Make Tea from Kumquat Leaves:
Kumquats can be found in markets all across the world and are a favorite tangy treat. However, many people looking to get more use out of the fruit may ask: can I use kumquat leaves to make tea?
Technically, kumquat leaves can be made into a tea, though it is not done very often. They contain limonene, which is most commonly found in the peels of citrus fruits and may be useful for treating an upset stomach. However, in larger doses, it may be a source of digestive issues itself.
Steps in Making Kumquat Leaf Tea:
If you decide that you want to give kumquat leaf tea a try, then here’s a basic guide:
1. First, source fresh kumquat leaves. Your best place to look for these is smaller Asian grocery stores or farmer’s markets, if kumquats are grown in your area.2. Wash the leaves thoroughly to remove any potential pesticides or dirt.
3. Next, chop the leaves into small pieces. You can even dice them if you have a tea strainer that’s fine enough to catch the pulp.
4. Steep the kumquat leaves for about 5 minutes or so. This is mostly about taste—if you want stronger tea, steep longer.
5 Strain the leaves and enjoy!
Just keep in mind that this may not even be possible depending on your location. As we said, kumquat leaves are not commonly used, so you may not be able to find them.But in this article we have discussed some ways that you can find Kumquat leaves for tea So, keep reading.
As with any new tea, it’s very wise to drink a few sips and wait an hour to make sure it isn’t going to upset your stomach or cause any other unwanted side effects. Just because they aren’t poisonous doesn’t mean your body won’t throw a fit if it doesn’t like them!
Are Kumquat Leaves Edible?
Technically, they are in small quantities as they are non-toxic, with the actual fruit being edible it stands to reason that the leaves must be edibles as well. . However, just because they are edible does not mean they can’t negatively impact your health if taken inappropriately or in large quantity.
What small amount of research has been done on kumquat leaves, it appears that they are not poisonous to humans, nor animals. However, they haven’t been declared harmless—an important distinction.
Quantity of Kumquat leaves Recommended:
Kumquat leaves can be made into tea, but it is only recommended to do so in small quantities and not to consume large amounts of the tea. They are not poisonous and will not kill you or cause serious harm, but consuming too much of them (or their tea) could cause stomach aches and other digestive distress.
Kumquat Tea as a Remedy:
Ironically, despite causing stomach aches in large amounts, in small amounts kumquat leaf tea may actually prove useful as a remedy for such things.
Limonene, a compound found commonly in citrus peels, has been used as a treatment for stomach aches and cramps. Since kumquat leaves also contain limonene, a few people have reported success in using kumquat leaf tea for treating those common maladies.
Because of this, it would be wise to consume it only in small amounts and as a remedy, not an everyday drink.
Are There Other Ways to Make Kumquat Tea?
Nevertheless, it is still possible to enjoy the taste of kumquats in the form of a tea. Rather than use the leaves, several Asian countries use the entire fruit to make the tea. This technique allows for both the sweetness and the tanginess of the fruit to get infused and create a sweet concoction.
The tanginess of the fruit is a result of the citrus oil found in the rind (which is also found in the leaves). Using Kumquat fruit to make tea is a much tastier option if you’re looking to enjoy it often.
Here’s a basic recipe for using Kumquat fruit as tea:
- Buy Kumquats!
- Wash kumquats thoroughly (do not peel).
- Slice Kumquats into halves.
- Using your hand, squeeze the juice of each of the halves into a pot and add the fruit in as well.
- Pour hot water over the fruit and juice, cover and steep for a few minutes (approximately 4-5 minutes).
- Serve hot with added sugar or honey to taste or let cool and serve with ice, and choice of sweetener.
Where to Get Kumquat Leaves?
We briefly talked about how to get your hands on kumquat leaves, but let’s take a deeper dive and explore your options.
Here's how you get kumquat leaves:
The first step would just be to check local smaller markets, especially Asian food markets. Kumquat leaves are not commercialized and grown for sale; you won’t just be waltzing up to the register with a bunch.
Instead, just go to where the kumquats are and poke around. Depending on the market, there may be some kumquat leaves littered between the kumquats. This is definitely a rare find, but it is possible.
If you can’t find any there, you may be out of luck. That is, unless you live in an area where kumquats are grown.
If you can find kumquats at a local farmer’s market, you may be able to ask your farmer to bring leaves for you to add to your order. However, there is no guarantee that they would agree. Since Kumquat leaves haven’t been commercialized yet, it can be hard to get your hands on the leaves—unless you have your own tree!
Growing Your Own Kumquat Tree for Fruit and Leaves:
Even though this may seem far fetched, kumquat trees are actually very low maintenance. These trees love direct sunlight and grow in any soil, no matter the pH levels, as long as the soil is well-drained. Although kumquat trees can reach up to fifteen feet in height, when placed in a pot, they will most likely only grow up to reach 8 ft.
Great for a garden:
They can make a great addition to any front yard or backyard, not only will you have a beautiful plant to admire, but you will have fresh supply of kumquats for more than half the year. You can also use the leaves to make the herbal remedy tea we described above.
Kumquat trees are one of the most beginner- friendly plants out there, as they:
- Are drought-friendly and require no additional water
- Are also resilient most pests and disease
- Require very little additional work once they have been planted
If you really love kumquats and plan to use their leaves in tea, planting one of your own is the best way to ensure a steady supply.
Alternatives to Kumquat Leaf Tea:
Realistically, you may be out of luck when trying to find kumquat leaves, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy something very similar.
Kumquat is a citrus fruit, so your first place to turn when replacing kumquat leaf tea should be lemons, oranges, and limes. You can make tea from the leaves of all three plants quite well, and they are much easier to source locally.
Herbal
Remedy Teas to Replace Kumquat Tea:
If you’re interested in the potential for kumquat leaves to help with belly aches, then you are also in luck because those same citrus leaves mentioned above also contain limonene (which is the compound we think is responsible or those healing effects).
Additionally, here are some more commonly available herbal teas that help with digestive issues:
Ginger Tea:
Ginger is a well-known powerhouse when it comes to helping with stomachaches and can be found in every grocery storePeppermint Tea:
Another very common remedy for belly achesChamomile Tea:
Chamomile has more of a soothing and relaxing effect on the stomach, which is useful for situations where you just need to calm your gut down (and not necessarily give it something as strong as ginger or peppermint).
Different benefits of Kumquat tea:
Strong bones
With their
substantial content of calcium, consuming kumquats will help in strengthening
your bones. Taking foods rich in calcium means increased calcium levels in your
body. This will give you strong and healthy bones. In case you have any bone
fracture, including kumquats in your diet may help to quicken your healing
process.
Digestive health
You may not
experience any digestive issues if your consuming kumquats in your health
routine. Is eating these amazing fruits a hard thing to do? With the health
benefits guaranteed, it is something worth your time. These fibers will help in keeping your gastrointestinal track in good
condition, regulating your digestive health.
Skin Health
Kumquats
have considerable amounts of vitamins and antioxidants. With this, you can use
then in protecting your skin from the sun's cancerous effects. They will make
your skin tolerant to harsh rays from the sun. Kumquats can also treat negative
free radicals' results that may lead to age spots, wrinkles, unhealthy and
rough skin. Similar to other citrus plants, you can consume kumquats for a good
feel and appearance of your skin.
Immune System
Kumquats
have vitamin C making them essential in your immune system. This vitamin is
essential in various body processes. It helps in the production of new cells
and boosting your immune system. Your body will be safe from infections and any
other unpleasant conditions.
Teeth and Hair
Thinking
about how citrus fruits relate to hair can be difficult for some individuals.
Antioxidants, Vitamin C, minerals, and other compounds in kumquats play a role
in the oiliness, strength, texture, and quality of your hair. This is the same
case with your teeth. With the vitamin, potassium, and calcium present in
kumquats, having powerful and strong teeth is a no debate.
As you can see, while kumquat leaves can be safely consumed in a tea in small amounts, they can be very difficult to source. If you can’t find them at a local market, and don’t want to grow them yourself, then you are likely out of luck.
However, we also covered other ways to both use kumquat fruit and also other remedies for stomachache which are commonly found on store shelves.
Still, if you really want kumquat leaf tea, then brew away!
