With the weather heating up I have been enjoying a drink I first made last summer. Raspberry Leaf Tea (Amazon link) is well known for it’s uses during pregnancy*, especially during the last trimester. Among other things it supposedly tones the uterus, so that when it is time to push, it is strong and fit. I never liked the taste of pregnancy teas, but sometime during the dog days of last summer, I decided to try Raspberry Leaf iced. This time last year I always had a pitcher in the fridge. It is delicious! I sweetened it and it tastes remarkably like Sweet Tea, but without the caffeine.

Baby Bird is 11 months old today (happy month birthday, sweetie!) and I am down to my pre-pregnancy weight, thanks to breastfeeding, our regular diet, the Bar Method and genetics. But I notice that my internal guts are just a little stretched out. I look thin in the morning but eating even a little food makes for a 20-week-looking food baby. Natural, I know, but it made me start wondering if Raspberry Leaf, as a uterine toner, would be helpful postpartum, as well.

The answer? Who knows?! But it tastes delicious on a hot day.

Red Raspberry Leaf Iced Tea Recipe

Step 1: Bring at least 3-4 cups of filtered water to a boil.

Step 2: Place four bags of Raspberry Leaf Tea in a pitcher.

Step 3: Pour boiling water over the bags and a little less than halfway filling the pitcher.

Step 4: Let steep 20-30 minutes.

Step 5: Remove the tea bags and compost them.

Step 6: Add sugar, to taste, or a sweetener of your choice. (If you are looking for alternatives to sugar check out this Article with options for alternative sweeteners.) By mixing in the sugar while the tea is hot, it will dissolve easily. Sometimes I forget to do this before chilling. In that case I use a liquid sweetener, such as agave.

Step 7: Add a lot of ice to the pitcher and some cool water until it is full.

Step 8: Chill longer in the fridge if needed, and enjoy!

Note:

Raspberry Leaf Tea should not be confused with Raspberry Tea, as in tea flavored with the fruit. The latter is usually sweet and doesn’t really have the same health benefits. I usually use the Traditional Medicinals brand.

*Click here for a peer reviewed article on the safety and efficacy of Raspberry Leaf Tea. The study found that RRL can shorten the length of labor without side effects. It also suggests that the tea can be helpful in reducing both pre- and post-term babies and may reduce the need for interventions, including forceps, vacuum and cesarean section.

Updates:

1. I think it has definitely had a beneficial effect. I have lost 2.5″ off of my waist just this summer.

2. We have just added a store of products and supplies that we love. You can purchase Raspberry Leaf Tea on our store page, which will be fulfilled by Amazon, or directly from Amazon, here.