Red Raspberry Leaf: How to Harvest, Dry, Brew

Learn when the best time to harvest red raspberry leaf and how to dry and brew them to enjoy all year round.

One of the best things about growing your own garden is the multiple benefits it provides. Today I’m showing you how to harvest, dry, and brew red raspberry leaf.

I love drinking my Red Raspberry Leaf Tea for all of its amazing health benefits. You can read all about it in a previous post I wrote.

Video Tutorial Red Raspberry Leaf: How to Harvest, Dry, Brew

How to Harvest Red Raspberry Leaf

You’re already growing this amazing plant probably because of its beautiful, delicious fruit. Guilty! I mean seriously. Who doesn’t grow raspberry canes because of their ease, not to mention it’s way cheaper than buying those jewels in the grocery store. Have you seen the prices of organic berries?!

So now that spring has sprung, get outside and harvest you some leaves!

Step 1—Harvest leaves before they bloom

It’s easy and simple. In early spring, start harvesting red raspberry leaf. You’re looking for bright green leaves on canes that haven’t bloomed yet.

The best time to harvest is in the morning after the dew has evaporated if possible, and before the heat of the day sets. This helps to preserve those natural oils and flavor we’re after.

I have an everbearing variety of raspberries, so when I prune the canes in the spring, I simply snip off the young, tender leaves, leaving a bit of the stem attached.

Try to avoid any ugly ones. Ya know the ones: chewed on by bugs, sunburnt perhaps, or pooped on by the local flocks. It’s pretty easy to spot these undesirables. 😉

Collect often through the spring. Checking several times throughout the week will help you to harvest enough to store for the long year.

Step 3—Dry your raspberry leaves

I like to use my Excalibur dehydrator (this one is the newer model; mine is white). It’s an investment for sure but I love it and use it quite a bit for things like drying herbs, fruit leathers, and my granola cereals (like this Rustic Apple Pie Granola and Pumpkin Spice Soaked Granola) that are a staple in my pantry all year round.

Give your leaves a quick rinse to get any dust or bugs off. Gently pat dry with a towel.

Spread the raspberry leaves in a single layer on the dehydrator trays. Dry at lowest setting (mine is about 90º F). Check every half hour or so until dry and crispy.

If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can hang the leaves by their stems upside down with kitchen twine. Hang out of direct sun and where they won’t collect dust. Drying can take several weeks.

Store dry leaves in a glass jar. I leave them in their whole state. I grind them when I want to make a bulk batch of tea for brewing throughout the month. This preserves their beneficial potency.

Step 4—Brew red raspberry tea

You can simply use 1 tsp of ground raspberry leaves to 8 oz hot water. I absolutely love these white ceramic brew cups.

For a medicinal application, you can brew a stronger tea by cold infusion or decoction.

Cold infusion brew is simply adding 1 oz by weight of ground raspberry leaves to a quart jar and fill to the top with water (filtered if on municipal water) and seal with jar ring and lid. Allow to brew overnight, up to 12 hours. Store in fridge and use over the next several days.

A decoction is made by steeping 1 oz by weight raspberry leaves in a quart of simmering water with the lid on. Simmer for 30 min. Strain and add additional water to quart jar since there is a little loss from evaporation. Store in fridge up to a week.

I like to use THIS RECIPE for a wonderful cup of tea that supports my bodies needs throughout the month.

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Excalibur dehydrator

White ceramic tea mug

Organic Red Raspberry Leaf

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Have You Ever Harvested for Tea?

Do you grow a variety of herbs on your homestead? Have you ever thought to harvest them for tea? Growing and harvesting your own herbs somehow makes the best cup of tea you’ll ever drink. Love this life!