With its silver-white bark and trembling green leaves, the birch is one of the most recognisable trees of Northern and Eastern Europe. It is also a lovely, understated ingredient in tea: birch leaves add a sweet taste and a light, refreshing aroma, and they are often combined with herbs such as mint, chamomile and lavender.
A tree woven into Nordic life
In Finland, bundles of fresh birch twigs, the vihta or vasta, are part of the sauna ritual, filling the steam with a fresh, green scent. In the Baltic countries and in Russia, the arrival of spring is still celebrated by tapping birch sap, a clear, faintly sweet drink. And in many Nordic and Slavic kitchens, the young leaves of early summer have long been picked and dried for a light herbal cup.
What do birch leaves taste like?
Birch leaves give a pale, golden infusion with a soft, green flavour: think fresh hay, a hint of sweetness and a clean, slightly woody finish. On their own they are delicate; in a blend they are a wonderful supporting player, rounding off bright citrus, lifting green tea and adding depth to herbs.
How to brew a cup with birch leaves
- Use 1ā2 teaspoons (about 2 g) per cup of 250 ml.
- Pour over water at 90ā95 Ā°C.
- Steep for 5ā8 minutes, depending on how full you like your cup.
- Delicious hot, and just as good cold-brewed in the fridge overnight on a summer day.
Good to know
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take medication or are allergic to birch pollen, please check with your doctor before drinking herbal teas that contain birch leaves.
Want to taste birch leaves in a blend? Our My Best Shape combines them with green tea, lemon verbena, lemon myrtle and nettle for a crisp, citrusy cup. Browse all our blends with birch leaves:
Make herbal tea a monthly ritual
Join our Tea Club and choose the Herbal club: every month we pick three 50 g loose-leaf herbal blends for you, plus a 15 g surprise tea. From ā¬24.90/month, first month ā¬21.90. Free letterbox delivery in the Netherlands, and you can pause, skip or switch clubs anytime.
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