Blackberry tea recipe: 4 ways to make.

Make this delicious blackberry tea recipe with fresh or dried blackberries, leaves, or syrup and enjoy their sweet taste in blackberry ice tea, sweet tea, or black tea.

Blackberries are one of my favorite berries that I find in the woods or buy frozen. As we like to hike and walk, we often find an abundance of blackberry bushes. On our hikes, we came across a blackberry paradise and collected two full baskets. While we ate most of them fresh, I also preserved some in blackberry syrup and dried some of the berries and leaves to make tea in the winter when their season is over. If you love tea, this blackberry tea is the perfect drink, whether cold or hot. 

What Is Blackberry Tea?

Blackberry tea is a delicious beverage that infuses blackberry fruit or leaves in hot water. It captures the essence of blackberries, offering a sweet and slightly tart flavor with a hint of earthiness. In addition, you can combine this blackberry fruit tea or blackberry leaf tea with black tea to get bold and earthy notes of black tea with a hint of sweet blackberry. When you make blackberry tea, it turns a deep purple color thanks to the presence of anthocyanins. You can drink it warm or cold, like iced tea.

Blackberry tea benefits

Antioxidant-Rich:

Like grapefruit, blackberries contain antioxidants like flavonoids, tannins, and vitamins C, E, and A that combat free radicals. According to Federal Occupational Health, these antioxidants prevent oxidative stress and inflammation and lower the risk of cancer (1)

Heart Benefits:

The anthocyanins in blackberries may help protect heart health by lowering blood pressure and regulating blood sugar levels, as observed in a 2011 study (2). 

Immune Booster: 

Like elderberries, blackberries are rich in essential vitamins like vitamins C, K, and E. Vitamin C can shorten the duration and severity of common colds and enhance the immune system’s response to viruses and pathogens (3). 

Blackberry leaf tea benefits

Research has shown that using blackberry leaves is as beneficial to health as the consumption of fruit while more cost-effective. 

Ingredients for blackberry tea recipe

Blackberry fruits and leaves

Blackberry plants grow naturally in North America, Europe, and Asia. You can make tea from homegrown plants or wild plants. Blackberries belong to the Rubus genus, like raspberries and dewberries. While blackberries start ripening in July, I usually wait until August when they are fully ripe, dark black, and plump. Light purple or red blackberries are firm and lack the sweet taste of ripe berries. Once you find your blackberry bush, collect leaves as they pose similar benefits to fruits.

Fresh berries provide the most vibrant flavor, while frozen and dried berries are convenient options, especially when blackberries are out of season.

You can buy fresh blackberry fruits, dried berries or leaves in a store or farmer’s market. The tea looks fantastic!

Sweetener (optional)

Adjust the sweetness of your blackberry tea to your taste. You can use honey, sugar, agave nectar, or even a sugar substitute like stevia. Start with a small amount and add more if needed.

Lemon (optional)

Enhance the flavor with a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice. Lemon slices or twists make great garnishes.

Mint or other herbs (optional)

Consider adding fresh herbs like mint or basil for a fragrant twist. Simply muddle the herbs gently before adding them to the tea.

4 ways to Make Blackberry Tea

1)from fresh or dried berries

First step: Prepare the Blackberries.

Wash the fresh blackberries thoroughly under lukewarm water to remove dirt or debris. Place them in a bowl and use a fork or a masher to mash them gently. This helps release their juices and flavor. 

You can skip this step if you are using dried berries.

Second step: Steep the Blackberries.

In a saucepan, bring one cup of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, remove it from heat. Add the mashed blackberries to the hot water. Cover the saucepan and let the blackberries steep in the hot water for about 5 minutes. This allows the flavors to infuse into the water.

When using dried blackberries, you’ll need to steep them 7-10 minutes in hot water to rehydrate and release their flavor. 

If you use a black tea bag, Pour tea over the blackberry mixture and infuse it in the saucepan together.

Third step: Strain the Tea.

Use a fine mesh strainer or a piece of cheesecloth to strain the hot tea into a cup or teapot, separating the liquid from the blackberry mixture. You can press down gently to extract more flavor from the berries.

Fourth step: Sweeten and serve

Pour this freshly brewed tea into a cup, and if desired, add a sweetener (such as honey or blackberry syrup) to taste. Stir until it dissolves. Garnish it with a slice of lemon or fresh mint leaves.

2)Blackberry leaf tea

Tea made of blackberry leaves is prepared the same way as from fruits. You can harvest fresh blackberry leaves from a pesticide-free blackberry plant or purchase dried blackberry leaves from a reputable source.

If using fresh leaves, wash them thoroughly to remove any dirt or dust. Allow them to air dry, or gently pat them dry with a clean towel.

This tea is really good for your health.

3)Make Blackberry tea with black tea bags

Black tea and blackberries taste better than regular tea. YOu can make it either with black tea bags or black tea leaves. It is a delightful combination that infuses the robust flavors of blackberries with the rich and slightly brisk notes of black tea. To make it, remove the saucepan from the heat and add the tea bags to the blackberries in the second step. Steep it for 6 minutes and discard tea bags.

4)Blackberry Iced Tea Recipe

If you are an Ice tea fan, it is simple to transform this berry tea into a refreshing iced tea that is perfect for hot summer days. Follow the above instructions. I suggest doubling the amount of blackberries and using a black tea bag. After steeping, remove the tea bags, pour the mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a large pitcher or large container, and add 4 cups of cold water. Now is the right time to adjust the right amount of sweetness. If you prefer to sweeten it, I suggest using blackberry syrup, which is easy to make (the recipe below), or other syrups such as maple or elderflower cordial. Stir with a wooden spoon and refrigerate the tea until it’s cold. Serve it over ice cubes and pour the tea over top. Add whole blackberries and mint leaves. I love to sip tea alongside these ugly but good cookies.

What is blackberry syrup, and how do you make it?

Simple Blackberry syrup is a sweetened blackberry concentrate made from fresh or frozen blackberries and sugar. 

To make the simple syrup, combine 2 cups of blackberries, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then simmer for 10-15 minutes until it thickens into a syrup. Mash the blackberries gently while simmering to release their flavor. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool slightly, steep for 3-5 minutes. Pour the syrup mixture into a fine mesh strainer. Store the syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator. It’s good for 2-4 weeks.

Best Berry Tea Tips and Variations

• Add a few fresh sage leaves or a pinch of dried sage for an earthy and aromatic twist.
• For a cozy and comforting brew, infuse the blackberry flavor with warming spices like cinnamon sticks, cloves, or star anise.
• This is really good with dried lavender buds for a floral and soothing flavor combination.
• Grate some fresh ginger or add ginger slices for a zesty and slightly spicy kick to make this recipe stand out.
• Lemon verbena leaves can infuse your blackberry sweet tea recipe with a citrusy aroma.
• Blend blackberry-flavored tea with chamomile flowers for a calming herbal infusion.
• Add slices of ripe peach for a sweet and fruity twist. This works particularly well with iced blackberry tea.

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