When to collect raspberry leaves for drying for the winter: terms and rules, where to store

Raspberry jam tea is considered to be very good for he alth. But this is not entirely true. But raspberry tea is really useful. When to collect fresh raspberry leaves for drying for the winter in order to brew tea based on them.

What is the use of raspberry leaves

Fresh raspberry leaves contain a large amount of trace elements beneficial to human he alth.

Benefits of raspberry leaf tea:

has an antipyretic and pathogenic effect on flu and colds;
acts as an anti-inflammatory agent;
for bronchitis and pneumonia makes breathing easier;
strengthens immunity.

Raspberry leaves are as useful as the berries of this shrub. If you brew tea for a cold, you can quickly get back on your feet and get rid of unpleasant symptoms.

When to collect raspberry leaves

To make the drink useful, you need to know exactly when you can collect raspberry leaves for tea. Raspberry leaves are harvested in July. In September, it is undesirable to collect them, during this period the bushes begin to prepare for winter and it is not recommended to touch them. It is best to collect raw materials early in the morning.

Which leaves are suitable for blanks

Not all raspberry leaves are suitable for winter drying. Only he althy and young should be cut. The leaves should be a rich green hue, smooth and without signs of damage. Old ones are also not recommended to be collected. They have a lower concentration of nutrients.

How to collect raspberry leaves

During the collection of raw materials should be carefully examined. Insects often lay their eggs on the underside. Leaves are carefully cut from the branch so as not to damage it.

Preparing leaves for tea

In order for tea to be as he althy as possible, raw materials should not only be properly collected and brewed, but also dried. There are two types of drying.

Dry

In order for raspberry leaf tea to be medicinal, they should be properly dried. The raw materials are thoroughly washed under running water. Then lay out on paper so that it dries from the water. Then, in a dark, cool room, they spread a dry newspaper, spread them out. The raw materials are regularly mixed so that the foliage does not rot. Drying is recommended so that it does not get open sunlight. Drying takes approximately 4-5 days.

Raspberry leaf fermentation

Another method of drying after harvesting fresh raw materials is fermentation. To do this, you need to prepare the leaves from May to September. Spring preparation gives light and fragrant tea. From autumn - more saturated and tart. Picking a raspberry leaf for tea is recommended at dawn.

Fermentation process:

cut off branches and rinse well under running water;
put on a newspaper to dry, stir from time to time (you need to wait until the water evaporates and the leaves become dried);
when the raw material becomes soft and dry, it is twisted in the hands so that they give juice (or twisted through a meat grinder);
after that, place the raw materials in an enamel pan or glass jar in several layers;
put a load on top to press down, and leave them at a temperature of +25… +28 degrees.

After 8 hours, the workpiece is laid out on a baking sheet and dried.

Terms and rules for storing dried leaves

Dried leaves have an expiration date. As a rule, it is recommended to store dried raw materials for no more than two years. Depending on the storage conditions, the shelf life may be extended. It is also important to store it properly. Dried raw materials are kept in glass containers or cloth bags. It is not recommended to store in plastic bags. It starts to rot and becomes moldy. Place containers with raw materials in dark, cool rooms away from sunlight.