Many of you have been writing to ask how to make guava leaf tea, so I figured I would make it a new post. There are two methods available when making medicinal herbal teas: Infusions and Decoctions. Infusions are made by starting with boiling water, and letting the herbs soak for 10-20 minutes. To make an herbal decoction, you add your herbal material to cold water, heat it to boiling, then simmer for 20 minutes or more. Decoctions are more often used with root and bark material because medicinal qualities are more difficult to extract.
For guava leaf tea, you can use either method – to ensure the maximum amount of phytochemicals are extracted, simmer for a minimum of 10 minutes. If using dried leaves, add a couple teaspoons per each 8oz water to start, then alter to personal taste. If using fresh leaves you need to add more (maybe 2-4tsp), as the leaves will not be as concentrated and still contain a great deal of water.
These methods may be used for a variety of medicinal teas, but be sure to research your ingredients. Guava leaf has not been shown to have any toxicity, so making a very strong guava leaf tea is ok. The same cannot be said for all herbs. As always, make sure to discuss all herbal uses with a medical professional to asses medication interactions and health concerns.
Cheers to your health, everyone, and I appreciate your comments and questions. Keep them coming!
guava leaf tea, medicinal plants, tea
