Originally from North America, blueberries were introduced to European countries over a hundred years ago. This introduction has made blueberries popular throughout most of the world. There are so many great ways to enjoy blueberries, but tea may not be the first that comes to mind.
Blueberry tea is a great drink to have when you want something light and refreshing. It has a deep, rich flavor that blends well with citrus fruits like oranges and grapefruit for the perfect afternoon pick-me-up. Blueberries are also loaded with antioxidants, which help fight free radicals in your body, making blueberry tea one of the healthiest drinks out there!
Want an easy blueberry tea recipe? I’m going to share my favorite!
What You Need To Make Blueberry Tea
- Blueberries or blueberry leaves (dried)
- Hot water
- Sweeteners such as sugar or honey
- A saucepan
- A tea strainer, or if you prefer it, a tea infuser, to skip the straining.
How To Make Blueberry Tea
Blueberry tea can be made from leaves, berries, or a combination of both. The leaves will yield more of a traditional bitter flavor, whereas the berries will make it sweeter and fruity.
To make tea from the blueberry leaves, first, dry the leaves while the blueberries are in season (or use them fresh!). Then steep the dry leaves for about 15 minutes in hot water.
If you’d rather make tea from the blueberry fruit, choose a cup of fresh, frozen, or dried blueberries and add 2 cups of boiling water on top. Cover and leave them to steep for about 10 minutes, then strain before drinking.
How to Make Blueberry Leaf Tea
- If you grow your own blueberries or forage them in the wild, gather some leaves and dry them to use in teas later. As a word of caution, ensure the leaves you collect are blueberry leaves, since there are other berry leaves that look similar to blueberry leaves that can be dangerous to consume. Alternatively, you can buy leaves online or from your favorite health food store.
- Pour 2 cups of water into the saucepan and allow it to come to a rolling boil.
- Put the dried leaves (2 tablespoons) in the hot water and lower the flame to allow them to simmer.
- Allow the tea to steep for 10-15 minutes
- Strain the tea after it has finished steeping
- Add the optional ingredients to sweeten or adjust the flavor
Serve hot or over ice, with a wedge of lemon. Enjoy!
Love berry teas? Try this blackberry leaf tea. As already mentioned, you can always use fresh leaves in season, too!
Potential Adverse Effects of Blueberry Tea
Although blueberry tea is extremely healthy, there is a possibility of adverse side effects (albeit rare). People who have suffered these side effects mostly complain about reactions that are gastrointestinal or allergic. Below is a shortlist of some of the issues people have complained of suffering from:
- Issues of the stomach: Blueberry tea can sometimes create indigestion or an upset stomach. These symptoms occur if one drinks too much blueberry tea. Other symptoms may be diarrhea or nausea. Keep your daily consumption of tea to 3 cups or less. As long as you drink it moderately, these symptoms should not appear.
- Allergic reactions: Although it is rare to have an allergy to blueberries, it does happen. The signs and symptoms of having a reaction due to allergies include swelling in the gums, tongue, or lips. Also, irritated skin, such as itchiness, swelling, or redness, can occur. Stop drinking the tea immediately should you develop any of these allergy signs or symptoms.
- During pregnancy: As with any new regimen, if you are trying something new when pregnant or breastfeeding, consult your doctor first.
FAQs About Blueberries
This section is a compilation of some frequently asked questions found about blueberries.
Is blueberry tea good for you?
Drinking blueberry tea can be beneficial to one’s cardiovascular health. Blueberries have a lot of potassium content, and they act as a vasodilator, lowering blood pressure. It can also guard against the chance of having a heart attack, stroke, or atherosclerosis. In addition, blueberries are extremely concentrated with proanthocyanidins. Therefore, drinking blueberry tea has been proven to significantly lower your chances of getting heart disease.
How many blueberries can you eat in a day?
When consuming fruits and vegetables, it is recommended to eat a minimum of 400 grams daily. This averages out to about 5 daily at 80 grams each.
Is it bad for you to eat too many blueberries?
As with anything, too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Consuming too many blueberries can have adverse side effects such as acid reflux, diarrhea, bloating, and heartburn.
What are the consequences of eating too many blueberries?
There are 3.6 grams of fiber in a cup of blueberries. When eating more than this, you can impede the intestines from absorbing the nutrients. This may create excessive flatulence, discomfort in the stomach, diarrhea, and bloating. As well as several other health issues.
What health benefits do blueberries offer?
Blueberries are excellent aid factors in the preservation of the health of one’s cardiovascular system. You get many vitamins and nutrients in a single serving of these berries, such as potassium, folate, vitamin C, fiber, and vitamin B6. In addition, the health of your heart is supported by the phytonutrient content they contain. Also, because they contain zero cholesterol, they are great for the heart.
