Ivan tea is a perennial herb that has gorgeous pink-lilac inflorescences. A few years ago, people used its leaves as a tea infuser, but after a while new technologies for making this drink supplanted the medicinal plant. Some doctors prescribe to patients a tincture made from ivan tea, because it has a calming and anti-inflammatory effect. But before proceeding to harvesting, you need to collect this plant.
Instructions
Step 1
First of all, you should know when to pick Ivan tea. Collection times vary by region. So, for example, in the southern zone of Russia, the mass flowering of this plant is observed in late June or early July; in the north - in the 20th of July.
Step 2
Leaves are suitable for brewing tea. If you want to prepare fireweed honey, you will need the flowers of the plant. In any case, do not pull out willow-herb tea by the root, it is better to cut off the stem in the middle - this way you will preserve the root system and next year you can come to the edge of the forest and collect the medicinal plant again.
Step 3
Where does Ivan-tea grow, you ask? To answer this question, you should know that he loves the sun, therefore, it grows in open sunny places, forest edges. Ivan tea is an unpretentious flower, therefore it can grow in empty places formed after a fire and felling of the forest zone. It is not worth looking for a plant near water bodies, since it does not tolerate moist soil and air at all.
Step 4
There are several varieties of willow tea. So, for example, it is not necessary to use wildweed, since its use can negatively affect human health. But how can you tell it apart? Yes, elementary. It is enough to look at the appearance of the plant. Ivan tea is a rather tall plant - from 70 cm to 200 cm, while fireweed reaches only 15 cm.
Step 5
Let's say you have collected willow tea leaves. What's next? Now you have to make the leaves sluggish, for which you put them in a dry place, that is, lay a newspaper and sprinkle them. Try not to let the plant dry out.
Step 6
After that, roll the leaves into tubes, put in an enamel saucepan with a layer of 5 cm, cover with a slightly damp cloth and put in a warm place overnight.
Step 7
In the morning, take out the ripe willow tea and chop finely. Place the plant on a baking sheet and dry in the low heat oven for an hour. The tea brew is ready.
