How do you brew this ivan-chai, and what can you combine it with? — ELDER HEMP TEA 100 GR. VITATEKA ( ivan-chai listovoj )

The leaves in this pack are cut fairly coarsely, and whole-leaf tea usually opens up in the teapot gradually. As a result, the drink has a fuller taste and aroma than fine tea from tea bags. According to the label, put 2–3 teaspoons of tea into a teapot, pour over 500 ml of boiling water and leave to steep for 5–7 minutes so that the taste and aroma have time to develop fully; let the drink cool slightly before drinking.

Fireweed herbal tea can be drunk on its own or combined to taste with:

• honey
• berries
• mint
• wild thyme

These additions let you change the character of the drink and vary it without switching to caffeinated leaves. The tea is conveniently stored in the same way as other dried herbs, in a closed pack or jar in a dry place away from direct sunlight and other odours, so that the aroma of the leaves lasts longer.