Redbud Blossom Tea: A Step-by-Step Guide to Brewing

Redbud blossom tea is a unique and flavorful tea that is not only delicious but also has a range of health benefits. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll show you how to brew your own redbud blossom tea at home. All you need is a few ingredients and very simple techniques.

Because it is created with the beautiful pink and purple blossoms of the Eastern Redbud tree, it has a subtle sweetness and floral aroma. It is literally the perfect beverage for any time of day!

Whether you’re a seasoned tea drinker or new to the world of herbal teas, this guide will help you create a delightful and refreshing beverage that is sure to impress.

The Health Benefits of Redbud Blossom Tea

Redbud blossom tea is a delightful and unique herbal tea. The blossoms are the beautiful pink and purple jewels of the Eastern Redbud tree (Cercis Canadensis).

In addition to its delicious taste and subtle sweetness, redbud blossom tea may offer a range of potential health benefits. This is of course thanks to its high antioxidant content and other nutrients.

A Redbud blossom, from Eastern Redbud trees, is an edible flower that offers a range of potential health benefits because they contain various antioxidants and nutrients. Here are a few potential benefits of redbud blossom tea:

1. Rich in antioxidants. Redbud blossoms are high in antioxidants. Therefore it helps protect your body from damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals.
2. May boost immune function. Antioxidants in redbud blossom tea may help support your immune system. They also have significantly higher vitamin C content than most other edible flowers. So, essentially it can help you fight off illnesses and infections.
3. Can improve heart health. The antioxidants and other nutrients in redbud blossom tea may help lower inflammation and improve blood flow. Therefore potentially reducing the risk of heart disease.
4. May have anti-inflammatory effects. The flavonoids in redbud blossoms may help reduce inflammation throughout the body, which can be helpful for conditions like arthritis.
5. May promote relaxation. Some people find that redbud blossom tea has a calming effect, thanks to its subtle sweetness and floral aroma. And of course, it’s tea, so that’s relaxing in itself.

The potential health benefits of redbud blossoms are just one bonus. But paired with its unique and flavorful taste, it can be a delicious and enjoyable way to support your health!

Finding and Harvesting Redbud Blossoms Steeped Tea

When it comes to making redbud blossom tea, the first step is finding and harvesting the Redbud Blooms.

Redbuds are small trees that typically bloom in early spring, so it’s best to harvest the blossoms during this time. Coincidentally Redbud trees have heart-shaped leaves for the rest of the year.

Look for trees with plenty of pink and purple blossoms as well as ones that are fully open and not yet wilted.

How to Safely and Responsibly Forage Redbud Blossoms

To harvest the blossoms, simply pluck the little clusters from the tree by hand. Also, you can use a sweeping motion, starting at the top of the branch and pulling down to strip it down to bare branches.

However, you can also use pruning shears or scissors to snip off the branches that contain the blossoms. Be sure to only take a small portion of the blossoms from each tree, as over-harvesting can damage the tree and limit its ability to produce more blossoms in the future.

Once you’ve harvested your redbud blossoms, it’s time to prepare them for tea-making. In the next section, we’ll explore how to dry and store the blossoms to ensure they retain their flavor and potency. Read more about foraging for Redbuds.

Step-by-Step Guide to Brewing Redbud Blossom Tea

Now that you have your Redbud Blossoms, it’s time to prepare them to become a refreshingly floral brew. Thankfully this is just one more easy step to a perfect spring or summer drink!

This recipe will make about 3 3/4 – 4 cups of redbud tea. Or a pitcher full, depending on how strong you want it!

Step One – Measuring your Redbud Blossoms

Honestly, the more the merrier if you like the fruity strawberry/grape and floral undertones. But if it’s your first time tasting it may be good to just be sure the ratio of redbud flowers to water will be 1:1.

I chose to use 4 cups of Redbud blossoms. (Plus, a little bit extra that was left over. Waste not, want not!)

An Optional Rinse

Before brewing the blossoms, you can give them a quick rinse under cool water to remove any dirt or debris. I chose not to as it can potentially take away some of the floral tones. And I wanted to really be able to taste it.

I mean, do you really need clean flowers? Also, you will eventually strain out any debris and a little dirt never hurt anyone. Right?

Step Two – Adding Your Boiling Water

Once you have your beautiful purple blooms measured out add them to a clean jar (preferably a large jar like a 64 oz glass jar ) or pitcher. And start a medium saucepan full of 5 cups of water to boil.

Your 64 oz. Ball Jar will be half full with 4 cups of Redbud Blossoms. Don’t worry, I picked all those fallen flowers up and put them in to brew!

Pouring Your Boiling Water Over the Blossoms

Once your medium saucepan or large pot of water is boiling measure out 4 cups. Then proceed to pour them into the glass jar or pitcher on top of the Redbud Blossoms.

Step Three – The Steep & 24-Hour Brew

At this point, you will let your redbud blossoms steep until they reach room temperature. Once it has cooled down pop it into the fridge and allow it to brew for 24 hours. This is going to give you a really rich Redbud blossom flavor and ultimately the most beautiful pink/purple tea coloring.

Add a lid to the jar while it’s steeping and brewing to keep all the goodness in. I personally prefer reusable lids so I’m not wasting a canning lid.

Step Four – Straining After 24-hour Brew

Initially, the water will look rather creek-like. Really gross, green, or a dirty pee color. Don’t worry, this is how it’s supposed to look! Keep going through the steps and trust the process.

After steeping for 24 hours, strain the tea to remove the blossoms and any debris. You can use a fine-mesh strainer, cheese cloth, or Coffee Filter.

I actually did a double strain. Once to catch the bulk of the large blossoms. And a second time with a fine strainer to catch any remaining debris.

Step Five – Adding Lemon Juice to Color Change & Add a Fresh Zing!

This step is totally optional, but I love it because lemon juice is wonderful to counteract any sweetness you may add. Also, it’s super healthy for you as well as it does a magical color-changing trick to the Redbud tea!

Add 2 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed or from a bottle, and watch the magic happen!

I could not believe how magical it just changed the color to a bright Fuschia! The reason why is a super cool science answer I’m going to give you right now.

Why Lemon Juice Changes the Color of Redbud Tea

The pigments in redbud flowers are anthocyanins, which are water-soluble compounds that can change color based on the pH of the solution they are in.

When lemon juice is added to redbud tea, the acidity of the lemon juice can alter the pH of the tea. This causes the anthocyanins to shift their color from pinkish-purple to reddish-pink or even reddish-yellow, depending on the concentration of the lemon juice.

So, the change in color of redbud tea when lemon juice is added is due to a chemical reaction between the acidic lemon juice and the anthocyanin pigments in the tea.

Step Six – Adding Sugar to Sweeten the Flower Tea

This is completely optional. Redbud Blossom Tea already has a faint sweet taste, but I really love mine iced with a little bit more sweetness to it.

The best option is to add a liquid sweetener like agave, honey (raw, organic, and local if you can!), or maple syrup to taste. However, there is another option!

Create a Simple Syrup & Add it to Cold Water

You can use this Redbud tea to create a simple syrup by adding equal cups of sugar as cups water in a stock pot and allowing it to dissolve fully and come to a rolling boil. Then simply add 1 cup to a pitcher and fill the rest with cold water and ice! Top the cup with a slice of lemon for a beautiful garnish pour and serve!

I added 1 1/4 cups of Simple Syrup to 5 Cups of cold water, ice, and cut-up lemons. It was a nice refreshing drink! But you can definitely add less sugar. However, in this method, less sugar also means less Redbud flavor and pink color which is a bummer!

It has a delicate floral flavor and it isn’t as strong as using the Redbud tea and simply serving it with a few tablespoons of sweetener.

For full directions on how to make Redbud Flower Simple Syrup check out this post.

Variations – Adding Your Twist to Redbud Blossom Tea

There are a few options and variations you can consider before you pour it into a cup and drink.

Sweeteners

Redbud blossom tea has a subtle sweetness of its own, but if you prefer a sweeter taste, there are several natural sweeteners that pair well with its flavor. Here are some great sweetener options for redbud blossom tea:

1. Honey. Honey is a classic sweetener for tea, and it pairs well with the delicate floral notes of redbud blossom tea. Use raw or organic honey for the best flavor and nutritional benefits.
2. Maple syrup. Maple syrup is another natural sweetener that complements the earthy and slightly nutty taste of redbud blossom tea. Use pure maple syrup for the best flavor.
3. Agave nectar. Agave nectar is a popular vegan sweetener that has a mild, neutral taste that won’t overpower the delicate flavor of redbud blossom tea.
4. Stevia. Stevia is a zero-calorie sweetener that comes from the leaves of the stevia plant. It’s a great option if you’re looking for a low-sugar or low-calorie sweetener.

Overall, these natural sweeteners can enhance the flavor of redbud blossom tea without adding refined sugars or artificial ingredients. Be sure to experiment with different sweeteners to find your perfect combination.

More Redbud Blossom Content to Binge!

Redbud tea is just the beginning of the amazing recipes you can create using the lovely Redbud blossoms. Let’s discuss this.

• Redbud Syrup. Creating a simple syrup allows you to add the delicious flavor of Redbud flowers as a sweetener to all kinds of desserts and drinks!
• Redbud Flower Jelly. Not only is this Redbud jelly recipe delicious, but you can also get your feet wet with water bath canning! This homemade Redbud jelly is a super simple beginner’s recipe.
• Homemade Redbud Lemonade. Enjoy a twist on a true classic drink! The tartness of lemons paired with the sweet floral taste of Redbud Blossoms is a treat you cannot beat.
• How to Forage Redbud Flowers. There are just a few tips and tricks when foraging for these beautiful edible flowers that make the whole experience better!

FAQ

Redbud Blossom Tea: Printable Recipe Card

Conclusion

In conclusion, Redbud blossom tea is a unique and flavorful tea that can be easily brewed at home using just a few simple steps.

By following the guidelines outlined in this step-by-step guide, you can create a delicious and aromatic tea that is not only tasty but also packed with potential health benefits.

Whether you’re looking to try something new or simply want to enjoy a warm cup of tea, Redbud blossom tea is definitely worth a try!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie