Loquat Tea Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Loquat tea is easy to make, delicious, and loaded with health benefits! It's also surprisingly sweet!

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Steeping Time10

Total Time30

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese

Servings: cups

Calories: 0kcal

Pick fresh, medium-sized green loquat leaves, then rinse and dry them.
Using a small knife, scrape the furry underside of the leaves to remove the tiny fibers. Remove the large veins in the middle of the leaves then slice or tear the leaves into small pieces.
Add chopped leaves to a small pot, saucepan, or a cast iron teapot along with fresh water. Bring to a boil then simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover the pot, and allow the tea to steep for an additional 10 minutes.
Strain the tea through a fine mesh strainer and serve in your favorite tea cup. If you prefer, you can serve the tea in a tall glass, over ice.

Make sure to remove the furry hairs from the underside of the leaves before steeping them, as the hairs can irritate the throat.
If you plan on foraging the leaves for later enjoyment, the fresh young leaves can be either air-dried or dried in the oven or dehydrator. The dried leaves can then be crushed and stored in a jar for later use.
If drying leaves for later use, you'll need to brew approximately 1 tablespoon of crushed, dried loquat leaves for each cup of tea. The amount can be adjusted depending on how light or strong you prefer your tea.
The longer you boil and steep the tea, the darker and more concentrated it will get. It will also reduce due to evaporation. If it reduces too much or gets too concentrated, just add more hot water to dilute it.