How should white willow bark be prepared, and how much is needed per serving? — White willow bark tea, 50 g – Lekraset

Cut bark is neither leaf tea nor powder, so the standard method of ‘pour boiling water over it for 3 minutes’ does not work here. For bark, a long cold infusion is used so that the active compounds have time to pass into the water.

The classic way to make the infusion:

• Take 1 teaspoon of cut bark per 1 glass of water.
• Pour cooled boiled water over the bark — the instructions do not provide for hot water or boiling.
• Leave to infuse for 2 hours, then strain through a fine sieve or gauze — the bark particles are fine enough to end up in the drink if it is not strained.
• Take 2 tablespoons of the infusion 3–4 times a day before meals. You can add honey to taste if the astringency seems too strong.

The prepared infusion should be kept in the fridge for no more than a day. Keep the bark itself in its packaging in a dry place protected from light — moisture and direct sunlight impair the quality of plant material.

Do not reuse the bark for a second infusion: most of the compounds pass into the liquid during the first infusion, and a second one will be much weaker.