How to Harvest Blueberry Leaves for Tea
Long considered agricultural waste, blueberry leaves are increasingly being harvested for their health benefits as an herbal tea product. Studies initiated by a food chemist named Dr. Kristi Michele Crowe---then a doctoral student at the University of Maine's Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition---show that blueberry leaves have a higher concentration of the disease-fighting antioxidant anthocyanin than the fruit themselves. Native to North America, the plant and its tea byproducts are often used to soothe symptoms of urinary tract infections and other kidney-related ailments. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden gloves
- Half-bushel basket
- Small brown paper bags
- Drying racks
- Airtight containers
Instructions
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Gather healthy leaves that are free from spots or signs of disease or pest infestation. Healthy leaves will be thumb-sized, and may be red or purplish. Discard leaves that are brown or yellow.
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Place bunches of about 40 harvested leaves in a brown paper bag. This will make your drying efforts more efficient. Collect as many leaves as you can reasonably expect to set out to dry in a day or two, typically about 400 leaves or 10 bags. Transport the bags of hand-harvested blueberry leaves in half-bushel baskets.
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Empty out the bags of harvested leaves, one bag at a time, onto a flat work surface. Spread harvested blueberry leaves out in single layers on drying racks away from humidity and direct sunlight. A desktop or table in a warm attic is ideal, but any flat surface away from drafts and out of direct sunlight will be adequate.
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Test leaves for dryness after a week. Depending on the drying site's humidity levels, drying can take up to several weeks. When leaves are dry and crisp, store in airtight containers until ready to use for tea.
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Tips & Warnings
Collect leaves from blueberry bushes that have already produced the season's berries. Blueberry leaf harvest is usually optimal in September and October.
When you are ready to make tea, put a teaspoon of dried leaves into a warm teapot and pour boiling water over the leaves. Add fresh or dried blueberries. Allow the tea to steep in a covered cup for 3 to 5 minutes.
