How to ferment Ivan-tea at home

To ferment fireweed in the home follows from correctly collected and sorted the leaves of the plant. It is best to collect fireweed in June or August, when it begins flowering. The collection point should be located at a sufficient distance from roads or other polluted places. The leaves of plants, located on the shady side of clearings, are softer, easier to twist and fermentation.

While gathering fireweed hold the stem of the flower stalk with one hand and swipe down to the middle of the stem to the lower leaves, the coarse and bitter, remained intact (just needs to stay 3-4 lower layer). In this case, you will not harm plants that will continue to bloom and give seeds.

Proceed to the stages that precede fermented Ivan-tea – withering and Curling. Scatter the leaves on a clean sheet of paper or Newspapers evenly, the thickness of which should be about 5 inches. Leave it for one day so that they become lethargic. From time to time stir up the leaves by hand in order to avoid excessive drying out of the most extreme and the top of them. Next, start to twist the finished leaves between the two palms of your hands into small sausages, until they darken and begin to extract the juice.

Start to ferment Ivan-tea at home, after putting rolled up leaves in a tray or bowl 5-cm layer. Cover with wet cloth and put to Mature in a warm place for 12 hours. At a sufficiently high temperature fermentation goes faster and better, so if possible, consider such places for the maintenance as a Sunny windowsill or greenhouse at their summer cottage. Ready the leaves are changing a light grassy floral aroma and full-bodied. Be careful not to overdo the plant, or brew tea in the future will have an unpleasant smell and taste.

After fermentation, Ivan-tea is drying. Finely chop the leaves and spread a thin layer on a baking sheet, pre-zastelil his parchment, then place in the oven. Dry for one hour at a temperature of 100 degrees. About the readiness of your product will say a shade of classic black tea, with tea leaves when squeezed is to break rather than crumble into dust.

Dried and ready for brewing Ivan-tea, it is important to store, so it has not lost its flavor and useful properties. Packaging for storage should be thick enough. This role is best suited glass jar with plastic lid. Keep the product in dark and dry place. With proper storage of tea after 1-2 months after fermentation becomes more robust, full-bodied and aromatic taste.