Absolutely delicious! Many thanks for your inspiration. Step 1: Gather some silver birch twigs. And defo trust that ‘ole Muse . After having read and tried this easy and very tasty method of making twig-tea, I started experimenting with different trees. Go online, and search birch twig tea and you will find lots of stuff (usually from gruff survival types) plonking freshly picked twigs (with buds) into boiling water and that’s it. I’m tempted to ferment a brew of birch and pine needle using tapped birch sap as the sugar source for a really fresh wild Spring wine. Everyone’s palate is different, so find your own preference. Pick the flowers from the heather twig filling 3 tea spoons per cup. Privacy Policy, Isle of Eigg, Slow island life, Family adventure. And as usual, when I am flummoxed by a plant, I simply keep them close to hand. I didn't get to try any but my husband was offered a drink once. AND it is fun to drink a cup of pink flowers! Heather flower can be harvested from spring to autumn and is found in peat lands, forests and other natural areas. Used for amelioration of soil contaminated with hexavalent chromium. I use twigs between 1mm to 2mm thick. I do know of one local who tapped the birch, reduced the sap slightly and made wine from it. On top of their new knowledge they also get to drink homemade tea and taste the nature they're in. However, as a lover of tea, I knew in my bones that something was missing from this method. Thank you! The heather tea has a strong cleansing effect on the body and has been used to treat bladder, kidney, and liver infections. And many have reported back how much they enjoyed drinking it. Thank’s for this great little recipe Robin! Teas are one of the great pleasures in my life. First grate the Chaga and dry it to make a rough powder. From something so simple, came something extraordinary. Store leaves in an air-tight container until ready to use. Would it be possible to bake over an open fire, perhaps with a zebra (billy) can? The flavour is quite exquisite. Spruce needles can be found on spruce trees all year round and the trees are very common in all European forests. Some say its very bitter, and not worth the time. You’ll need to experiment. And so it was on this ice cold Saturday. Simple and tasty. Collecting the leaves, flowers, bark and needles enhances our connection to nature, and it's a great project for a day out with the children. I, too, have been aware of the toxic substances affect of our land, and it is a very real concern here in the Midwesteren United States. Spruce Tea. Let steep for 7-10 minutes using a tea strainer (if you have one). Yes I’ll try this, wondering what herbal health benefits it may also contain mm thanks. I’ll go and gather some this afternoon and give this a try! To me, it’s simply how the creative Muse talks to us all. I’ve also made Japanese Cherry Blossom tea called Sakura. Wash and dry leaves. We found that pink heather tea is a winner with kids! You’ve inspired me Robin. Shen, I don’t know. I have brewed tea most often from twigs of the black birch (Betula lenta), but northern foragers may be more likely to find its cousin, the yellow birch (B. alleghaniensis). Suddenly a Muse filled me with images of a Japanese Tea Ceremony. A cup of hot tea in the forest is tasty and cosy, but it also heats you up and hydrates in any weather. Usually no more than 5mm in length. It can really be a confidence boost and enhances a connection to nature. Last year I posted my experiment of making beech leaf tea. Just tried this one with a little coffee(ish) twist. Make a strong decoction of the twigs, bark and leaves and add it to the bath for relief of eczema, psoriasis, and other moist skin eruptions. Will let you know how I get on. The tea also help rheumatic pains. During the recent snow, I gathered silver birch twigs (Betula pendula) from outside my local police station, under the watchful eye of the local constabulary. Birch Leaf tea is used for general detoxing, urinary complaints, cystitis, rheumatic and arthritic troubles, gout, cuts high uric acid levels. Cuisinart SG20U Electric Spice and Nut Grinder. I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole process as well as the end product. Careful to harvest from wild toxin free soil though as Birch excellent hyperaccumulator of toxic substances. You can either heat the water (not quite boiling) and pour it over the twigs, covering and letting steep as desired and strain, or you can heat the twigs in a pot, strain, and enjoy. Add a heaped tea spoon of Chaga powder to one cup. I’ll have to see if river birch will work. Add blueberries when in season for fun and taste. How to make Blueberry leaf and Birch leaf tea Light green, young birch leaves and bilberry leaves steeped for 5-7 minutes. Dry in a dehydrator at 100* for approximately 8 hours or until very dry. I use a Cuisinart SG20U Electric Spice and Nut Grinder. Go for fresh green leaves. I might try drying them in a fan dehydrator too, and test the difference between dried and roasted. Learning plant names and where to find them is something that also can be useful for future slow adventures in the woods. Leave to strain for 5-7 minutes using a tea strainer (if you have one). I use a Cuisinart SG20U Electric Spice and Nut Grinder. Add blueberries when in season for fun and taste. The medicinal benefits are amazing! I don’t know. See the act as a great way to slow down and restore vital connection. Spruce needles grow separate from each other, whereas pine needles grow in pairs.Available all year round, great source of vitamin C.Fun fact: Just remember: "spruce - single, pine - pair, larch - lots!" Also can be used as a compress applied directly to the skin for herpes, eczema. 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