What are the benefits of basil tea and what are the most delicious recipes for brewing it?

The culture of drinking tea drinks came to us from the East, but you can brew delicious and healthy tea from various herbs that grow near us. One of them is basil. It is especially popular in India. It is combined with other herbs, berries and fruits - this enhances its beneficial properties. It is indispensable in the autumn-spring period, when colds attack. We will tell you in detail about the benefits and harms of basil tea.

Can basil be brewed into tea?

Basil is an aromatic plant that contains many beneficial substances. It is brewed for medicinal purposes. Only the leaves of the plant are suitable for cooking. Thanks to their refreshing taste and fragrant aroma, they are added to dishes in different cuisines around the world and used as an additive to tea.

It is recommended to drink 200-250 g of this invigorating drink per day, and it will protect you from many diseases, help cope with insomnia and mild malaise.

What is good about basil tea?

The plant contains many microelements, rich in phytoncides, carotene, rutin, vitamins A, C, B2, PP. Thanks to the eugenol included in its composition, it not only has a powerful antibacterial effect, but also serves as an antispasmodic. Its tonic properties are often compared to aspirin or ibuprofen. Extracting from it promotes wound healing and helps get rid of blackheads.

Vitamin A improves vision.Omega-3 fatty acids have a beneficial effect on the immune system. Basil is effective in preventing cancer. The decoction is used for bleeding gums. For a calming effect, basil leaves are brewed instead of the usual chamomile.

The benefits of this combination

Tea brings enormous health benefits and improves overall well-being:

• if you are irritated, the drink will calm you down and neutralize anxiety;
• tones up in case of lethargy, drowsiness and loss of strength, adds a boost of energy;
• relieves depression;
• relieves spasms and reduces inflammation in intestinal problems;
• normalizes the functioning of the liver and gall bladder;
• helps cope with insomnia;
• strengthens the immune system;
• helps prolong youth thanks to the content of antioxidants and essential oils;
• protects cells from the negative influence of the external environment;
• improves memory and concentration;
• eliminates headaches and toothaches and strengthens weak gums;
• normalizes the menstrual cycle, eliminates malaise, alleviates menopause;
• slows down the growth of cancer cells;
• prevents bloating;
• removes toxins and waste from the body;
• reduces fragility of hair and nails.

Which basil is suitable for making tea?

It is recommended to use the purple plant because it has a richer taste and color. Its leaves are considered the most fragrant and healing. Purple basil has analgesic, expectorant, antiseptic, sedative and antispasmodic effects. For prevention, add one leaf to your tea, and you will not be afraid of illness.

How to prepare it

Basil tea is beneficial only when properly prepared raw materials are used. Fresh herbs are suitable for preparing the drink. Keep It is recommended to keep it in the refrigerator in a container of water covered with cellophane for a week. Change the water every day.

To preserve basil for the winter, it dried:

1. Do this outdoors, without direct sunlight, spread out on paper or cotton cloth. The branches should not touch each other.
2. The basil is finely chopped and placed in a special jar for storing spices or a cotton bag.

The jar must have holes for oxygen to enter. It must be stored away from foreign odors.

Fresh basil can also be frozen. In this case, the plant will not lose its qualities.

Reference. It is better not to overuse basil, because its leaves, even in small quantities, contain mercury, which accumulates in the body.

The best basil tea recipes

On a hot and sultry summer day or a cool evening, it is pleasant to drink a cup of light and refreshing drink. Basil tea is just that - rich and hot with sugar or honey, or cold with ice cubes and refreshing mint. We invite you to try this unusual tea and pamper yourself and your loved ones.

Classical

Best made from fresh herbs. This will make the tea more refreshing and quench your thirst. It is recommended to use it for depression, sleep and digestion disorders. Drink no more than 250 g per day.

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. tea;
• 5-6 basil leaves (purple);
• 200 g water;
• 1 tsp. sugar or honey.

How to brew:

1. Pour boiling water over the tea leaves and add basil, after washing it first.
2. Let it brew for 10-20 minutes. under a closed lid.
3. Remove leaves from finished tea.

Herbal

Tea will acquire more beneficial properties if you add mint, lemon balm, thyme, raspberry or black currant leaves to it. It is better to drink this tea before bed - it will calm and relax.

Ingredients:

• 20 g each of basil, raspberry and currant leaves;
• 10 g lemon balm or mint;
• 1 liter of water.

Preparation:

1. Pour boiling water over the herbs.
2. Leave for 20 minutes. Soothing tea is ready to drink.

With lemon

This tea is especially refreshing in hot weather when chilled, and in winter it helps cure colds.

Ingredients:

• 3 basil leaves;
• 1/3 lemon;
• 250 ml water;
• 1-2 tsp. honey and sugar.

Preparation:

1. Place basil leaves in boiling water for a few minutes.
2. Remove from stove.
3. Add lemon zest and 1 tbsp. l. its juice.
4. Dissolve honey or sugar completely in the finished drink.

With strawberry

It is recommended to drink tea cold. It perfectly quenches thirst in hot weather and lifts your spirits.

Ingredients:

• 50 g of tea (green or black to your taste);
• 300-400 g strawberries;
• 1 medium bunch of basil;
• 1.5 liters of water;
• 3-4 tbsp. l. Sahara;
• ice (optional).

Preparation:

1. Brew tea in the required amount of boiling water and cool.
2. Wash and cut the berries and basil.
3. In a shallow saucepan, combine strawberries with sugar and 100 g of water.
4. Over low heat, let the sugar dissolve completely.
5. Remove from heat, add basil.
6. Stir and let cool.
7. Remove the leaves of the plant.
8. Combine with prepared strawberry syrup.
9. Serve with ice cubes.

With raspberries

Tea with basil and raspberries lifts your spirits.

Ingredients:

• 1 liter of water;
• 100 g sugar;
• 0.5 lemon and lime;
• 50 g ginger root;
• 3 sprigs of mint;
• 2 sprigs of basil;
• 15 raspberries.

Preparation:

1. Wash the citruses, scald with boiling water and cut into slices.
2. Wash the raspberries, drain them and put them in a teapot.
3. Wash the ginger and peel the skin. Cut into small cubes and add to the raspberries.
4. Wash the mint and basil and place whole sprigs in the teapot.
5. Pour boiling water over and let steep for 15 minutes.
6. Add sugar, stir until completely dissolved, add lemon and lime slices.

Pour the tea into cups and serve. You can drink it chilled.

With mint

This combination quenches thirst during the hot season. It can be consumed not only hot, but also after cooling.

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of fresh basil;
• 1 bunch of fresh mint;
• 1.5 liters of water;
• 1 tsp sugar.

Preparation:

1. Wash the plants thoroughly and trim the lower stems.
2. Boil water, reduce heat to low and add sugar, stirring until completely dissolved.
3. Add basil and boil for 2 minutes.
4. Then add mint.
5. Wait until the broth boils and remove from heat.
6. Leave covered for about 10 minutes.
7. Strain through a fine sieve.

Drink hot or wait until it cools down.

With ginger and cinnamon

The drink helps treat colds, strengthens the immune system and speeds up metabolism.

Ingredients:

• 6 sprigs purple basil;
• 15 g ginger root;
• 2 slices of lemon;
• 500 ml water;
• ½ cinnamon stick.

Preparation:

1. Peel the ginger and chop finely.
2. Boil it with basil, lemon slices and a cinnamon stick for 2 minutes.
3. Let it brew for 10-15 minutes.

With rosehip

Ingredients:

• 180 g fresh or 50 g dried rose hips;
• 1 liter of water;
• 1 sprig of basil.

Preparation:

1. Peel the fruits from seeds and cut into pieces, chop the basil.
2. Pour ready-made boiling water into the kettle, add basil and pieces of fresh rose hips (or whole dried ones).
3. Cover with a lid, wrap in a warm blanket and leave for an hour.
4. The drink is ready.

With orange

Ingredients:

• 5 basil leaves;
• 1 medium sized orange;
• 200 ml water;
• 1 tsp. Sahara.

Preparation:

1. Add the leaves of the plant to the boiling liquid and boil for 2 minutes.
2. Remove from heat.
3. Add the orange zest, squeeze the juice out of half the fruit and also pour into the drink.
4. Let it brew for 15 minutes.
5. Add sugar and stir until completely dissolved.

Contraindications and possible harm

Basil or a drink made from it should not be consumed by people:

• with arterial hypertension;
• pregnant and lactating women;
• with cardiovascular diseases;
• suffering from diabetes and thrombosis;
• having individual intolerance.

Conclusion

Tea with dried or fresh basil will perfectly quench your thirst in the summer and warm you up in the winter. It strengthens the immune system, calms the nerves, prolongs youth, improves memory and concentration.

Before drinking the drink, consult a specialist. Despite its numerous beneficial properties, the plant is contraindicated for people with cardiovascular diseases and endocrine disorders.