How to make a brew of Olive Leaf Tea.

How to Make Olive Leaf Tea: A Cup of Ancient Goodness with a Modern Twist

So, you’ve read the glowing reviews. You’ve nodded sagely at the health benefits. And now, you stand in your kitchen, clutching a bag of dried olive leaves, whispering, “Now what?”

Fear not, tea-time warrior — I’ve got you covered. Brewing olive leaf tea is less complicated than your smartphone’s lock screen and far more rewarding. It’s the kind of old-school ritual that makes you feel like a cross between a Greek healer and a Pinterest domestic goddess.

Here’s your foolproof (and fun-filled) guide:

🍃 Step 1: Call in the Crushers

First, crush the dried olive leaves into smaller pieces. You can use your fingers, a mortar and pestle, or get creative and use the bottom of your French press (because we both know it’s been feeling neglected lately).

This isn't just for show. Breaking the leaves opens them up — like cracking open a book of ancient Mediterranean secrets — and helps release the medicinal magic.

💧 Step 2: Boil the Kettle Like a Champion

Fill up your kettle with fresh water and bring it to a bubbling boil. Not a lazy simmer. We want a rolling boil, the kind that makes your kitchen sound like it’s hosting a symphony of steam.

🥄 Step 3: Leaf Loading

Into that boiling water, add a heaping tablespoon of the crushed leaves. Not a pinch, not a whisper — a full tablespoon. Be generous; this isn’t chamomile. This is olive leaf, the heavyweight champion of tea leaves.

⏳ Step 4: Steep It Like You Mean It

Let it steep for 10 to 15 minutes. That’s the sweet spot where flavour, fragrance, and healing compounds dance into your cup. You’ll know it’s ready when the water turns a gentle green-gold and smells like you’ve just stepped into an ancient grove in Tuscany.

This is not the time to rush. Use the moment to meditate, journal, or just stare wistfully out the window like you're in a Jane Austen novel. It's called wellness, darling.

🫖 Step 5: Strain the Goodness

Using a fine-mesh strainer, a tea infuser, or even a clean piece of muslin cloth (if you’re going full herbalist), strain out the leaves. We love them, but they’ve done their duty. Time to let the liquid glory shine.

🍵 Step 6: Serve and Sip

Pour into your favourite cup or teapot. Bonus points if it’s ceramic, floral, or slightly chipped — character is everything.

Serve warm. Sip slowly. Let it coat your insides like a Mediterranean hug.

☀ A Few Pro Tips from Your Resident Tea Sage:

• Too strong? Steep for less time or use fewer leaves.
• Too weak? Add more leaves or steep longer.
• Want to feel fancy? Add a drizzle of raw honey, a slice of lemon, or a sprig of fresh mint.
• Feeling brave? Throw in a cinnamon stick or a clove. Your tastebuds will throw a parade.