There are a lot of teas in this world. Some are common, everyday teas that you can find in your local supermarket. Others are more exotic and difficult to find depending on where you are in the world. Then there are still some others that are so different you likely haven’t even heard of them. This is where olive leaf tea enters the discussion.
What is Olive Leaf Tea?
Olive leaf tea is exactly what it sounds like, it is a tea made from the leaves of an olive tree. While it may sound like a new fad, olive leaf tea has been around for an extremely long time. In fact it has been around for so long that we can trace its history back to the ancient Egyptians! They viewed it as a symbol of holy power, and it has remained popular in that region of the world since then.
Other than being viewed as a source of holy power by ancient Egyptians, it is also known to be a very good source of antioxidants. In fact, it even has up to twice the amount of antioxidants that green tea has and up to four times as much vitamin C.
Caffeine Content
One of the interesting parts about this tea is its caffeine content. Olive leaf tea is naturally caffeine free. This makes it a great option for those who enjoy tea but are watching their caffeine intake.
How Do You Brew It?
Olive leaf tea is very simple to brew and does not require any special tools. Simply add roughly two tablespoons to boiling water. Allow it to steep for 10 minutes, strain out the leaves, and enjoy. Just one thing, be careful with how long you allow the leaves to steep. Olive leaf tea, like most teas, will become bitter if you allow it to steep in hot water for too long. The hotter the water, the less time you want to allow your tea to steep.
The flavor is very similar to that of green tea, it is mellow and even when brewed properly just a little bitter. Some people do feel strongly about the bitterness and will add honey as well as lemon to their olive leaf tea. The addition of honey and lemon make for a very pleasant, very soothing herbal tea experience.
How is Olive Leaf Tea Made?
Olive leaf tea is made from the leaves of an olive tree. Before being processed, the leaves have a pleasant silvery green color to them. These are the same trees that produce olives themselves, but the fruit of those trees is not involved with olive leaf tea. The leaves are steamed and rolled soon after being picked while they are still fresh. From there they are dried and cut, then they are ready to brew.
The olive trees used for producing olive leaf tea are found in the Mediterranean region. For some cultures, like Greek culture, olive leaf tea was an important part of folk medicine. Since people have been harvesting olives for food and oil, they have been harvesting olive tree leaves for tea.
Why is Olive Leaf Tea So Popular?
Olive leaf tea has been around for a long time, but recently it has become more popular worldwide. There are several reasons for this sudden popularity, from flavor to nutrients and more.
First, olive leaf tea is naturally caffeine free. While caffeine is an integral part of tea for some people, others who might otherwise really enjoy tea are not able to drink it because of its caffeine content. It is also very similar to green tea in terms of flavor.
It is also very easy to brew, and there are a lot of options for customizing the flavor. One of the more popular additions to olive leaf tea is honey and lemon. It cuts through the light bitterness that naturally occurs with this tea and makes it a very nice herbal tea. Some other people have added things such as dried citrus peels and peppermint as well.
Nutritional Value
The nutritional value of olive leaf tea is another big reason it is so popular. Olive leaf tea is a strong source of vitamins and antioxidants. Like the green teas this tea is often compared to, olive leaf tea is especially rich in antioxidants. In fact, olive leaf tea even has twice the amount of antioxidants that green tea does as well as four times as much vitamin C.
Shelf Life
Olive leaf tea is pretty shelf stable. If stored in a dark, dry, cool space in an airtight container it can stay good for up to two years even. Most teas are relatively shelf stable if you store them in this manner, but two years is still a very long time for tea to stay good.
Conclusion
Olive leaf tea has been around for a very long time and originated in the Mediterranean region. Ancient Egyptians would make it because they believe it was a symbol of holy power and Greek culture believed it had medicinal properties. It was also made from the leaves of the olive tree, which has also been beloved in Mediterranean culture.
This tea is naturally caffeine free, making it a good option for those who are trying to watch their caffeine intake. With its mellow, though slightly bitter, flavor it is very similar to green tea’s flavor profile. It is common for people to add things like honey, lemon, and peppermint to their olive leaf tea to make it more of an herbal tea experience. Olive leaf tea is also a fantastic source of antioxidants and vitamin C.
While not the newest tea, it has become popular recently. We definitely recommend it if you can find it!
