Artichoke Tea: Intro
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Herbal Teas has been consumed for hundreds of years to help with several different ailments and illnesses. One of the most popular teas is Artichoke Tea. Artichoke Tea is a herbal tea made from the plant Cynara cardunculus. The edible portion of the plant is derived from the flower buds. The buds are cultivated before the flowers come into bloom. Tea can be made with many parts of the plant. The plant parts available for use in tea include the roots, leaves and stem. The leaves from the artichoke bud are the primary ingredient used to make Artichoke Tea. This plant is a vegetable that grows 5-6 feet tall.
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Artichoke Tea: Guide
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History
The Artichoke is commonly found in the Mediterranean region, and was first mentioned as a cultivated plant in the 8th century. Another common name for this plant is a thistle. The artichokes were cultivated by the Greeks primarily in Sicily. The Greeks referred to the artichokes as kaktos. The cultivation of artichoke spread to Italy and France by the 1500’s. The Dutch eventually introduced this plant to England, and the English brought it to the United States in the 1800’s.
This tea is currently most popular in Vietnam. The Vietnamese have the highest consumption rates by far. The Vietnamese refer to Artichoke Tea as tra atiso.
Uses
Many herbal teas have several positive benefits. Artichoke tea can be used to stimulate liver enzymes and the production of bile. As a result, many people consume the tea to help with heartburn and reduce nausea associated with hangovers. It is also commonly used to lower cholesterol, treat irritable bowel syndrome, and help with bladder infections. Lowering cholesterol can be especially beneficial because high levels of cholesterol contained in blood can result in significant diseases and possibly death. One of these deadly diseases is coronary heart disease. High cholesterol leads to plaque inside of the arteries, which causes them to be clogged. If left untreated, the plaque can increase the risk for heart attacks and strokes.
One of the most popular uses for Artichoke Tea is its diuretic benefits. It is considered a diuretic because it helps the body filter toxins and excrete them in the form of urine. This can help people remove impurities from their body. This tea is a great way to help aid in toxin and impurity reduction for people with urine consisting of higher water content. You can tell if your urine has a high water content if it has a light yellow or clear color. This tea can also help people with kidney disease.
There are some claims made that artichoke tea can help people in other ways. Since these claims have not been proven, I didn’t want to include all of them in this post. One of the more interesting claims that shows some promise is that Artichoke tea can result in healthier skin.
Artichoke Tea Taste
Many people describe the taste of artichoke tea as slightly bitter with an earthy aftertaste. Others describe the taste as “woody.” This bitter taste leads to many people adding a sweetener when consuming Artichoke Tea. Honey is a common sweetener included in preparations of this tea.
Artichoke Tea Recipe
I have included two free methods of preparing Artichoke Tea below. These two methods will both make a fantastic cup of Artichoke Tea. Feel free to add your own ingredients to the tea to give it your desired flavor.
The tea can be made from the plant, or it can be derived from the leftover leaves from artichokes that were previously purchased from a local grocery establishment. As stated above, there are two main ways to prepare artichoke tea:
The First Method
The first method is to actively boil the entire Artichoke pod (also known as the head) in a pot of water for two hours. Then, reduce the heat and allow the Artichoke pod to simmer for another two hours.
The Second Method
The second method entails removing the outer leaves from the Artichoke heart and boil only the leaves. Artichoke leaves naturally float in water. Boil the leaves until they sink to the bottom of the pot. By the time the leaves sink to the bottom (once again ~ 2 hours), all of the desirable nutrients have been extracted and infused into the tea. Another way to determine that the tea is ready is the color. When complete the tea should be light yellow.
In both methods, you should use roughly one gallon of water for each artichoke pod. Remember, a large portion of the water will evaporate due to the extended boiling times.
I suggest tasting a small amount of tea to determine the level of bitterness. If the tea is too bitter for your tastes, you can add a sweetener such as honey or sugar. Some people prefer to add a few squirts of lemon juice to enhance the flavor. The teas flavor can be enhanced if desired with a bit of lemon or honey, and can be stored in mason jars or canisters with a lid that firmly seals. A good ratio is to use 1 gallon of water per artichoke. If the boiling time is too long, the majority of the water will evaporate. After boiling for two hours, we recommend adding additional water.
Artichoke tea has been enjoyed in various parts of the world for a long time, but hasn’t been as widely popular in the Western world. Nonetheless, the tea is fairly easy to prepare, and provides a healthy drink option with an added blast of nutritional value.
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Artichoke Tea: Conclusion
Artichoke Tea is a very popular tea that has been used for thousands of years to help with liver and stomach issues. It has a slightly bitter taste and is easy to drink with the addition of honey or other sweeteners. There are two easy methods for making artichoke tea that I included above. I hope you enjoyed this post and that you’re ready to make artichoke tea!
Artichoke Tea: Comments
Do you have positive or negative experiences with Artichoke Tea? Do you have any comments or questions? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below.
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How often would I drink this tea to get benefits ?
Arlene, thanks again for posting your questions! I personally consume one cup of artichoke tea 3x per week to achieve substantial benefits. I like to alternate the herbal teas that I consume because there are so many great varieties!