Why is basil tea useful and what recipes are the most delicious

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 to enhance its beneficial properties. It is irreplaceable in the autumn-spring period, when colds attack. Let's talk in detail about the benefits and dangers of basil tea.

Can basil be brewed into tea

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

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

Why basil tea is good

The plant contains many trace elements, rich in phytoncides, carotene, rutin, vitamins A, C, B2, PP. Thanks to its eugenol, it has not only a powerful antibacterial effect, but also serves as an antispasmodic. Its tonic properties are often compared to aspirin or ibuprofen. The extract 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 the prevention of cancer. The broth is used for bleeding gums. For a calming effect, basil leaves are brewed instead of the usual chamomile.

The benefits of this combination

Tea provides tremendous health benefits and improves overall well-being:

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

Which basil is good for making tea

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

How to prepare it

Basil tea is useful only when using properly prepared raw materials. Fresh herbs are suitable for preparing the drink.Keep it is recommended 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, dried:

1. Do it outdoors, without direct sunlight, spread out on paper or cotton cloth. The twigs should not touch each other.
2. Basil is finely chopped and put into a special jar for storing spices or a cotton bag.

The jar must have holes for oxygen to enter. Keep it away from foreign odors.

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

Reference. Basil is best not to be overused, because its leaves contain even small amounts of mercury, which accumulates in the body.

The best basil tea recipes

On a hot and sultry summer day or on a cool evening, it is pleasant to have 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 offer you to try unusual tea and pamper yourself and your loved ones.

Classical

It is best done with fresh herbs. This will make your 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 of water;
• 1 tsp sugar or honey.

How to brew:

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

Herbal

Tea will gain more useful properties if you add mint, lemon balm, thyme, raspberry or black currant leaves to it. It is better to drink this tea before bedtime - 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 the herbs with boiling water.
2. Insist for 20 minutes. Soothing tea is ready to drink.

With lemon

This tea is especially refreshing in the heat when chilled, and in winter it helps to cure colds.

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

1. Put the 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

Tea is recommended to be drunk cold. It perfectly quenches thirst in hot weather and cheers up.

Ingredients:

• 50 g of tea (green or black to your taste);
• 300-400 g of 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 chop the berries and basil.
3. In a shallow saucepan, combine the strawberries with sugar and 100 g of water.
4. Let the sugar dissolve over low heat.
5. Remove from heat, add basil.
6. Stir and let cool.
7. Take out the leaves of the plant.
8. Combine with prepared strawberry syrup.
9. Serve with ice cubes.

With raspberries

Tea with basil and raspberries cheers up.

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 wedges.
2. Rinse the raspberries, let them drain and put into the kettle.
3. Wash ginger and peel. Cut into small cubes and send to raspberries.
4. Rinse the mint and basil and put the whole branches into the kettle.
5. Pour boiling water over and let it brew for 15 minutes.
6. Add sugar, stir until completely dissolved, add lemon and lime wedges.

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

With mint

This combination quenches thirst in the hot season. You can use it not only hot, but also after cooling down.

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

1. Rinse the plants thoroughly and cut 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 the 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.

With ginger and cinnamon

The drink helps in the treatment of colds, strengthens the immune system and speeds up the metabolism.

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

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

With rose hips

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

1. Peel the 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 dried whole).
3. Cover, wrap in a warm blanket and leave for an hour.
4. The drink is ready.

With orange

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

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

Contraindications and possible harm

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

• with arterial hypertension;
• pregnant and lactating;
• 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 in the winter. It strengthens the immune system, calms the nerves, prolongs youth, improves memory and concentration.

Consult a specialist before drinking the drink. Despite its many beneficial properties, the plant is contraindicated for people with cardiovascular diseases and endocrine disorders.