Spiced Raspberry Leaf Tea
Of all the teas out there, one of my favorites is raspberry leaf tea because of its many health benefits. According to Paul Pitchford’s Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition, raspberry leaf “strengths the uterus, checks excessive menstrual flow, and restrains bleeding in general; it is of exceptional benefit for tonifying the uterus and supporting optimum hormonal patterns during pregnancy.”
If raspberry leaf isn’t exactly your cup of tea, try steeping the leaves in white grape juice, or apple juice. Want something a little more aromatic? This flavored version is sweetly pungent with a pleasant aftertaste:
Ingredients:
- 1 c. boiling water
- 1 T. loose raspberry leaves
- 1 bay leaf
- 3-5 cloves
- generous 1/8 t. ground cinnamon
- scant 1/8 t. ground ginger
- scant 1/8 t. ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 t. agave nectar
- dash of salt
Directions:
- Place cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg into a tea bag (coffee filters work great, too). Add raspberry leaves, bay leaf, cloves and tea bag to boiling water. Allow to steep for about 5 minutes.
- Strain tea; add agave and salt to taste. Stir well and enjoy!
Photo Credit: Author
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4 Responses to Spiced Raspberry Leaf Tea
I drank so much of that stuff trying to induce labor in the fall! I found it good but kind of blah – I like my tea with some spiciness if it isn’t very sweet. Maybe I’ll try it in juice.
That sounds very tasty! I’ve drank raspberry leaf tea for both pregnancies and by the time I was half way through dreaded drinking it. I got soooo bored of it. I started mixing it into other things, like using a really strong batch to add to smoothies.
You’re suggestions are great and I definitely recommend them for anyone who is pregnant or TTC!
Another great idea is to just make a sun tea from this by using the sun as energy. Place in a glass container and put it outside in the sun in the morning, by late afternoon or dinner it should be ready!
I did a mint tea while I was pregnant. The taste started getting to me after awhile. Maybe I’ll switch it up next time and do this, too!