Wild Plants for Tea

On Friday, November 5, 2010; I went on an outing to gather plants to make tea. As usual, my hiking pals Shiloh and Emma went along. The plants should have been gathered a bit earlier in the season, but other things seemed to keep me from getting it done. It was a nice fall day, but just a bit cold when not in the sun.

All of the plants/leaves I gathered have been used for many generations. In today's world though, most of this knowledge has been forgotten. It should also be noted that all have some health or medicinal benefits. I will list a few, but my list is far from complete for each. Please do your own research before using any wild plants for food or medicinal purposes.

Tea made from Black Raspberry and Blackberry leaves are said to help with digestive problems, diarrhea, sore throat, colds, fever. The berries are also said to help regulate the digestive system. I learned when gathering these, that leather gloves would be most helpful for protection from the many thorns....

                                                         
                                                                  Black Raspberry leaves

Blackberry leaves

Mullein was imported to the U.S. by the early settlers and has a quite interesting list of uses. The tea is said to soothe sore throats, help chest colds, coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. Do some research to see other listed uses.  I had a cup of tea from the fresh leaves and it was okay; would probably be better if the leaves were dried....to eliminate that "green" taste. My picture of the plant is of a young plant. The mature plant grows to about 4 feet tall with a long flowered stalk; but it will grow throughout the year.

                                                             Mullein plant and leaves

        I managed to gather a small amount of Goldenrod, but it is just about too late in the season. It really should be gathered earlier. There are accounts of the early colonists making a beverage tea from the leaves. This was during the tea shortage following the Boston Tea Party. There are also supposed medicinal and health benefits from Goldenrod. Again...please do your own research; online or in good reference books.

                                                                      Goldenrod

                                                

Following are just a couple more pictures of my outing. One looking north from a sandbar in the Middlefork River and another of Emma wading.