Making tea out of grape leaves -when to pick the leaves?
I have a question for you regarding make tea out of grape leaves. I want to make some, but don't know when the best time to pick the leaves it.
I know it's made in Greece and the USA, too, but not in Georgia, and unfortunately I haven't been able to find the answer here.
Best Answer
The descriptions of grape leaf tea I have seen don't mention a specific age to pick the leaves at - so leaves of most any age are likely to be fine, it probably isn't necessary to only pick those of a certain age, say, the newest leaves or anything. Grape leaves are also edible (stuffed grape leaves, or pickled ones) so you may not need to worry about toxicity, either. However, some sites do mention medicinal value, which means you should be careful about dosages until you're sure about the effects drinking the tea will have on you.
In general, I would expect the tea to be made from mature, medium-sized leaves, since that's the type picked for cooking with (and so most likely to be on hand when someone goes, "what if we made it into tea?"). Older leaves may have less flavor, since that (along with texture) is one of the reasons they're not preferred for cooking with. New leaves might not have enough flavor to be apparent, or might take more effort to get enough of them to make a difference, or smaller size per leaf means an equivalent volume might have an adverse effect on the vines.
Grape leaves are usually harvested late spring to early summer, though if you look at sites dedicated to the harvesting of grape leaves for other culinary purposes, you may find more specific information including harvesting dates or locations for your particular area. The type of grape vine (green, red, wild) may also make a difference to your tea and its effects, though all of them should be nontoxic.
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How do you make tea from grape leaves?
Bring water to and boil. Add grape leave, approximately 12 leave at a time. Bring water just back to a boil; remove grape leaves immediately and plunge the leave into ice water. Drain and dry the leave with paper towels.Can grape leaves be used for tea?
Grape leaves are edible, and you can dry yours to make a lovely tea that will remind you of an earthy green tea. This is a great way to make use of cuttings that would otherwise be thrown away.How do you make fresh picked grape leaves?
Blanch the Grape Leaves: Fresh grape leaves should be blanched before using. Either soak in very hot water for 15 minutes to soften the leaves or blanch grape leaves in a brine until they are soft (the time will depend on the leaves \u2013 fresh ones will only take a minute). Bring water to and boil.Can I pick grape leaves?
Picking. Depending on your climate, pick grape leaves in late spring (May or June). Select whole leaves, free of damage, from vines that have not been sprayed with pesticides. Leaves should display a light green color and have a supple texture.Making Grape Leaf Tea
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Answer 2
I would say it doesn't matter. Caveat: I haven't drunk them as a tea, but I have eaten them frequently enough as either dolma wrappings or fresh in a salad, and even picked them off the vine and chewed on the spot (although for this, the tendrils are nicer).
A leaf of any age has a similar taste, although the texture differs somewhat. This should be even less interesting for tea than for eating. So at any point before they turn yellow in the autumn, just go and pick them. You shouldn't really taste a difference.
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