Basil is a great seasoning for preparing many dishes, but it can also be added to drinks, such as tea. We will consider recipes with the basil of this drink in the article, but first we’ll understand the benefits and harms of the plant, because it may be contraindicated to some. For others, on the contrary, the use of basil in any form is recommended, and you will learn how to make tea with it.
Benefits of Tea with Basil
A drink made with this plant will warm you in the winter and refresh and quench your thirst in the summer. But this is not all that you can count on, drinking tea with basil every day, because the plant is very rich in vitamins (B 12 , PP, C, A and so on), tannins, saponins, phytoncides, essential oils and other plant nutrients . Many will say that during heat treatment all these components will disappear, and a fresh plant mainly brings a lot of benefits. But today we will talk about how to properly collect the raw materials, and how to make tea with it so as to get the maximum benefit.
Basil is famous for its essential oil, which is a natural antibiotic. This oil has antiseptic, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antispasmodic effects on the body. Together with other substances, essential oil can increase immunity, accelerate metabolic processes, and increase overall tone.
Tea with basil is recommended for the following manifestations:
- lack of appetite, a failure in the digestive system;
- increased body temperature with acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, influenza, inflammatory processes;
- cough (improves breathing);
- complex therapy in the treatment of cancer (basil destroys free radicals);
- cholesterol plaques, circulatory disorders;
- stress, depression, nervous strain;
- desire to get rid of several kilograms;
- arthrosis, arthritis, other diseases of the musculoskeletal system;
- hormonal disorders in women;
- disturbed menstrual cycle, malaise these days;
- menopause;
- fragility of nails and hair.
It should be noted that a more useful variety of basil is the one that has a purple color.
How to properly prepare the plant
As we wrote earlier, tea with basil will be useful only when using properly prepared raw materials, and this will be discussed later.
Better get a fresh plant, not dried. In this form, it can be stored for 7 days on the refrigerator door or in the compartment for vegetables and herbs.
Dry basil properly. Lay out the leaves on a surface covered with paper or cotton cloth. Pieces of the plant should lie freely. Store in a cool, dark and well-ventilated area until dry. They need to be stored in a cotton bag or in a glass jar with a lid with holes. Put the dried plant in a cabinet where there are no extraneous odors.
As for the difference between fresh and dried herbs, it is mainly a matter of taste: fresh basil is brighter, more saturated, tea with it is tastier. The benefits of proper drying are not lost, just do not dry in the oven, as many can recommend to speed up the process.
Who is basil contraindicated in?
Whether it is tea with basil or soup with its presence, they contain many essential oils that can trigger the appearance of allergies. Therefore, the plant is not suitable for allergy sufferers. Completely refuse or reduce the use of the plant to a minimum is necessary for pregnant women and children under 7 years of age.
Basil has a tonic effect on the body, so it is contraindicated in people with heart diseases who have suffered a stroke or heart attack.
Basil is also contraindicated in the following diseases:
- poor blood coagulability;
- hypertension;
- dystonia;
- diabetes.
Even if contraindications are completely absent, you need to start drinking tea with basil with small portions (or a low consistency). It will be better to consult a doctor.
Next, we suggest finding out at what preparation basil will be more useful, how to make tea with this plant.
Classic cooking
If you are constantly suffering from insomnia, you suffer from a lack of vitamins, or if digestive system disorders begin, then take this drink one cup a day, regardless of food intake.
- For one liter of boiling water (as soon as the water boils, turn off the gas, let the liquid stand for a couple of minutes - so the temperature drops to 98-97 degrees, while maintaining maximum benefit when brewing basil), you need to take 50 grams of fresh green basil.
- Cover the container with a lid, insist for 20 minutes, filtering is mandatory.
- To improve the taste, you can add honey, sugar, pieces of fresh or dried fruit to tea.
With strawberry
Green tea with basil and strawberries is an excellent option for refreshing and quenching thirst on a summer day. The recipe is as follows:
- Combine 400 grams of strawberries, 7 teaspoons of tea leaves, 70 grams of fresh green basil.
- Pour the composition with a liter of boiling water (on the same principle as in the first version), insist 10 minutes, strain.
- Then cool, add pieces of ice to the drink.
Black tea will warm in the winter:
- Mix 400 grams of berries, 70-80 grams of basil and 6 tablespoons of black tea (you can 8 if you like more saturated tea).
- Pour boiling water, strain after 10 minutes.
- Add milk.
- If desired, honey or sugar is added.
Tea with lemon
A universal drink that will refresh in the summer and cheer up, strengthen immunity and warm in the winter.
- In 350 ml of boiling water, place five sprigs of herbs. After 2 minutes, remove.
- Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, optionally any sweetener.
This tea is very good to drink in the morning for those who want to lose weight. Sour tea from basil will arouse metabolism, and you need to take it every morning before breakfast for 20-30 minutes. If you decided to drink such a drink to help you lose weight, do not add sweeteners in the form of honey or sugar.
With herbs
This drink will help to relax after a hard day, calm down after nervous tension. Stable consumption of such tea (1-2 cups per day) will help to cope with depression and stress. Herbs will help calm down, warm up, and you just enjoy the taste!
- Mix 20 grams of basil, foliage of currants (black), raspberry leaves and 10 grams of mint.
- Pour a liter of boiling water, strain after 20 minutes. You can drink it.
This tea will help reduce body temperature, and if linden is added to the composition, then the heat will decline even faster.
With ginger
Put as much black or green tea in the teapot as you normally use. In general, 50 grams of basil and 20 grams of ginger root are added to 1 liter of water, you will adjust the proportions taking into account the volume of liquid used. Drink like regular tea, you can add honey, sugar or lemon.
This composition is useful for colds, helps in weight loss, warms in the winter.
We learned about the benefits and harms of tea with basil, shared the simplest and most useful ways to brew a drink. We wish you a pleasant tea party!