Ready To Use Them?

We are in full blown strawberry season and we are still experiencing the energies of the Full Strawberry Super Moon. This is a great time to pick some strawberry leaves and make use of them.

The leaves of strawberry plants have long been used for medicinal purposes, Strawberry leaves contain tannins, which are responsible for the leaves’ astringent activity in the body. They contain a small amount of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and the antibiotic fragarin.

Strawberry leaves are making a huge comeback as more and more people search for natural remedies for medicines. Here are four great uses for strawberry leaves that you may not have considered before.

Laxative or diuretic

Strawberries or strawberry leaves contain malic and citric acids, sugar, mucilage, pectin, woody fiber and water. These properties make the leaves a great laxative. Make a tea from the leaves and drink at least eight ounces of it every three hours until you see results. In general, you only need about two cups before the all-natural laxative kicks in.

You can harvest the strawberries from either wild or domestic plants. Just make sure, no chemicals including fertilizers, herbicides, or insecticides have been used during the growth of the plant.

Use the leaves for tea either fresh or completely dry. Never use partially dried leaves. Strawberry leaves experience a toxic chemical change while drying that makes them poisonous when partially dry or wilted. This is not lethal but will cause uncomfortable nausea and vomiting.

To dry freshly picked leaves, pull them off their stems and wash well. Chop up the leaves and dry them in the air, a dehydrator, or an oven. Store the fruits and leaves separately in sealed glass containers in a dry and dark cupboard until needed.

Homemade Strawberry Tea

Fill the kettle with fresh water. Bring the water to a boil, then pour some into your teacup after placing your tea infuser or tea strainer ball in with the amount of tea you prefer in it. Allow the tea to steep for three minutes. Remove the tea infuser and savor the delicious sweet strawberry taste.

On a really hot day, which we are experiencing now, you can make strawberry sun tea. Put the fresh fruit and leaves into a mason jar or a glass jug and fill with cold water. Increase the quantity of fruit and leaves according to the size of your container; I use six strawberries, four leaves, and about 1 quart of water. Cover the jar or jug with a lid to keep insects out. Place outside in direct sunlight for about five hours, depending on the sun’s intensity. The warmth of the sun will bring out the flavor of the fruit. Strain through a jelly bag or fine-mesh sieve into a glass container, refrigerate until chilled. Serve with ice cubes that have strawberries frozen inside and a few strawberry flowers sprinkled on top. This makes an impressive and refreshing summer tea.

I also make use of my electric ice tea maker all summer long, just fill the basket with your ingredients, fill the water reservoir, fill your pitcher with ice and push the button. You have a nice size pitcher of cold ice tea to serve.

Strawberry Tea Blends

Strawberries and mint have always been great partners. Prepare as before, adding a sprig of fresh mint leaves to the cup of strawberry tea. You can leave the mint leaves in the cup as you drink. You can switch it up and use orange mint for a refreshing flavor or if your in the mood to be pampered get on your floaty in the pool with a cold glass of chocolate covered strawberries. Just add chocolate mint as a garnish.

Blend strawberry with hyssop for an antioxidant-boosting tea. Just add two or three slices of strawberry, a small pinch of strawberry leaves, and a pinch of hyssop leaves into your infuser or teapot and steep as before.

Don’t miss out on the benefits of Strawberry Tea, if you don’t have fresh to work with, buy Strawberry Black, White or Rooibos Tea. Just make sure you get tea with real strawberry pieces or leaves. If it’s flavored with artificial aroma you won’t get any of the beneficial minerals and vitamins.

Another use for Strawberries would be to use it as an astringent or face spritzer.

Boil the leaves in about one cup of water, strain the the leaves out, and apply the left over water to your face once it has cooled off, like an astringent. The leaves will add more nutrients than just water, and they help reduce inflammation in and around acne prone areas.

Not into tea, that’s fine. How about using your strawberries to make vitamin water.

Vitamin or Infused Water

Vitamin water tastes great, keeps you hydrated and costs just pennies to make. It looks beautiful and often your kids will love drinking the colorful drinks. This is a great way to keep everyone hydrated through the heat waves of summer.

In addition to tasting great, vitamin water gives you extra nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and electrolytes. Many people who don’t like to drink plain water enjoy the taste of vitamin or infused water.

Vitamin Water Recipe

• Add about 10-12 strawberries to a Water Pitcher with an infuser basket. You can add to a regular pitcher if you don’t have an infuser basket, just strain before drinking.
• 2 TBSP of fresh herbs or 4 to 5 Pieces of fruit sliced.
• Add fruit and herbs to a water pitcher with an infuser basket.
• Fill pitcher with water and store in your refrigerator. Let it set with your infusion for 2-24 hrs.

Get Creative with Combinations

• Strawberries and Lime
• Mint and Strawberry
• Strawberries and Pineapple Sage
• Lemon and Strawberry

Benefits Of Strawberries In Personal Care

Strawberries have been an ingredient in personal care products for a long time. Unfortunately, they include many petroleum-based and synthetic ingredients along with it.

You can make your own, healthy, beneficial and natural strawberry skin care products for a fraction of the cost. Strawberries can also be used for Dental Hygeine they remove plaque build-up from your teeth. Make a paste of strawberries and leave on your teeth for 5 mins, then brush as normal and rinse.

Last But Not Least

Sorry – I couldn’t resist (after all we’re having a heat wave).

Strawberry Shake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup strawberries, hulled
• 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole milk
• 4 cups fresh strawberry or vanilla ice cream
  ***if you prefer a malt add 1 Tablespoon malt powder

Directions:

In a blender combine strawberries, sugar, extract, milk, and ice cream *malt powder* if making malt. Blend until smooth.

These are just a few ideas for you to try during strawberry season.

Enjoy!

Warning: Strawberries can cause an allergic reaction. 

Please share with anyone that you think might benefit from this information!