Useful properties and the most delicious recipes for carrot tea
Carrots are one of the most common vegetables, but few people know that they can be used to make tea, which has many beneficial properties.
There are many options for preparing this vitamin drink. We will tell you in the article how to make tea from root vegetables and carrot tops, what benefits and harm it will bring.
What is carrot tea
Carrot tea is an unusual source of vitamins for the human body.. Tea has a rich color and a pleasant sweetish taste, and has a lot of beneficial properties that can relieve health problems. Carrot decoction is useful for adults and children.
Beneficial properties of carrot tea
The benefits of carrot tea are invaluable, because the root vegetable contains a large amount of vitamins, micro- and macroelements, which have a beneficial effect on human health.
Useful substances in carrots:
- beta-carotene;
- potassium;
- calcium;
- copper;
- zinc;
- vitamins A, group B, C, E, H, PP;
- Apple acid;
- flavonoids.
Carrot tops are healthier than the root vegetable itself. It contains selenium, vitamin K (participated in protein synthesis), iodine, potassium, calcium, iron, ascorbic acid, as well as chlorophyll, which improves blood condition.
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Beneficial properties of a decoction of root vegetables and carrot tops:
- has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system;
- strengthens the immune system, protects against colds;
- removes toxins and waste from the body;
- promotes hematopoiesis thanks to folic acid;
- strengthens muscle and bone tissue;
- has low calorie content and reduces hunger;
- has a positive effect on the functioning of the respiratory system;
- normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- good for vision;
- has a beneficial effect on hair (hair follicles become stronger), nails (fragility and delamination are eliminated) and skin (skin elasticity increases).
Tea is useful for such diseases:
- gastritis;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- urolithiasis disease;
- liver diseases;
- constipation;
- prostatitis;
- hypertension;
- anemia;
- hormonal disorders;
- colds;
- eye diseases.
The decoction reduces the risk of disease periodontitis, caries, osteoporosis.
Important! You should drink carrot tea after your main meal and no more than one glass per day.
Harm and contraindications
Despite all the beneficial properties, carrot drink is contraindicated for:
- allergic reactions and individual intolerance;
- increased blood clotting;
- pregnancy, as well as nursing mothers;
- the presence of cancer (due to the regenerative properties of carrots, cancer cells will be restored along with healthy ones).
Drink used in limited quantities for problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
Drinking tea in large quantities may cause nausea, vomiting, headache, drowsiness, skin may become yellow due to excess vitamin A.
Important! If you have contraindications, you should consult your doctor before drinking the drink.
Recipes for making carrot tea
Not all housewives know how to prepare a decoction to preserve nutrients. We offer several recipes that will help make the drink not only rich in vitamins, but also tasty..
From fresh carrots
Ingredients:
- carrots – 2 pcs.;
- water – 500 ml;
- sweetener (optional).
Preparation: Wash the carrots thoroughly, peel and grate on a coarse grater. Place the resulting mass in a teapot, pour boiling water, cover with a lid and let brew for 20 minutes.
Attention! To make tea from fresh carrots, it is better to use small root vegetables with a bright orange color. Then the tea will be sweeter and richer.
From dried carrots
Ingredients:
- dry carrots – 2 tbsp. l.;
- water – 250 ml;
- black brewed tea – 1 tbsp. l.;
- sweetener (optional).
Preparation: Mix the prepared dried root vegetable with black tea and pour boiling water over it. Cover with a lid and leave to steep for about five minutes.
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Dried carrot tea with honey
Ingredients:
- dry carrots – 2 tbsp. l.;
- honey – 1 tsp;
- water – 250 ml.
Preparation: Pour boiling water over carrots and leave for 15 minutes, then strain the drink and add honey.
From the tops
For making tea use fresh or dry tops.
Dry tops tea
Ingredients:
- chopped dry tops - 1 tbsp. l.;
- water – 250 ml.
Preparation: Pour dry carrot leaves with a glass of boiling water and leave for 10-15 minutes under a closed lid. Strain the tea before drinking.
Tea made from fresh tops
Ingredients:
- greens – 1 tbsp. l.;
- water – 600 ml.
Preparation: Wash young green stems and chop finely with a sharp knife.Pour boiling water over the resulting mass, cover with a lid and leave for about ten minutes. Afterwards strain the tea.
Carrot tea with nettle, rose hips and currants
Ingredients:
- rosehip – 4 tsp;
- nettle leaves – 4 tsp;
- dry carrots – 4 tsp;
- currant berries – 1 tsp;
- water – 500 ml.
Preparation: Pour boiling water over all ingredients, cover and leave for four hours. Strain before use.
Important! There are various variations of carrot herbal tea. But mixing it with medicinal herbs is not recommended. It is better to use herbs separately.
The following components are also used to prepare tea with herbs and berries::
- Melissa;
- mint;
- nettle;
- rose hip;
- chamomile;
- calendula;
- raspberries, strawberries;
- twigs of cherries, currants and raspberries.
How to prepare carrot tea for the winter
To properly dry root vegetables for the winter, follow these recommendations::
- For drying choose medium-sized carrots. It is better to use early or mid-season varieties. It is important that the core is not large and coarse.
- Check the root crop for damage and rot.
- Wash the carrots thoroughly with a stiff brush and peel them. Carefully cut off the tops and dry them separately.
There are several available methods for drying vegetables for the winter for making tea.
Electric dryer
Vegetables are cut into small cubes or grated on a coarse grater and placed in a dryer so that the pieces do not touch, at a temperature of +65°C. The carrots are dried for 5-6 hours. During the process, the trays are turned over several times for more uniform drying.
On open air
The root vegetable is cut into small slices (no more than 3 mm). Lay them out on a tray in a thin layer and leave them in the sun.At night the dryer is brought indoors, and in the morning it is again exposed to the sun.
The vegetables are stirred periodically for more uniform drying. This method of harvesting root crops is the longest in terms of time. Carrots are dried for 10 to 14 days.
In the oven
Carrots are grated on a coarse grater or thinly sliced into rings, spread the pieces on a baking sheet in a thin layer and place in the oven, preheated to +200°C, for 20 minutes. Then cool and put back in the oven for 20 minutes. There should be three such approaches. The root crop is stirred periodically.
There is another option for drying in the oven. Peeled carrots are blanched in boiling water. For small root vegetables, 12-15 minutes is enough, for large ones (diameter more than 4.5 cm) – 15-20 minutes. The degree of readiness of a vegetable is determined by piercing it with a match.
Afterwards, the carrots are dipped in cold water, dried on a clean kitchen towel and cut into circles or strips. The finished product is spread in a thin layer on a baking sheet. The main process of drying the root crop occurs at a temperature of +75-80°C, and the carrots are dried at a temperature of +60-65°C.
Important! When drying carrots in the oven, leave the oven door ajar to allow excess moisture to escape.
Dried root vegetables are stored in a glass container with a tight lid in a dark, dry place. (pantry or cellar).
Drying tops
You can’t get carrot greens in winter, so if you want to treat yourself to healthy tea in the cold season, you should prepare the product in advance.
For drying, cut off the tops from the root crop, wash under warm running water, dry with paper towels and finely chop. Spread in a thin layer on a substrate made of cardboard, wood or fabric, and leave to air dry.
Wherein The tops should not be exposed to direct sunlight, a dark and ventilated place is best. It dries for about two days. Afterwards, the tops are crushed into powder and stored in glass containers.
Conclusion
Any version of carrot tea will delight you with its taste all year round if the root vegetable is prepared correctly. Despite the fact that the recipes are easy to prepare, the benefits of such a drink for the body are invaluable. When using it, you should take into account contraindications and possible side effects.