How To Make Wormwood Tea

The bitter-tasting wormwood may seem like an odd choice for a tea. More popularly known as an ingredient for alcoholic drinks like absinthe, wormwood is one of the more unusual choices for tea. But wormwood tea is not a new fad. Rather, it is the discovery of old recipes, reminding one of those mystical and magical potions that were touted to cure multiple ailments.

Wormwood Tea Benefits

In his book Herbs and Weeds, Swedish herbalist Jon Kuenzle writes about wormwood tea and attributes it with multiple benefits. He cites a number of successful treatments to prove his point, “If a person is as green as a frog, as lean as a popular (sic) tree so that he no longer throws a shadow, loses in good humor and weight day by day, let him try a spoonful of wormwood every two hours. But it must be taken unsweetened.” ^[1]

A cup of wormwood of tea for your ills. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Wormwood can be very effective in treating fungal infections, malaria, Crohn’s disease, SIBO and shows anticancer properties. It is used in folk medicine to stimulate appetite and for deworming. According to a 2018 study, published in the journal Phytomedicine, wormwood tea can also be used to treat parasitic flatworm infections. You can read more about wormwood’s beneficial properties in our comprehensive article.

How to Make Wormwood Tea?

In Herbs and Weeds, Kuenzle writes about a novel wormwood preparation. He advises boiling the herb in wine! The strong bitter-tasting wormwood tea is not everybody’s cup of tea. For those who find its taste unpalatable, our recipe gives the option of adding a sweetener. But as Kuenzle points out, it is best taken without any sweeteners. Instead, add peppermint or anise tea to dilute the strong taste.

Medicinal Wormwood Tea Recipe

The wormwood is quite bitter. You can add sugar or honey to sweeten the taste. 

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Course: Tea

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Wormwood Tea

Appliance: Teapot, Kettle

Cook Time: 4 minutes

Steeping Time: 10 minutes

Servings: 1 cup

Author: Paromita Datta

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Ingredients

• 1 tsp dried wormwood leaves
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp peppermint tea optional or
• 1/2 tsp anise tea optional
• 1 tsp sugar or honey optional

Instructions

• To a warm teapot put a teaspoon of wormwood tea. You can add peppermint tea or anise tea to dilute the taste.
• Put the water on the boil and as soon as the bubbles start appearing, pour the water over the tea leaves. 
• Let the tea leaves steep for about 7-10 minutes. You can sweeten the tea with sugar or honey. 
  

Notes

Although we have given the option of using a sweetener, wormwood tea is best taken without it. Instead, it is recommended to use the other teas mentioned in the recipe to dilute the taste. 

The recipe asks for a teaspoon of dried wormwood leaves. You can take half the amount if you find it too bitter. Do not exceed this dosage as the tea is very strong. 

Do not exceed the steeping time as it will make the tea bitter. 

Dosage: Given the bitterness of the tea, it is recommended to take spoonfuls at a time at regular intervals. 6-8 spoonfuls a day is usually sufficient for most illnesses. It should be taken after a meal to aid digestion. It is best to consult a specialist when you are taking the tea for medicinal purposes.

Word of caution: Wormwood tea is not recommended for long-term use. It should not be taken for more than 3 consecutive weeks. Always use dried leaves for teas. These contain little, if any, thujone. Wormwood is often recommended for deworming pets. However, avoid the tea if your pet has liver disease and never use it for a prolonged period. Consult a doctor before taking it for medicinal purposes, if you are suffering from any chronic disease, or are on any medication.