Mulberry Leaf Tea

[macmex]

I have been meaning to try mulberry leaf tea for some time and just this last weekend took the time to pick some leaves, dry them and make tea with them. Wow! I just dropped a couple whole dried mulberry leaves into a couple cups of water, brought it to a boil and let it steep for about 10 minutes before pouring myself a cup of tea. That's it. I didn't add any sweetener yet the tea was really good! I told my wife to try it but she got busy with something and before long... I went in the kitchen and got the rest of it! She'll have to try some from my next batch.

I am pumped about harvesting enough leaves to make tea through the winter. 

According to what I've read mulberry leaf tea may help with inflammation, chronic pain, vascular health and help lower blood sugar levels.  Maybe... I do know that it might lower blood sugar levels by providing a zero sugar bevarage that is satisfying  ,

At any rate, I plan to dry enough leaves for the winter and give this a go! Right now the tree is loaded with very large leaves. Some are starting to yellow. I'll harvest green leaves for my tea.

Here's a link to an article about mulberry leaf tea.

[rdback]

Very interesting macmex! As you may recall, I have a fruiting mulberry (it's what the raccoon is sitting in, in my avatar). I also have a non-fruiting mulberry (or two) around the property. I wonder if fruiting versus non-fruiting makes any difference, as it relates to making tea? I read the article you linked to, and they seem to only talk in terms of a fruiting tree.

Anyway, this sounds interesting. I might have to give it a try!

[heavyhitterokra]

George,

That was very interesting. I've never heard anyone speak of mulberry leaf tea before. Maybe, the flavor you spoke of is why the deer like them so much. They eat every leaf they can reach on all of our mulberry trees.

[macmex]

Couple more observations:

1. I really like mulberry leaf tea. It's not just tolerable. It's good!
2. If one uses dried leaves, they need to steep the tea for a bit longer, in order to get any strength to it. (This is not an "instant" tea, like a tea bag.)
3. The fresh green leaves make a good tea more quickly than do the dry leaves. However, they still benefit from steeping.

Several nights ago I awoke with a cough and needed a cup of tea. I made some mulberry leaf tea, adding a little honey. It was very satisfying!


Our goats and other ruminants love mulberry leaves. I've read that some people harvest and dry mulberry leaves for their animals, kind of like "tree hay." I always wonder how they have time to do that but still, it's a testament to the food value of those leaves.

I've also read that young mulberry leaves can be cooked and eaten as a potherb. Still have to try that one.
 

[heavyhitterokra]

Reading this post reminds me that I need to drive the back roads looking for some Rabbit Tobacco before the killing frost arrives, so I'll know where some is. I pick Rabbit Tobacco just as soon as it's dried on the plant after it gets frozen. If it gets rained on after that, all of the goodies get leached out of the leaves. So, it's best to know where some is before the frost arrives. That way, you can harvest it just as soon as it dries down after it gets frozen.

I break the stem off at ground level and bring the whole plant home. A relaxing Winter Tea can be made of the entire plant, including the dried flowers.

[macmex]

Well, I'm about done collecting leaves for tea for the winter. Tonight we're likely to have a killing freeze. Additionally, over the last few days nearly half of the leaves on my mulberry tree have started yellowing and many are falling.

I would reiterate, that this tea requires time steeping. It isn't instant tea.

Here's a picture of yesterday's "catch." I only grab what I can hold onto in my hands before heading to the house. One reason I do it this way is because I don't have a lot of counter space and our dehydrator has been busy lately with other projects.



All I have to do is turn these leaves over, where they are, a couple times a day, and in no time, they are paper dry and ready to store in an air tight container. Here's a picture of an earlier batch which is now ready to bag up for storage.