use the same as in the previous recipe.
To treat pancreatitis, use the following recipe: 3 tablespoons, pour one and a half glasses of hot water and leave for 10 minutes. The infusion is taken warm, 50 ml before and after meals.

Recipes for preparing Ivan tea to treat other diseases are based on the same principle. However, before taking any folk remedies, you should consult your doctor and clarify the dosage and method of preparation. In addition, Ivan tea is often supplemented with other medicinal plants: lemon balm, peppermint, nettle or plantain.

In Rus' there were many traditional drinks that strengthened the body, gave vigor and good mood. The technology for preparing some of them has been undeservedly forgotten, but gradually people are returning to the roots and reviving the glorious recipes of bygone times. One of these drinks is Ivan tea. You need to understand in more detail how to collect and dry this amazing gift of nature. This will help you prepare a flavorful drink that will ensure good health.

What does fireweed look like?

The botanical name of the plant is fireweed. It is widely used in folk medicine, as it has anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and soothing properties. It is reliably known that fireweed normalizes the microflora of the stomach, improves heart function, and relieves insomnia and nervous tension.

The collection is made during flowering, which lasts from mid-June to the end of August. In order not to make a mistake, you need to know what a medicinal herb looks like and how long it grows. In an open space, fireweed can reach about 2 meters, but most often you come across bushes lower - 0.5-1.5 meters.

The thick, widely branched root is covered with strong skin. Buds develop quickly on it, so fireweed can be easily transplanted to a new place by digging up part of the root system.
The tall, thin stem is completely covered with narrow, long leaves with pointed ends of a rich green hue.
Fireweed blooms with a large brush. Each flower in it reaches a diameter of three centimeters.
The color depends on the type of fireweed, of which there are 14. The most common flowers are purple, light pink and white.

The flowering plant has an interesting feature. Inflorescences close before rain. To detect fireweed from afar, you need to go searching in good weather. When it rains, it is better to wait a little while preparing.

How and when to collect?

The plant can be found in all corners of Russia. Extensive thickets of fireweed are easy to spot in sunny forest glades, near ravines, rivers, and along roadsides. To prepare raw materials for the drink, look for it away from the city and highways.

Inexperienced herbalists are afraid to miss collecting fireweed. “When to collect?” they ask more knowledgeable people. In order not to be late, you need to find out the best time for preparation. It depends on the climatic conditions of the region. In the south they go for raw materials in mid-June, in the north - in July-August. The plant needs to bloom. The leaf is usually used for tea, but some lovers also collect the flowers when they have not yet fully bloomed.

It is better to go out to collect fireweed in the morning, when the dew has dried. Find a remote clearing and get down to business. Choose healthy shoots that are not affected by pests.

Try to collect the plant carefully in order to preserve the place where fireweed grows for the future. Next we will tell you how to collect it without damaging the plant.

Tall stems should not be pulled out by the roots, so as not to destroy the thickets.
You can carefully cut them just below the middle, collect the shoots in a bunch and pick off the leaves at home.
Some people prefer to collect greens separately, picking a little from each bush.

The leaves easily tear away from their bed, so there is another way to properly collect fireweed. Hold the stem with your palm towards the bottom and gently move your hand upward, separating the leaves from the shoot. In a couple of seconds you will collect a lot of raw materials, but make sure that they do not get wrinkled or torn. This may reduce the taste of the tea.

How to dry: different methods

After collection, an important question arises: how to dry fireweed at home? The prepared raw materials must be washed under running water, shaken off and spread in a thin layer on white paper in a dark, well-ventilated place for a day. Stir the leaves periodically to prevent them from drying out. They need to be harvested as soon as they are slightly wilted. This is an important condition in preparing aromatic fireweed tea. Raw materials that are overdried at this stage lose their odor and do not produce a tasty drink. Prepared leaves require further processing.

Roll each of them into a neat sausage, trying to squeeze harder so that the juice comes out.
When there is a lot of fireweed, it is allowed to act differently. Scroll the leaves through a meat grinder. This method ensures the release of a large amount of cell sap necessary to obtain rich tea.

Flowers should be dried separately. Place them on paper and hide them in a dark, ventilated place. Stir daily. When they are completely dry, put them in a linen bag and store until winter. Dried flowers can be added a little at a time when brewing tea; they add a special piquancy to the drink.

Fermentation

Those who want to prepare raw materials for the winter are interested in how to properly dry fireweed. Preparation includes several stages. After drying and rolling, it’s time for fermentation.

If you rolled the leaves by hand, place them in an enamel container, cover with a wooden lid and place a bend on top. Squeeze the raw materials, ground with a meat grinder, by hand, compact them, cover with a clean cloth and leave to infuse. Ferment at 25-27 C for about 5-12 hours.

Remember, the higher the temperature in the room, the faster the desired process occurs. In order not to spoil the taste of the tea, it is important not to overdo it. Sniff the workpiece. When it acquires a bright floral-fruity smell, fermentation should be completed and drying should begin.

The final stage

Line a baking sheet with parchment. Spread a thin layer of twisted, finely chopped leaves or pulp from a meat grinder.

Preheat the oven to 50-60 C, place a baking sheet there and simmer the raw materials for about two hours.
Then open the door slightly, lower the temperature by 10 C and wait until the leaves are completely dry.
Stir occasionally and make sure they don't burn.
When the tea leaves break easily, turn off and leave the baking sheet in the oven until it cools completely.
This is the easiest way to dry fireweed in the oven.

Pour the tea into a natural fabric bag and hang it in a draft to ventilate. The finished brew should make a slight rustling sound when shaken.

An electric dryer is a useful acquisition that is perfect for preparing fireweed. If you have one, set the temperature to 40-60 degrees, add fermented tea and heat it for about 5 hours. Occasionally check the raw materials in the dryer and keep an eye on them so that they do not dry out. Otherwise, it will lose its rich herbal taste.

True connoisseurs prefer to make tea in a Russian oven. It gives it an incredible aroma and enhances its healing properties. Heat the oven properly, wait an hour, spread the leaves on a baking sheet and place it on the hot coals. Stir the tea leaves regularly. When they are dry, remove from the oven, cool and, if necessary, dry in a thick-bottomed frying pan, covering tightly with a lid.

How to store?

For homemade fireweed tea to reveal its full aroma, about a month must pass after drying. Store it in a cool, dark place in a glass or ceramic container with a tight lid made of the same material.

You can brew the drink in any kettle. It turns out to be a rich, noble color. Pour boiling water over the dishes, add 3 tsp. tea and pour 0.5 liters of hot water. Let it sit for 15 minutes. Then you can drink it without adding anything or taste it with honey.

Be sure to find out when fireweed is harvested for drying in your region, and prepare a healing drink for the winter. It exceeds your wildest expectations, has an extraordinary aroma and taste, and quickly improves your health.

Nowadays one can see a change in the approach and thinking of people in the field of natural healing and traditional medicine. Modern people are returning to natural resources, trusting their health to their healing potential. In this way, society is learning again what was the basis for previous cultures.

The significant shift in natural healing is due, in part, to a certain monopolization of large pharmaceutical companies and, consequently, to the prices of drugs. This has caused many people to start thinking about alternatives.

By alternative we mean a natural equivalent of a pharmaceutical product with often exactly the same effects. The most common natural medicine is, of course, herbs.

One of the healing gifts of nature is fireweed. Its preparation and fermentation at home, following recommendations on how to brew and drink correctly are the basis for effective treatment of diseases and their prevention.

The use of fireweed tea requires adherence to a number of principles: it is important to know how to collect it, since collecting, processing and storing (harvesting for the winter) herbs requires a lot of attention and rich experience. After all, this can become not only a hobby, but also ensure good health.

So, let's see how to collect and dry, store and make tea from fireweed.

Collection rules

There are a few basic principles to follow when harvesting herbs.

The primary factor is what month the grass is harvested. Collection period: summer (July-August), flowering time.
You also need to know what time fireweed is harvested. Collection should be carried out in dry weather (never in the rain or in the morning when there is still dew).
The second important principle is where to collect. Ideally, preference should be given to away from any sources of pollution and dust.
Experienced herbalists, when collecting fireweed tea for drying, prefer to put it in wicker baskets. This prevents them from steaming. Equally important is the question of what to collect - flowers or leaves. Both parts of fireweed have healing properties; some healers even use the root (but such use is very rare). Therefore, when deciding what to collect and dry - leaves or flowers - determine what taste and smell of the decoction you want to get later. The flowers give a milder taste (when infused in cold water - slightly raspberry), the leaves have a herbal taste; to make it softer, you can add honey or fructose to the drink.
Immediately after collection, the herb should be dried, spread out in a thin layer, or fermented. This is not difficult to do at home - read about it further.

Harvesting individual plant parts

Fireweed tea can be prepared at home from various parts of fireweed - leaves, flowers and even roots. Therefore, it is necessary to know the rules for collecting and preparing fireweed for tea.

Sheets
This part of the grass is harvested very well. Care must be taken to ensure that the leaves do not become wet and mold forms on them. The leaf, even dried without fermentation, must retain its structure and characteristic aroma.
Flowers
How to dry flowers? Extra care must be taken to avoid moisture and rotting during this process. This part contains a lot of water. Therefore, it is necessary to observe whether the flowers retain their natural color.
Root
In the question of how to properly dry the root, it is necessary to avoid problems similar to those inherent in harvesting flowers. Roots are the basis of any plant. Therefore, they contain a lot of nutrients and water. When drying large roots, it is advisable to cut them into smaller pieces - this guarantees good drying.

The basis for proper drying of herbs is a well-ventilated area. The ideal place is the attic, where air circulates constantly, but the living room is also suitable.

The room should not be too dusty or dirty. The kitchen, bathroom and other wet areas are not suitable for drying.

The next good place is outdoors, but only in warm, dry weather, preferably in the shade. Can it be dried in the sun? Drying in direct sunlight is unsuitable; the plant is prone to darkening and loss of medicinal properties.

Regardless of how to dry - without an oven or in an oven - fireweed must be thoroughly dried as soon as possible, because with slow drying there is a risk of mold, blackening, and sometimes infection by various pests.

Is it possible to dry it in a pan? Yes, but the frying pan must have a thick bottom, the process must be carried out by constantly turning the herbs for uniform processing and, most importantly, over low heat!

Can it be dried without fermentation? Yes, but the drink may subsequently have a less rich taste and aroma - this should be taken into account.

How to dry without fermentation? If you collect a long enough part of the plant, it can be tied into bunches and hung. It is necessary to provide the grass with air access from all sides, while regularly wrapping the bunch.

Leaves, flowers and roots are best dried on racks, sieves, small paper boxes or other surface lined with clean absorbent paper. When drying this way, always lay out the plant in a thin layer.

Remember to turn and aerate frequently. Before harvesting, the roots must be thoroughly cleaned, rinsed with clean water and immediately dried with a cloth. The harvesting of roots is accelerated by cutting them into small pieces or longitudinal cutting. Flowers, leaves or other parts of plants are not washed in water before being prepared for tea using the drying method.

Should I use the oven or not?
Can it be dried in a dryer or oven? Yes, if there are no favorable conditions or space for natural drying, you can use an oven or special dryers. However, when using these and similar heat sources, it is important to control the set temperature and control the timing so that the raw material does not burn.

It is important to know what temperature to dry at - the recommended temperature varies for different parts of the plant. Usually it is around 30-40°C. When you dry fireweed in the oven, make sure that the temperature does not exceed this indicator.

Some sources also mention the possibility of microwaving, while other herbalists reject this option entirely.

No less important is the fact of how long to dry the herb in the oven. On average, the time is about 1 hour - the flowers and leaves should become brittle and not sticky, but, at the same time, keep their shape and not crumble.

Is the plant prepared correctly?
Whether fireweed is prepared correctly can be determined by slight wrinkles and fragility (it is easily rubbed between the fingers).

If the plant turns a deep brown or even black color during the process, this means that there was an error in the process. This may be due to steaming in an inappropriate container during collection or as a result of a long period between collection and drying.

The problem can also be caused by humidity during harvesting or a layer that is too thick. This herb is unsuitable for storage and subsequent use.

A satisfactory result of the preparation is a “healthy” color and aroma. Folding should not be delayed for storage, because... Fireweed tea can become moisturized or “acquire” insects.

Fermentation

Harvesting and fermenting fireweed provides a delicious and aromatic herbal tea throughout the year. Fermentation is a process caused by the action of various enzymes (microorganisms) that change certain properties of a substance.

In our case, this is a specific process in which spontaneous heat generation occurs and subsequent targeted steaming occurs.

Individual stages of the process

How to ferment fireweed at home? There is nothing complicated about this process. It is important to simply follow the following points.

Withering
Immediately after collection, fireweed should be spread out in a shady place or in a room, preferably on paper. They should wither for 12-24 hours. Time depends on humidity and temperature.

Pressing (cutting)
Now you can start cutting or pressing the leaves (flowers). The purpose of the process is to destroy cellular structures. The plant releases juice that supports fermentation.

The next method is fermentation of fireweed through a meat grinder, but in this case the leaves and flowers release too much juice, so herbalists generally do not recommend it. In addition, a metal device should not be used to avoid oxidation of the raw material.

Hydration
Place fireweed in a very thin layer on a white, 100% cotton cloth (or clean cotton). Moisten it with water, for example using a spray bottle.

Fermentation (fermentation)
The preparation is over, the time has come for fermentation itself. Roll the fabric and place it in a warm place for 2-3 days. The fermentation temperature should be stable (the most optimal temperature is around 26-27? C). Do not unroll the fabric unnecessarily!

The fermentation time depends on the expected end result. It varies from 3 hours (mild) to 36 hours (deep). The deeper the degree of fermentation, the richer the taste of the tea. The degree does not affect the benefits of tea.
The result of fermentation is the color of the leaves from brown to blackish.

Drying
After fermentation, the leaves should be quickly dried at a temperature of up to 45°C before storing. You can use an oven or hair dryer.

Other fermentation options

Fermentation of fireweed in a jar in the sun - this process can also be carried out in the shade, the main thing is that the temperature is about 30? C. Fermentation takes approximately 3-6 hours.

Freeze fermentation – During freezing, ice crystals promote the destruction of plant cells and therefore fermentation. After defrosting, the process goes much faster. It is recommended to grind fireweed tea through a meat grinder - even at home, you can create granulated tea this way.

Important! The double fermentation of fireweed - re-processing - is worth attention. At the same time, due to the destruction of most cells, a maximum of useful substances are released.

How long can you store herbs?

Even with careful storage, the active ingredients of the plant are gradually lost, so the optimal shelf life is approximately one year, i.e. until the next collection.
Properly dried and stored herbs are simply waiting for the time when they are needed to improve human health.

Making tea

Fireweed tea is quite tasty, but it is important to know how to brew it correctly. Under no circumstances should you boil! The main method of preparation is the traditional pouring of boiling water. The recipe is as follows: 1 tsp. raw materials, pour 1/4 liter of boiling water, leave for about 15 minutes.

The aroma of the drink depends not only on how it is prepared, but on the age of the plant and its “living conditions.” An important factor is the time period that has passed since storage.

Young tea is more aromatic, reddish, slightly spicy; older and stored for a long time – slightly tart. However, taste does not influence the beneficial properties and health effects.

Some practical tips:

Herbal tea quickly loses its properties, so you only need to prepare it for one day. Store the drink in the refrigerator and always heat only one serving. If frequent use in small doses is expected, store it warm in a thermos.
Fireweed works best when in low concentration. Keep in mind that even the most harmless plant can cause unwanted, often unpleasant or dangerous effects when taken in high concentrations!
The effect of fireweed on each organism is individual. It will easily help some people, but not others. Therefore, the effect on the body should be tested for yourself.
You can make tea sweet by sweetening it with honey, brown or grape sugar. This does not apply to diabetics, who need to prepare tea without sweetening; It is advisable to use a diabetic sweetener to add flavor.
Try not to combine the use of fireweed with synthetic drugs. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a doctor about natural treatment.
How much tea you can drink per day depends on whether the drink is used as a treatment or for preventive purposes. For the treatment of diseases, drink 2-3 glasses a day (the amount is determined by the disease itself and its severity), for prevention - 1 glass a day.
The next important question is how often can you drink tea? Do not use it for more than a month without a break. Typically, the therapeutic course is 3-4 weeks, after which you need to take a week's break.

Methods for preparing herbal medicine

There are several methods for making natural medicine.

Extract
We are talking about the extraction of water-soluble substances at ordinary temperatures. With this cooking method, the maximum amount of volatile substances is preserved. The extract is prepared by mixing the plant with water and infusing it for at least 8 hours, preferably from evening to morning.

Some people use a faster method using warm water (about 40°C). This method helps preserve essential oils, which have a refreshing and healing effect, so tea is used to treat the respiratory and urinary tract, as well as the digestive tract.

Infusion
When preparing, a higher temperature of water is used, but the herb is not boiled, but only poured with the required amount and infused for a short time.

Due to the high temperature, fireweed releases substances that do not leach when exposed to cold water. The absence of boiling ensures the preservation of the important elements contained. This method is not recommended for preparing the root.

Decoction
This method is advisable to use for preparing fireweed root. The raw materials are filled with the recommended amount of water (1:4) and cooked for about 15 minutes. Then it is infused for the same time.

A few words in conclusion

Like all medicinal herbs, fireweed should not be prepared or stored in metal containers. This can lead to chemical processes between them and the surface of the container, resulting in a change in color and even a partial deterioration in healing properties. Porcelain, earthenware or enamel dishes are suitable.