Ivan tea (fermentation of fireweed leaves) - master class

the main thing is that it is fried, maybe it gives the color. JOKE I didn't pay attention to the points later.

the main thing is to get fried,

where will he go!

[Oksana]

Then I did not pay attention to the points.

Oksana, and did the right thing!

and then yesterday I threw out the third part, it still seems that the leaf has not been eaten, but on the leaf itself there were some very dark green or black dots, I also threw it away.

natushka, wow - the third part! It's a shame! Ignore these points. who made them crawled away long ago ... I throw away frankly dry and yellow leaves. And if a leaf with a yellow tip comes across, then I send it to the meat grinder along with the green ones.

I studied the video on the preparation of Ivan tea on YouTube today.

It is very interesting how many authors, so many ways.

Alexander Vyazemsky tamping the leaves into a plastic bucket, closing it with a lid and keeping it that way for 24 hours. Then he put the leaves in a plastic container, stirred them well so that there were no lumps, and began to knead all this mass, like kneading dough. Closed with a cloth for 4 hours. Then cut and dried.

It turns out that we have fireweed growing, but it is listed in the Red Book, it is forbidden to collect it. But, after all, we are not pulling out by the roots, why not?

Thanks for the detailed master class! I tried it and it worked! True, it dried in an electric dryer, the rolls crumbled into tea leaves, they have already tried to brew it, it's delicious!

[Irina. A]

Irina. Ahow long it took to dry. and with what layer did you spread it?

For three hours, but I didn’t detect it for sure, I was spinning in the kitchen, spreading it in one layer, on one pallet, then rubbing the rolls with my hands, as if breaking it. dried first at 60 *, then at 30 *.
Maybe something is wrong, but it turned out the same. True, it is not enough, and it has not been collected yet, it rains almost continuously for a week, it's cool, we haven't seen summer.

[Alla]

Alexander Vyazemsky tamping the leaves into a plastic bucket, closing it with a lid and keeping it that way for 24 hours. Then he put the leaves in a plastic container, stirred them well so that there were no lumps, and began to knead all this mass, like kneading dough. Closed with a cloth for 4 hours. Then cut and dried.

Alla, in fact, this is the same way as described Galina Iv. and did vvagre-valentine - with "sweating". Only a bucket was taken instead of a package. And A. Vyazemsky made leaf tea, having previously crumpled the leaves for better juice release, and we twist it in a meat grinder, making granulated tea.
Yes, the essence is the same, but the approach is somewhat different.
By the way, I also made two batches of Ivan tea with sweating. I ruined the first batch. I think Vyazemsky is doing the right thing by "kneading" the leaves, not turning them in a meat grinder. I had to pre-wither the leaves - when I twisted, I got such a juicy mass that the tea was slightly acidified during fermentation. Then I wilted the second batch of leaves, then put it in a bag, folded it tightly, covered it with blankets and kept it like that for a day. This morning I twisted it in a meat grinder, fermented for 14 hours. Now the tea is being dried in the oven. I don’t know yet what will happen, but I haven’t had such dry black tea made from fireweed yet. The tea will dry completely, I will write about the impressions.

we have fireweed growing, but it is listed in the Red Book, it is forbidden to collect it. But, after all, we are not pulling out by the roots, why not?

The laws are! After all, many people do not pluck the leaves as I have shown, but tear the stems in armfuls. I saw a lot of such photos on the internet. They are carried away with flowers, and then there is nothing to filter out. This is how plants disappear as a species. Our way of collecting fireweed is humane.It does not harm the plant and the flowers continue to bloom, then fluff forms and, together with the seeds, spreads for tens of kilometers, sowing large areas. I have been making ivan tea for the third year and I see that there are more fireweed - the glades are growing.

[Irina. A]

Thanks for the detailed master class! I tried it and it worked! True, it dried in an electric dryer, the rolls crumbled into tea leaves, they have already tried to brew it, delicious!

Irina. A, I am very glad that you used the recipe, and you made the tea! Try the initial drying at a higher temperature (100 *). The tea will be better.
And I recommend to go to adjacent topics https://Mcooker-enn.tomathouse.com/index.php@option=com_smf&topic=389380.0 and https://Mcooker-enn.tomathouse.com/index.php@option=com_smf&topic=390336.0 and make tea from the leaves of cherry, apple, pear, raspberry, currant, strawberry. And also from several plants at the same time. It turns out very good tea!

[lappl1]

lappl1, Lyudochka! Thank you!! "Infected" your parents' recipe. They made tea, treated us to ... my husband and I could not stand it - we rode off to the hunt! They dried everything according to the recipe ... Poured it into a pillowcase, hung it up in the corridor, you can't walk along the corridor - it smells SO! And how long should it hang like that in a pillowcase? And then the husband threatens to start consuming it so raw!

[Anna]

Anna, to your health! This is a useful "infection"! Make tea with the whole family and enjoy!

How long should it hang like this in a pillowcase?

It depends on the temperature and humidity in the house. If it is dry and warm, then it dries up in a day. It happens that I hold it for two or three days. On the street, in the breeze dries up in a day.
Tea readiness indicator - when you press on a tea leaf, you feel firmness. And the tea leaf breaks. If the tea is not completely dry, then it will feel soft when breaking. And it is difficult to break such a tea leaf - it seems to be smeared. And one more thing: if you shake the pillowcase with dried tea, you will hear a rustling dry sound. Not dried tea has almost no rustling. In addition, the aroma of dried tea is weak.

And then the husband threatens to start consuming it so raw!

Yes, let him consume to health! True, he will not feel the aroma that will appear by autumn-winter ... But the taste will still be cool.

Thank you!

And one more thing: if you shake the pillowcase with dried tea, you will hear a rustling dry sound. Not dried tea has almost no rustling.

who made hay - knows this sound
this is the sound of well dried grass
I was at haymaking for the last time in years ... twenty years ago, but the sound immediately came to mind

[IvaNova]

who made hay - knows this sound this is the sound of well dried grass

IvaNova, exactly! He is!

Thank you! I will definitely try to dry it at 100 *, (my oven is not very good, can I try it in an airfryer?) I also carefully study the neighboring temki, how the weather will adjust, we will collect raw materials.

[Irina. A]

Irina. A,

Can I try it in the airfryer?)

The girls were dried in an airfryer. They liked it.

My fireweed did not have a floral honey smell, it smells like ordinary grass. Maybe she kept on fermentation for too long from 22h to 4h in the morning, although the temperature in the room was only 21 degrees, she was wrapped up. I dried it in an electric dryer, first at the maximum temperature and then reduced it to 30-40, dried it. Maybe I also dry it out, if you hang it in a bag, it seems to me that it gets damp, it's cold and damp here.

My fireweed did not have a floral honey smell, it smells like ordinary grass. Maybe she kept on fermentation for too long from 22h to 4h in the morning, although the temperature in the room was only 21 degrees, she was wrapped up. I dried it in an electric dryer, first at the maximum temperature and then reduced it to 30-40, dried it. Maybe I also dry it out, if you hang it in a bag, it seems to me that it gets damp, it's cold and damp here.

I have little experience
however, I see two options
a) fireweed is not fermented
b) the smell may well still appear
I would close it in a container and leave it alone for a week, and then open it and smell it
everything can change

[natushka]

Maybe she kept on fermentation for too long from 22h to 4h in the morning, although the temperature in the room was only 21 degrees, she was wrapped up.

natushka, 6 hours is not long at all. I ferment for 24 hours now. And the temperature is normal. I have the same. Moreover, the tea was wrapped.
How did you prepare the leaves for fermentation - did they granulate or was there loose leaf tea? Have the leaves dried or frozen? What layer was in the fermentation?

Maybe I also dry it out, if you hang it in a bag, it seems to me that it gets damp, it's cold and damp here.

If you dry it out, then there will be no smell at all. When dried, this smell should have appeared. What smelled when drying? By the way, dried tea smells very weak. And then in storage, it enhances the smell.

[IvaNova]

I would close it in a container and leave it alone for a week, and then open it and smell everything can change

IvaNova, agree !

granulated or loose leaf tea? Have the leaves dried or frozen? What layer was in the fermentation?

Dried, granular, layer-8cm

What smelled when drying?

Grass

b) the smell may well still appear

Hopefully. After drying, I put it in a jar with a screw cap and in a box.

Dried, granular, layer-8cm

It's okay! Strange! I have never had a smell of grass! Maybe there was a lot of rain or the leaves were washed?
Try to ferment next time for about 20 hours. Or a day.

Maybe there was a lot of rain or the leaves were washed?

no, there was no rain for a week and no soap. I do not know why it happened, I will try to do it again. While not brewing, let him stand and think, he can prove himself

[natushka]

natushka, you didn't ferment it before, like my first teas. I] when I dried several fermentation options (the first 6 then 12 and 20) - I immediately noticed that the more mature tea has a darker color of granules, I have three types of color from medium green to brown. Stands - flavored. I'm already showing a boom to wait.

[natushki]

you didn't ferment it before

Oksana, fermentation was there. 6 hours is normal! I ferment for 3 hours when I want to get light fermentation tea. Once we broke the leaf structure, fermentation has already begun. Look at the recipe page. The lightest tea is a light fermentation tea. And he smelled great.
It remains to think that the granules were not in natushki crumpled. But hardly. I think that everything is fine there - all conditions are perfectly met. Wait, natushka, at least a week. I think your tea will still show itself.

I think there might be one more thing (if this is the first tea made)
you read it here, and imagine that the smell will be stunning - just like from a jar of honey
but it turns out to be very thin
when you make the second-third-regular call for tea, then the nose is already "tuned" for more delicate work and smells are caught better
you say it smells like grass? Melilot is also a grass, but with a pronounced honey smell
so I'd leave the tea alone, and then, after a week, calmly inhale
I think it's out of habit that it still seems that tea didn't work out
plus he "didn't get" in a dry place

PS: I have an apple tree and a black pond today
go in circles around bowls all day
so if I smell the apple tree first, then I smell the unhurried cutting of a subtle aroma
and if I put my nose into the apple tree after the black chokeberry, then not an apple tree, but pure timothy
apparently, after the sharp strong smell of black chokeberry, the nose "dulls"
so there is still a "measuring device" to be set up, and this will come with time - with experience
sorry for the offtopic

so I'd leave the tea alone,

But pear leaves, it seems to me, smell like dried pear, as they used to buy for compote. I haven’t done it yet, I don’t have a pear, tomorrow I’ll go to pick it, I found where I can get it.

[IvaNova]

so there is still a "measuring device" to be set up, and this will come with time - with experience

IvaNova, agree! But have natushki and while drying the tea smelled like grass.But after all, during drying, the smell is really stunning! And not herbal at all!

[natushka]

But pear leaves, it seems to me, smell like dried pear,

natushka, my pear tea smells like a baked pear.

I don’t have a pear, tomorrow I’ll go to pick it, I found where I can get it.

Try to ferment longer.

[lappl1]

lappl1, it's just that my first tea, too, smelled like grass, but I didn't wrap it up. And then I re-read Temka, put the salad bowl under the blanket and held it longer - after that everything turned out to be the aroma and color of the tea. maybe the truth is not condensed? or we find fault and so it should be.
All the same, the first tea has already changed and gains aroma.

[Oksana]

I put the salad bowl under the blanket and held it for a longer time - after that everything worked out both the aroma and color of the tea.

Oksana, it is important! During fermentation, oxidative processes take place, due to which the mass is self-heating. If the house is cool, it is important to keep that warmth. Blankets / old jackets help do this. If the house is warm, then blankets are not required. Since at natushki cool, the fermentation process was slow. This means that it was necessary either to ferment longer, or to wrap the container with the mass with something warm. Then the aroma would definitely be ...

or we find fault and so it should be.

no, it doesn't have to be that way.

the first tea has already changed takes on aroma.

where will he go? Wait - more will be added!

I'm talking about the 36 hour fermentation of Ivan tea, the result is wonderful!
We went a week later than going to the Kerzhach river. We thought there were heaps, you can't skew it! Nothing like this ! We barely found it, and it was already old, we had to choose, we gathered just an armful!
He lay for a poor three days under towels and a light jacket on top, practically dry. I didn't go over too much - I didn't have time, I separated the flowers. The refrigerator is full, there is no meat grinder nearby, I just started picking up armfuls with my hands and twisting them with a movement, as if you were squeezing a towel! Now one way, now the other! I put it in a saucepan, sprinkled it with clean warm water, pressed it with a plate, covered it with a wet towel and a bag on top and shoved it under the blankets to the already standing jars of jam, poured hot. Only a day later I was able to find time to look. Some of the leaves were greenish, there was no aroma, there was a winey and slightly rotten smell. I decided that it was sour and rotting, so I just turned the lump upside down, tamped it down better and left it for 12 hours without any hope of result.
After 12 hours, the smell remained the same, I cut it coarsely with a knife and dried it for 30 minutes per 100 g. , then in a Sedona Dryer for 35 gr. two hours, then in a sack in the sun and wind.
At the beginning of the drying, the smell immediately manifested itself, there was not even talk of any musty or sour aroma! Where did it all go!
This is the best result to date! Withstands three infusions, a 350 ml thermos is brewed from a teaspoon so that you have to add water to the cup!
Thank you, Lyudmila, once again! Now I don't have to pay 250 rubles. for 50 g of tea in a well-known company here. In addition, according to the general opinion, our homemade Ivan tea is much better, more aromatic, more transparent! Whether it will still be when it ripens!
It is a pity that it was too late to wake up! Well, nothing, I will compensate with my now beloved turn!

[Rada-dms]

Rada-dmshow nice it is to read such a report, especially the lines about the comparison with Ivan-tea of ​​a well-known company (not in favor of the latter) ...
Yes, deep fermentation tea is good! It's great that you made it! I don't think that you would make such tea, grow fireweed within walking distance from you. Thanks for the detailed description of the process. It will come in handy!

Girls! I made another batch of fireweed "honey" from ivan-tea flowers. Come and see the unrealistically beautiful color of "honey". Here you can get acquainted with the recipe https://Mcooker-enn.tomathouse.com/index.php@option=com_smf&topic=391208.0

Yeah .. a little late I got into your Temko Lyudochka!
I directly read, I read, I tell my husband, now I have a new chip - I will make my own tea)))
So, the fireweed is already old, so I wonder if I can find it in principle.
We drove a week ago to the dacha, a nice little one grows along the railway. I also thought how much of it, because this is tea.
Well, yesterday I got on this topic. There is a lot of information until it fits in my head.
The technology seems to have understood, but how much to ferment it so that it does not turn sour and is deeply fermented?

[lappl1]

lappl1, I've been looking forward to this recipe, thanks

Lyudmila, I am reporting on this topic!
Despite the fact that my favorite (so far) is cherry, I want to say thank you for the science of making Ivan tea! This is also my favorite tea! Moreover, it becomes more and more "favorite")))
I will also share my observations and feelings - suddenly someone will come in handy.
When I made the first tea (a month ago) - I went to the saucepan every 20 minutes - I smelled, looked for the strongest smell (I was afraid to miss it) - and really felt the honey-fruity aroma after 8 hours - I immediately put it in the oven - the smell was indescribable - it smelled like dried fruit! Then she dried it in a bag, then poured it into a jar - smelled every day - enjoyed it!
Later I made tea from the series "it happened as it happened", that is, I set it to ferment overnight (I thought it would stand for 10 hours and dry it in the morning), but in the morning there was no time and, as a result, my tea was fermented for about 16 hours. 18 - when I smelled it, the mixture smelled like grass ... I was upset, I thought that I had overexposed it and the smell had already left, but I set it to dry anyway. And then, during drying, the same "dried fruit" smell appeared! Dried, poured, stands, smells delicious in a jar!
And yesterday, for the sake of interest, I smelled that first tea - and it almost DOESN'T SMELL, I was upset again - I think, what am I doing wrong? Where did such a delicious aroma go? I brewed it. And he was brewed up! Yes kaak "aromatized"! )))
So, even if it suddenly seems to someone that the smell has disappeared - do not rush to get upset - just brew tea, and everything will become clear at once!
P.S. Sorry for the "mnogabukaf", but suddenly
who will come in handy)

I've been looking forward to this recipe, thanks

Oksan, what is the recipe? But still, good luck!

[Altusya]

late in the day I got to your Temko Lyudochka!

Altusya, better late than never ! Welcome !

after all, the fireweed is already old, so I wonder if I can find it in principle.

You will find it! A couple of days ago, I found good thickets of fireweed, which have just begun to bloom. The leaves are juicy, young! I just can't understand why he is so young. Around - the fireweed is already tough, fluffing, and this one is growing nearby and such a difference! Moreover, it grows in the sun, there is no forest nearby. And how much of it! so I’m busy with Ivan tea for at least another week.

Well, yesterday I got on this topic. There is a lot of information until it fits in my head.

Altusya, read here https://Mcooker-enn.tomathouse.com/index.php@option=com_smf&topic=389380.0 The entire process is outlined in a nutshell. And what is not clear, ask!

[Linga]

I report in this thread!

Linga, thanks for such a wonderful report! Your experience will help many to better understand their tea! And why did you not make tea with us for so long (a rhetorical question)?

[Altusya]

So, the fireweed is already old, so I wonder if I can find it in principle.

Altusya, if there is not enough fireweed, then make tea from garden plants according to these recipes https://Mcooker-enn.tomathouse.com/index.php@option=com_smf&topic=389380.0 and https://Mcooker-enn.tomathouse.com/index.php@option=com_smf&topic=390336.0
And even if there is fireweed, try these recipes anyway. I recommend making "country tea" granulated, not leafy, as I wrote in the recipe. Me and the girls really like him. Moreover, you can take the leaves of any garden plants, and not necessarily those indicated in the recipe. If you are going to make "Rustic" granulated, then do not freeze the leaves, but dry them before the meat grinder.

Lyudmila, the question is rhetorical, but I will answer, can I?)))
I've been making tea with you all for a month now, thank you, tea-makers - you all have so much energy and imagination, but I just sit quietly - I'm adopting my experience! But I'm with you !!! From the very first day of the recipe!
In general, I learned about Ivan-tea (that they used to make real tea from it) 2 years ago from my mother's childhood friend - we went to the Vashana River, and in the fields of fireweed it was apparently invisible! We talked about how “it would be interesting to try, somehow make tea”, otherwise she dried the leaves, but somehow something was wrong ... and happily forgot this conversation. And today at the dacha in the gazebo, I treated them (my mother and this friend of hers) real tea made from fireweed! and proudly))) told the secrets of cooking and described the fermentation process! So, Lyudmila, thanks to you and your recipes, replenishment in the ranks of tea makers! (Mom's friend is now also "gone"!)

Hello dear forum users. Many thanks to lappl1 and all other participants for such a development of the topic. I also tried to make tea from fireweed - something seemed to work out. So thanks again to everyone. But the question torments me - how to deal with snails on the leaves? After all, the time for their bulkhead goes immeasurably - about 3 hours per kilogram. If anyone has experience in this matter, please advise.

It's easier for me to tilt the stem when collecting leaves and see if I choose a pure plant….
You can still shout loudly - suddenly they scatter

You can still shout loudly - suddenly they scatter

Class, Oksan, laughed heartily

Thanks a lot for the advice. I will keep in mind.

I went to the former fields for Ivan-tea. Grass in the belt is scary horror (who is down there? I don't know, I'm a coward) I'm walking with a stick on the ground and (don't laugh, okay laugh) I say loudly: I only go for leaves, I don't bother anyone, I'm not going to step on anyone and etc. - Shoot everything to the sides. I hope no one heard me, but if you hear something like this, then I went for the leaves - my whole family whinnyingLikeHorses... And what to do if you are afraid to make noise. On the weekend I'll go again to be afraid, it's scary ..

Eeh, Oksana! Now I will be afraid too ... And I walked so well through the fields, through the forests - it did not even occur to me that there was someone sitting there and waiting to bite me! (True, I recently settled on a hillock, and then I realized - or, more precisely, I felt on my own skin that it was an ANT! It was not very funny ;-))

Do not be afraid - they are generally more afraid of us, they all leave at once (just not snails, they don't care). Boots must be worn ifs! I really love the forest, in boots !!! According to the plan, I still need to collect Ivan-tea flowers for honey - this is the minimum, and if I manage to collect more leaves!