Ivan tea (fermentation of fireweed leaves) - master class

Tea is dried after daily fermentation, it's a miracle! Smells like honey, the first just pumped out. I'm fascinated!

Yeah, Lenusik, honey, and also floral, and also fruity, so cool! I can't breathe it. Today, I will also set it to ferment for a day.

[lappl1]

lappl1, Lyudochka!
I am reporting on my experiment.
The day before yesterday I collected Vanechka, a clean sheet turned out to be 3150g .. Withered for 12 hours, after withering the weight decreased to 2300g, so withering "removed" the liquid by more than 30%.
Then I laid out the leaves in clay pots in the amount of 5 pieces, covered them with linen cloth and lids. In the 6th (at my own peril and risk) I put a sheet scrolled in a meat grinder. And of course the leftovers were sent to normal fermentation.
I sent all the pots to an oven preheated to 100 *.

After 15 minutes, the temperature dropped to 60 *.
I intended to languish for 12 hours, but during the day, periodically looking through information about green tea, I decided for myself that the phrase "put on languor for the night" gives me the right to reduce this time to 8-9 hours (an experiment after all).
I naturally pulled out the first pot with a twisted sheet.

The granules in it turned out to be the same as I put them, dense. The smell is floral honey. The contents were immediately sent to the oven for drying at 60 *. The tea dried quickly enough.
I decided to split the whole sheet.

From 3 pots I twisted by hand.

And from 2 - twisted in a meat grinder.

"By hand" - the leaf was spinning easily and dense "cigars" were obtained, after scrolling the palms were sticky (I am already silent what they are "black", and even a lemon does not take blackness!). I cut it and sent it to the oven and electric dryer.
I did NOT like the twisted one after languishing - it crumbled and when scrolling, an oily liquid clearly stood out. But! "it already exists and it cannot but be" - she also sent it to the oven to dry.
Here is the tea after drying ... the first rolled after withering and the second hand rolled after languishing.


Tea after brewing.

After drying, the smell naturally changed ... In the leaf it slightly decreased, in the scrolled one it became somehow "deeper". Taste ... naturally more pronounced when scrolled.
I don't really like green tea myself ... my husband drinks it more. Today he liked the taste of "scrolled", BUT we know that our tea needs to be infused, and, apparently, dry fermentation will take much longer for him than for ordinary tea.
But such tea has a place to be!

[Borisyonok]

Borisyonok, kitty, well, you're done! I take off my hat to you for such an experiment! How detailed! How varied - in every way she did! And with observations, conclusions! And the photos are great. Just a whole tutorial on making green tea.
Helen, I am more than sure that the tea will be awesome by the fall. Your husband will still thank you for him for a long time.
Thank you, Lenochka, for such a great job! I admire you !

Hello. I have a question for everyone who has been making Koporye tea. I live in Ukraine, and we have a lot of Ivan-Chay, and almost everywhere. your article inspired me to experiment. About a week ago, I collected the first batch of leaves (respectively, before flowering), dried it overnight in a cool dry place (it was pretty cool), after that I scrolled some of the leaves by hand (made sausages), and some in a meat grinder. Withstood about 8 hours of fermentation and dried. During fermentation, the smell, of course, changed, but the floral-fruity aroma did not wait. And during drying, and after it, the tea generally smelled like in a bath: ((.Tastes like an hour of chamomile, or steamed hay. The day before yesterday I gathered leaves again, now I did it a little differently. I put them tightly in a plastic five-liter bucket (about half came out), tamped them down and put a 15-kilogram oppression on top. so he held for a day, after which he began to crush the sheet strongly, about how the dough is kneaded. During such processing, the leaf perfectly let juice, and all the leaves to a single one by themselves twisted into tubes. Leave to ferment for 7 hours. The smell, of course, changed, but I did not catch the fruity notes. After fermentation (the tea itself became dark) dried again - part in the oven, and part in the electric dryer. During drying, the smell disappeared and the tea began to smell like regular chamomile. The color is deep black, strong, but the taste is not very good. Please tell me what is my mistake, that I am not doing so. Thanks in advance.

[vitja25]

vitja25, Hello! We are very glad to see you in our tea topics.
I can say the following.
1. First, the tea has not yet gone through dry fermentation and it is very early to judge the taste. Wait at least a month.
2. Dried tea is almost odorless. The smell appears after dry fermentation.
3. In both cases, the tea did not dry out. In the first case, it was not enough, as it was cool, and in the second, it did not dry out at all. If you read my recipe carefully, you will understand that excess juice in the leaves interferes with a good fermentation or does not allow it to pass at all. I know from the Internet about the second method and I was always surprised why people do not dry leaves? On my own experience, I was more than once convinced that a poorly wither leaf gives the worst result, and you did not have any withering at all. I made tea in a similar way - without withering. True, the leaves lay very tightly in the bag. But I didn't like this tea at all.
4. The tried smell can be read by following the active link at the end of this recipe. In short, it turns out if:
- fermentation was poor,
- either it took place at a high temperature (above 30 *), or vice versa - at too low - less than 18 *,
- or there was a too thick layer of leaves during drying and the tea was steamed, losing its aroma,
- or drying was at a low temperature.
Victor, try to make tea, as in the recipe on the 1st page of this topic, without violating the conditions for its preparation - from collecting leaves to packaging for storage and aging on dry fermentation. I'm sure the result will not disappoint you.

[twisted garden sauces in a meat grinder 2 times]

Girls boys, today I remembered that last year some girls twisted garden sauces in a meat grinder 2 times, because after the first time, the granules crumbled. Now I'm doing Ivanushka and I'm not very happy with the granules - some crumbly, although the leaves are drying well. And I decided to twist them 2 times. At once the worms crawled, the volume of the twisted mass decreased. If earlier I divided this mass into 3 containers, now they can easily fit into two. I think that fermentation should go better than with less dense granules, because anaerobes play the main role in fermentation. And you will need to put less of this tea in volume when brewing, well, simply because there is more raw material in each granule than with one twisting.
I appeal to those girls who have already done double twisting in a meat grinder. Have you noticed the difference in tea?
Who wants to join my experiment. And I, in turn, will then write about my impressions.

Vitya, your information about the fact that there is Ivan tea in Ukraine is very interesting ... I am in the encyclopedia of medicinal plants (with an emphasis on plants that grow in Ukraine, although there were also plants that grew in other parts of the USSR) for 1990 year, I read that Ivan tea grows almost everywhere in Ukraine, but I have not met him. It's really interesting, is it really growing? Where are you from?

[quote author = vitja25 link = topic = 389191 I wonder WHERE in Ukraine do you live? I live in Kharkov and I managed to find fireweed quite by accident. And I'm still not sure if it is him. I'm waiting for the beginning of flowering.

Who wants to join my experiment.

Want! Want! Want!.I want good granules! Today I will put the cherries on fermentation. If anything, I'll do the second "meat grinder"

is it really growing?

Good day, countrywoman! If the herb, which is now actively collected and dried, is indeed fireweed, "rent" the place

I live in the Lviv region, the city of Stryi, and Ivan tea grows here almost everywhere. Even now, there are huge thickets 20 meters from my place of work. If you wish, you can collect a large package at least every day throughout the summer. So, probably, I will do it. Thank you for your answer. By the way, I described a little above that the leaf withers overnight (in general, about 20 hours). It sagged well, there was no crunch in the central vein. Fermentation took place at a temperature of 20-22C. Probably you will need to hold not 8 hours, but 12-15 or even more. Let's experiment. For Kharchkovites - you will be in our area - go to any thickets on the outskirts of a field or forest, and you will almost certainly find the desired plant there. We really have a lot of it. Thank you all for your answer.

you will be in our area

- very unlikely, unfortunately.

very unlikely, unfortunately.

The girls, scouring the Internet in search of tea knowledge, noticed that tea leaves are fermented at 15 degrees. Has anyone had such an experience with fireweed? Here is a quote: "The ideal combination of conditions for high-quality fermentation is to combine the lowest possible temperature (about 15 degrees Celsius) of fermentation with the highest possible humidity (about 90%)."

Light, nooo, such information has not been read. The Chinese have a slightly different information, and at 15 degrees everything will freeze, sour, there will be no fermentation process as such, but I think so.
And you can try and then tell, it's interesting!

[svetn]

Scouring the Internet in search of tea knowledge, I noticed that tea leaves are fermented at 15 degrees

svetn, Svetlana, the first time I meet such information. I relied on a book on tea, the links to quotes from which I placed at the end of the recipe. The Chinese write that the best temperature is 22 - 26. I understand that Chinese tea and willow tea are different scents, but the bacteria that provide fermentation both in our country and in them are the same. Is the humidity so high too? Everything will become moldy.
But even before meeting this book, I came across information on the fermentation of fireweed. Everywhere they write that you need to ferment in the heat.
And from my own experience I can confirm that at low temperatures fermentation practically does not take place.

very unlikely unfortunately

Why so? And to look at the Carpathians, to collect ecologically clean herbs? Our mountains are clearly visible from the windows of houses.

[Radushka]

Want! Want! Want!. I want good granules! Today I will put the cherries on fermentation. If anything, I'll do the second "meat grinder"

Radushka, come on, do it, then tell us about your impressions. Although cherries have good granules anyway. But it will be even better.

[Gaby]

Gaby, Vikulya, hello! Long time no see. Good to see you. Well, pumpkin, opened the tea season?

Why so?

Long away. And there is no direct train, they say. And with a mutot transplant.

[Radushka]

Radushka, There is a train Kharkov - Lviv. Three years ago I went to Kharkov, the ball was there for 1.5 months. To be honest, there are no problems with getting there. But it is so.

three years ago

that's just the point that three years ago

[Gaby]

Good day, countrywoman! If the herb, which is now actively collected and dried, is indeed fireweed, "rent" the place

Thank you, I'm glad, hand over your seats, or I'll tearfully ask you to bring me a bag of leaves, just like that

Vitya thanks for the invitation, but a bit too far away, however.

Gaby, Vikulya, hello! Long time no see. Good to see you. Well, pumpkin, opened the tea season?

Lyudochek, hello! I am glad to see you too, only I have not disappeared at all, I read you. I haven't opened the season yet, but I'm planning.The most successful tea came out of apricot, but I made one batch and someone wrote that it smells like fish and I was carried away by preparations from other leaves. The most successful tea, which quickly ran out, but my daughter's cherry and Deseven tea where there are cherries, I'm sorry. I plan to make a pear, but last year it was not ripe for it.

[Vikusya]

Vikusya, I'm so glad to see you ! I haven't heard for a long time, haven't seen! Vikus, Ivanushka is the best, really, really. Throw me the address in a personal, I'll send it to you.

[Ludmila]

Ludmila, I received a parcel with Ivan-tea, I am very pleased, the aroma is fruit-honey, similar to my village teas in aroma. Granules are even, beautiful, the color of the tea leaves is dark brown, very pleasant to drink. Such tea can be prescribed for anyone who does not have the opportunity to make it, of course, I want to compare it with one made by hand, but so far there is no such possibility.
I wrote earlier that I bought ivan tea in the store, I threw out the granulated tea after the first brewing and could not drink it. and in the leaf I added a little of my tea to improve the aroma. Those teas were three times more expensive.

[Vikusya]

Vikusya, I'm so glad to see you ! I haven't heard for a long time, haven't seen! Vikus, Ivanushka is the best, really, really. Throw me the address in a personal, I'll send it to you.

Linochka and I are always, always glad to see you, sometimes I think about you, when you exhibit another masterpiece, how do you manage everything? I promise not to be lost. Thank you for the offer, low bow.

Lina, I remembered that I made cheese according to your recipe, I confess I went into that topic.

hand over places

Vika, dear! I would have passed. Only after it blooms. Something I am not sure that this is Ivan-tea. fireweed - exactly. Only them, these fireweeds, like ...
Ferment the garden ones for now.

Only them, these fireweeds, like ...

Well, if all over the globe, then a lot. And if we have, then 2, and then you need to look for the second. Narrow-leaved fireweed, he is Ivan-tea, he is Koporsky tea, he is uterine tea. Included in the Register of Medicinal Plants of the Russian Federation. That's exactly what it grows everywhere. If you have fireweed, then this is exactly that fireweed. There is also a broadleaf, but it is completely different in appearance, you cannot confuse them.

[Alla]

I received a parcel with Ivan-tea, I am very satisfied

Alla, I am very glad that the right tea came. Although there is now an idea of ​​good tea. I am very glad that there are companies that care about the quality of their products.

Something I am not sure that this is Ivan-tea. fireweed - exactly. Only them, these fireweeds, like ...

Radushka, you sent us a photo of your fireweed, and we will tell you whether it is it or not.

you sent us a photo of your fireweed

While there is nothing to photograph.
It will bloom - I will ask someone to photograph.

[Radushka]

It will bloom - I will ask someone to photograph.

Radushka, agreed. I really want fireweed to be found in Ukraine too.

I really want to find fireweed in Ukraine too

And he is in Ukraine. And even a lot. SOME even fight him like a weed in their dachas (horror, horror!). Only not near Kharkov.

[Radushka]

And he is in Ukraine.

Radushka, which means that it is necessary to hand over the places of its growth to everyone, otherwise many girls from Ukraine do not even know that fireweed grows with them.

many girls from Ukraine do not know that fireweed grows with them.

Well, they promised me to send rhizomes for divorce from near Kiev. And from near Lviv. A woman from Kiev does not grow flowers because of him. And at the Lviv woman, the meadows near the dacha are all occupied by him. She just didn't know he was so useful. They say that he is absent in the steppe at all. And there are many in the wooded area.

[Radushka]

They say that he is absent in the steppe at all. And there are many in the wooded area.

Radushka, well, of course, it won't grow in the hot steppe. he would have damp ground, so the forest is the best place. I think that those who want to make ivan tea will now find it at home.

Hi :-) And I’ll settle down next to me with a cup.Can? I am from the Sumy region of Ukraine and there is as much Ivan-tea as you want and how much you can :-) Who needs to collect seeds or dig up roots in autumn. 7 years ago, I just started to dry it. I'll pick, wither and dry, because it's useful, but somehow I noticed that if the crumpled leaves wither, tea smells stronger and began to knead them like dough. And what fermentation is just then I found out, but how happy it was to learn that many people really love this kind of seagulls :-)

Who needs to collect seeds or dig up roots in autumn

It is necessary! Really needed!

[nataligelak]

Hi :-) And I’ll settle down next to me with a cup. Can? I am from the Sumy region of Ukraine and there is as much Ivan-tea as you want and how much you can :-) Who needs to collect seeds or dig up roots in autumn. 7 years ago, I just started to dry it. I'll pick, wither and dry, because it's useful, but somehow I noticed that if the crumpled leaves wither, tea smells stronger and began to knead them like dough. And what fermentation is just then I found out, but how happy it was to learn that many people really love this kind of seagulls :-)

nataligelak, Natasha, of course you can! Oh, I'm so glad that fireweed was found in Ukraine, And then all the Ukrainian girls so much lamented last year that they did not have Ivanushka. In general, girls, look for yourself. It should be.

It should be.

I grew up in the Luhansk region, we don't have it ...

Girls, write the addresses in a personal, in the fall (or when do you need to drip roots?) I will send both seeds and roots. I can say I grew up in thickets of fireweed :-) We have it everywhere, in the meadows, in the forests, behind the sheds, sometimes it will fly to the beds, to the fields it is sown .. Now, when I tried to cook it properly (thank you very much), I can't imagine, how would I be without him. Ill with teas. And fireweed, of course, is beyond competition :-)

[Natasha]

write the addresses in a personal, in the fall (or when do you need to drip roots?) I will send both seeds and roots

Natasha, well done ! We are lucky with you. The seeds, of course, can be collected and sent, but it takes a very long time, and, most importantly, it is difficult to grow fireweed from them. There are some troubles. but from the roots it will easily grow. You just need to have time to do it before the stable cold weather.

[Dear tea-lovers and tea-makers! Once again, I edited the recipe - added information, changed a few things and made a clearer systematization. We ask you to familiarize yourself with the new version of the recipe.]

Dear tea-lovers and tea-makers! Once again, I edited the recipe - added information, changed a few things and made a clearer systematization. We ask you to familiarize yourself with the new version of the recipe.

tea-lovers and tea-makers!

Thank you very much!
I can report. The second collection of weed (still not sure if it is Ivan tea) was successful. The smell was amazing after 24 hours of fermentation. The color of the mass is not very dark. By the way, I twisted it twice in vain. The pellets seemed to be better after the first try. After the second tea it turned out too small. The smell is fabulous. But, I don't hear anything honey-candy or anything like that. Bittersweetly spicy, I would say. Fried at 150 for about 15-20 minutes, dried at 60. It looks like a beautiful green tea. I didn’t brew it, so I don’t know the taste.
Cherry. I also twisted it twice. And also in vain. Spinning hard for the second time. Leaves are oily. It turned out not granules, but sausages. When I poured it into a pillowcase, a little scattered on the floor. I didn't put it in a pillowcase. Brewed it in a cup (do not throw it away?). Smell-taste is a song. Cherry jam. The color is weak. Absolutely. True, the leaves were very delicate. Some just turned around, not even green ones, but salad ones. It looks like I will have the most cherry tea.
Although, I have not done apricot yet. And hawthorn.

... It looks like a beautiful green tea

Why green? I get black when dry

[Radushka]

Thank you very much!

Radushka, Thank you ! Use it to your health!

It looks like I will have the most cherry tea.

ABOUT! Understand you ! I'm so glad you like tea!

why green? I get black when dry

Here I also had such a question! It seems that you start drying at high temperatures. I'm all black too.

[Radushka]

By the way, I twisted it twice in vain. The pellets seemed to be better after the first try. After the second tea it turned out too small.

Radushka, apparently, it depends on the meat grinder. My cool pellets give out on the second twisting.

Here I also had such a question! It seems that you start drying at high temperatures. I'm all black too.

I do not know. Maybe I don't have Ivan-tea. Who knows? I'm waiting for it to bloom. I've never seen Ivanushka live. And tea too, by the way (hinting)
Cherry black. But no weed.

[Radushka]

Maybe I don't have Ivan-tea. Who knows?

The smell was amazing after 24 hours of fermentation.

Radushka, if the smell was amazing, then it was definitely Ivanushka. In general, you can't confuse him with anything. Only one scent is similar to it - goldenrod. It blooms in yellow. and flowers are arranged in a whisk. But his leaves, although they look like fireweed, but they are with barely noticeable teeth. You can still tell the difference.
Here he is:

I've never seen Ivanushka live. And tea too, by the way (hinting)

I got the hint ...

with barely noticeable teeth

They also write about ivan tea, which can be with a smooth edge and with glandular teeth. Okay, I'm waiting for flowering. Not he, so not him. I will divorce Ivanushka all the same. I have 10 acres of "extra" land)

Not he, so not him.

And what are you going to drink then, if not him? But what if ? But I'm sure he is, because only Ivanushka can smell like you wrote.