A weed, that isn’t just a weed! Rosebay willowherb (Chamerion angustifolium) is a healthy tea that is known for a century – Ivan Chai.
Ivan Chai – a fermented herbal tea made from wild willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium). Fermented willowherb (Epilobium angustifolium) tea was a traditional Russian hot beverage for hundreds of years before it was nearly universally replaced by Indian and Chinese black and green teas. With its rich composition of minerals and vitamins, willowherb makes for a healthy, caffeine-free tea that does not contain harmful uric acid or oxalate. Willowherb tea is also a mild sedative. “Ivan Chai” is an excellent replacement for imported teas.
Willowherb contains micronutrients—trace minerals that are good for the blood—such as iron, titanium, nickel, copper, manganese, lithium, molybdenum, as well as boron, potassium, calcium, sodium, and more. It contains bioflavonoids, glutinous substances, pectin, and tannins and it is also rich in both vitamin C (containing more than is found in citruses) and vitamin B. Interestingly, the willowherb growing in the northern regions of the world contains much more vitamin C than that growing in southern regions.
Ivan Chai is used for pain and swelling (inflammation), fevers, tumors, wounds, and enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH).
How to gather and ferment the leaves of wild willowherb to get Ivan Chai? Wait for my next post. I will post easy step by step instruction later on.
Ilze
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Very interesting. We have chai tea here. Is it the same?
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No. Chai is rich black tea + cream + spice + sweetener. And actually CHAI word it self means tea in Russina. This tea is more like herbal tea that tastes a bit like green tea :).
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I learn something – nice article and great pictures.
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Thank you! Wait for tea making recipe. Where you are from!? Is there a fireweed in your region?!
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Looking forward to the recipe. I live in the Midwest in the US. Not sure if there is fireweed – I think so – I’ll check to see. I think I’ve seen this in the fields. But I’m not sure.
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Let me know if you find them 🙂
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Very informative post. Great pics. Looking forward to recipe. Not sure if we have fireweed though.
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Thank you. It’s almost finished! Now I have to taste it and write down the recipe. 🙂 Rosebay willowherb isn’t growing in hot climate.
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In England, Rosebay Willowherb was spread along the very poor soil by the side of railway lines. ❤
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Yes. The same here in Latvia. Mine is from old (not active anymore) railway line near home.
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Not sure if there is fireweed – I think so – I’ll check to see. !
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Where are you from?
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