Raspberry Leaf

Raspberry leaf is one of the wisest choices anyone can make to add it to their garden and plate.  It is also commonly known as European red raspberry and hails from the famous Rosaceae family.

Raspberry is a deciduous perennial herb that can dangle between 5-6 feet in height, having pinnate leaves and white to pink flowers. These flowers develop into fairly juicy fruit that can be of black, red, or purple color.

Raspberry leaf is of great importance from the medicinal viewpoint. It is especially considered as a wise choice for women. During pregnancy, its leaves can help in strengthening the muscles of the pelvic region and help reduce the onset of morning sickness. Apart from pregnancy, Raspberry leaf is rich in Vitamin A, C, E, calcium, potassium, and iron so it is good for maidens as it nourishes the female reproductive system.

Raspberry leaf also reduces inflammation, aids in healthy digestion, helps with cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, hypertension, thrombosis, and so forth), boost the weakened immune system, and aids in weight loss. Raspberry leaf also imparts antioxidant property which can help in killing the free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress.

Raspberry seeds can be planted in spring or summer but the yield of those sown in spring is quite good at giving you the juicy explosion. Raspberry plants can be started via seeds or root cuttings (1-year-old canes).

Raspberry can be grown both indoors and outdoors. The container chosen for growing raspberry should be around 30 inches deep and wide and must bear holes for water drainage. The soil used for growing raspberry is a well-drained loam.

The plant must be watered on an average basis; just enough to keep the soil moist as the persistent wetness can subject the plant to rot.

Raspberry seeds take at least a month to give out the shoots whereas for cuttings, the give out canes in their first year and start producing flowers and fruits in the second year.

Now to understand the matter of fruiting, we must know that there are two types of raspberries:

• Ever-bearing variety
• Summer-bearing variety

 

1. Ever-bearing variety

The ever-bearing variety of raspberries is famous for producing fruit twice a year.

2. Summer-bearing variety

The summer-bearing variety of raspberry produces fruits just once in a year. During their first year, they just produce seeds, and then from the second year and onwards, they are able to produce flowers.

The flowers are pollinated by insects and soon transform into fruits bearing seeds. As the plant experiences the process of fruiting, new canes bearing leaves grow. The flowers and fruits are produced every year and the cycle continues for the next twenty years.

The best time to harvest raspberry leaves is spring; a time when the plant is about to undergo the flowering phase.

Raspberry leaves can be snipped off by gardening shears or just by mere pair of sharp scissors.

Raspberry leaves are dried in shade, away from the direct sunlight and dust. They might take 2 to 3 weeks to dry. Nevertheless, the best judge of dryness is your touch so when they seem brittle to touch, raspberry leaves are ready to be stored.

Raspberry leaves should not be given cold treatment as this can cause injuries to the leaves and they would be good for nothing.

People are steering past the jams, tarts, ice-creams, and smoothies of raspberry and inclining towards the leaves. Raspberry leaf has now become a hot deal in the market, all thanks to the clinical studies that have unveiled the medicinal benefits of raspberry leaf.

• Tincture - Infuse fresh or dried chopped raspberry leaves in grain alcohol for 4 to 6 weeks. Strain the liquid and place it in a dark and dry place.
• Tea - Dried raspberry leaves are steeped in hot boiling water for 20 to 25 minutes to yield tea.
• Decoction - Dried raspberry leaves are simmered in water for an hour or until the volume of the water remains half. The leaves are strained away and the liquid is saved to save the labor day.
• Salve - Raspberry infused oil is merged with melted beeswax and olive oil to formulate raspberry salve.
• Syrup - Raspberry leaves are simmered in sugar solution for 20 to 30 minutes to produce naturally refreshing raspberry leaf syrup.
• Infused oil - Dried raspberry leaves are chopped and covered with the oil of choice for a week to yield raspberry leaf infused oil.