Hawthorn Berry Tea using Hawthorn Berry Leaves

Hawthorn berry tea can be made from the leaves, the berries, and even the flowers. Let's talk about making hawthornberry tea from the leaves.

How do I make hawthorn berry tea from loose hawthorn berry tea leaves? 

Most of us are familiar with making tea with tea in bags, but maybe you haven't made tea with loose leaves before. This can be done in several ways. One way to make hawthorn berry tea with loose leaves is to simply put them in your cup and pour hot water over them. Allow the tea to stand and then drink, without stirring or swishing your tea so that the leaves aren't stirred up.

Use a diffuser, tea bag or basket infuser for your hawthorn berry tea leaves. A diffuser is a device made specifically for brewing loose tea leaves. You can buy a tea ball online (just do a google search for "tea ball" and you'll find them). You can put the hawthorn berry leaves inside the tea ball by opening the ball (it usually opens in half, and latches shut for steeping). You can also purchase bags for inserting the hawthorn berry tea into, much like the commercial tea we're used to having when we drink black tea. Finally, like a coffee maker, there are infusers you can purchase that will hold tea leaves while you pour hot water over them, which allows the tea water to filter into the cup or vessel below.

 

Enjoy! :)

What does a hawthorn berry look like?

You can find hawthorn berries on the bush after the flowers have faded.The flower from the hawthorn bush provide a tasty nectar for many bugs, and the bushes themselves are relied on by birds as a place of shelter. In the winter, many birds enjoy hawthorn berries, and by eating them, help spread the seeds and plant new ones. :)

The berries are usually red when they ripen, but can also be black. Here are some pictures of what red hawthorn berries look like:

And actually, although we call hawthorn berries "berries", they are technically "poms" (like apples and pears). Whatever we call them, one thing is clear - hawthorn berries are as beautiful as they are beneficial for wildlife, and for people!

Here are some early season hawthorn berries that still have green leaves.