* Please Note: This information is based partly on Traditional Medicine which uses natural materials to support health. This information has not been evaluated or approved by the FDA. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor.
Description
*Note: TerraVita® Wild Strawberry Tea is a naturally flavored black tea and does not contain strawberry leaves. It is a fruit tea prasied for the intensity of its natural strawberry flavor. The "General Herb Information" below applies to the strawberry plant only, and any medicinal benefits mentioned are applicable to the strawberry plant only.
General Herb Information
Wild Strawberry Fragaria vesca L.
Family: Rosaceae.
Other Names: Fraisier des bois (French); Wild Walderdbeere (German); fragola di bosco (Italian); fresera (Spanish).
Description: Wild strawberry is a mat-forming perennial herb that spreads along the ground by numerous runners (stolons) that root at the nodes to produce new plants. The leaves are divided into three broad leaflets with toothed margins and silky hairs on the lower surfaces. Small white flowers are borne on slender stalks, followed by small, red edible fruits (technically a fleshy receptable with numerous achenes on the surface). Several other species and hybrids, including F. viridis and F. moschata are also sometimes used.
Origin: Europe and Asia. The herb is cultivated for medicinal use in central and eastern Europe.
Parts Used: Leaves collected in the flowering stage (wild strawberry leaf - Fragariae foilum),rarely the fruit (Fragariae fructus) or the rhizomes (Fragariae radix).
Uses and Properties: Leaves and rhizomes are traditionally used as a mild astringent to treat diarrhoea and mucosal inflammations of the mouth (as a gargle). The leaves and the fruit have a wide range of traditional applications and are considered to be diuretic (urinary tract disorders), antirheumatic, cooling and calming. Young leaves have been used as a substitute for black tea and are sometimes taken as bulking agent (filler) in medicinal herbal teas. The fruits are used in tea mixtures and in liqueurs.
Active Ingredients: Strawberry leaves are rich in condensed tannins and ellagitannins such a agrimoniin and pedunculagin, together with proanthocyanins, flavonoids (quercetin, turin) phenolic acids (salicylic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid). The rhizomes have a high tannin content (about 10%). Acids, sugar and pectins are present in the fruit.
Pharmacological Effects: Tannins and oligomeric proanthocyanidins can form non-covalent bonds with various proteins (enzymes, receptors, transporters) and thus change their conformation and activity They are therefore astringent, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. The use of the drug to treat diarrhoea and mucosal inflammations therefore appears to be plausible.
Status: Traditional medicine.
Preparation and Dosage: An infusion of 1 g of chopped leaves in a cup of boiling water is drunk several times a day.
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Directions
Hot tea brewing method: Bring freshly drawn cold water to a rolling boil. Place 1 tea bag for each cup into the teapot. Pour the boiling water into the teapot. Cover and let steep for 3-7 minutes according to taste (the longer the steeping time the stronger the tea). Even though milk and a dash of sugar help enhance the flavor character on this tea, it is perfectly acceptable to consume this tea "straight-up."
Iced tea brewing method (to make 1 liter/quart): Place 6 tea bags into a teapot or heat resistant pitcher. Pour 1 1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over the tea. Steep for 5 minutes. Quarter fill a serving pitcher with cold water. Pour the tea into your serving pitcher straining the bags. Add ice and top-up the pitcher with cold water. Garnish and sweeten to taste. [A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the strength of hot tea since it will be poured over ice and diluted with cold water]. Please note that this tea may tend to go cloudy or "milky" when poured over ice; a perfectly normal characteristic of some high quality black teas and nothing to worry about!
Label Information
Shipping Port: Colombo
Altitude: 4800 - 7600 feet above sea level
Manufacture Type: Orthodox
Cup Characteristics: Slightly more full bodied than our Strawberry tea. The infusion immediately hits the nose with the sweet aromas of freshly picked wild strawberries
Infusion: Bright and Coppery
Additional Information
What type of tea do we use, how do we flavor the tea and why do we use natural flavors?
Firstly...we only use high grown teas from the top 3 tea growing regions of Sri Lanka - Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula and Uva. These three high-grown districts produce flavorful teas that have classic "Ceylon" tea character which is noted by floral bouquet and flavor notes, touches of mild astringency, bright coppery color and, most importantly - perfect for use as the base tea of our flavored teas. (We have tested teas from various other origins around the world as base stock for our flavored teas, but none of these teas made the grade. We may pay more for high grown Ceylons, but the taste is worth it).
Dimbula and the western estates of Nuwara Eliya have a major quality peak during Jan/Feb, whereas Uva and the eastern estates of Nuwara Eliya have their peak in July/Aug. This "dual peak period" allows us to buy the best for our flavored tea blends several times during the year, ensuring top quality and freshness.
Secondly...we use flavoring oils not crystals to give the tea drinker an olfactory holiday before indulging in the liquid tea treat.
Thirdly...we specify natural flavors. High quality tea tastes good and natural flavors do not mask the natural taste of the high grown Ceylon tea. (The norm for many making flavored tea is to use overpowering artificial flavors which can be used to hide lower quality tea). Natural flavors do not leave an aftertaste giving the tea a clean and true character. It should be noted that natural flavors tend to be somewhat "soft" and the flavors slightly muted, but for many this is a refreshing change and one of the desired attributes of our naturally flavored teas.
Now you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor (or should we say flavor) knowing that we have formulated the best flavored teas that are available.
ZooScape is proud to be the exclusive distributor of TerraVita teas, herbs and supplements in the United States, Canada and around the world. Please direct all wholesale and bulk inquiries to Simona Heather at 905-494-1785.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products are intended to support general well being and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure any condition or disease. If conditions persist, please seek advice from your medical doctor. The essence of the current American rule on Traditional Uses is, as stated by FTC, "Claims based on historical or traditional use should be substantiated by confirming scientific evidence, or should be presented in such a way that consumers understand that the sole basis for the claim is a history of use of the product for a particular purpose."
