Ivan Chai is a fermented tea made of Fireweed
Ivan Chai tea was the most popular tea, before the British trade started imposing the more toxic Camellia sinensis tea from East Asia to the rest of the world during the 19th century, for purely commercial reasons. Fireweed is native to the whole Northern Hemisphere and grows mainly in forests. It is also known as the Willow-herb or as Fireweed, as it can make the fields appear as if on fire from a distance.
'Ivan Chai': the original tea
Ivan Chai is a fermented herbal tea made from Fireweed (Chamerion angustifolium in Europe, or Epilobium parviflorum in North America). For centuries, 'Ivan Tea' or Ivan Chai was the most popular hot beverage, before it was replaced by Indian and Chinese black and green teas, to serve the interests of the British monopolies.
The name “Ivan Chai” was coined by the Western World. “Ivan” is a traditional Russian name, while “Chai” means tea in Russian. Until the the mid-19th century, ''Ivan Tea'' was exported from Siberia to the all of Europe.
It was Russia's second most important export after wheat, before even linen and fur. It was then progressively replaced by powerful commercial interests due to the the British monopoly on East Asian tea. Commercial production of Ivan Chai stopped entirely after the October Revolution of 1917. Black tea imported fom India by the British East India Company, owes its oxidization and fermentation technique to Ivan Chai and the traditional fermentation methods of Fireweed.
The story of this herb goes back thousands of years, at the time of the ancient Russian Vedic culture, when the nomadic tribes had discovered the healing properties of this incredible plant. Russian fireweed tea promoted longevity, with a smooth floral taste that green Chinese tea lacks of.
Ivan Chai tea is non-addictive. It is the original tea that was drunk before the importation caffeinated teas. Instead of depleting your nervous system as regular tea does, the regular consumption of this amazing herb instead helps to raise your energy levels and rejuvenate the body. It also improves endurance.
Ivan Chai tea has no caffeine, taurine, purine, oxalic acid or uric acid, which are the main toxic components of modern Indian or Chinese tea. Those adversely affect the metabolism and brain functions, are very harmful to the human digestion system, and can lead to the development of kidney stones.
A fermented herbal tea
Ivan Chai tea has highly anti-inflammatory properties, which get even higher when the leaves are crushed and fermented properly. Double fermentation tea is brighter and more stable after repeated brewing (3-5 times). It also has a stronger immune strengthening effect, for a longer period.
Fermentation is what gives Ivan Chai its mildly sedative, stress-relieving effect.
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Benefits of Ivan Chai
- Very useful for all types of nervous conditions. It has a calming effect, reduces anxiety and depression.
- It does not contain caffeine nor oxalic acid, and therefore does not violate any metabolic processes in the body.
- It helps in removing food poisoning.
- Slows down early skin aging, making it supple and elastic. All this thanks to substances that stimulate the collagen synthesis of natural processes (phytosterols, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, carotenoids and organic acid of copper). It is also quite effective at strengthening hair roots.
- Improves concentration and energy levels.
- It is a mild sedative which promotes relaxation and improves mood
- It strengthens hair roots.
- Increases sexual stamina in men
- Ivan Chai tea is also natural remedy for prostatitis. It helps to extend the life of the “second heart” – the prostate gland, by optimizing testosterone levels. Ivan Chai is traditionally called a “Male Grass.” The famous researcher Prof. Badmayev P.A., who did extensive research on Ivan Chai, became a father at the age of 100 years old, and lived to be 110!
When used consistently, Ivan Chai is a:
- Natural stress relief – also helps with hysteria, depression and epilepsy
- Natural multivitamin to remedy vitamin deficiency (especially vitamin C, B, K)
- Natural hair care for weak hair roots
- Natural blood purification beverage for alleviating blood disorders, like leukemia and lymphogranuloma
- Natural wound healing effect due to the presence of chlorophyll, tannin mixture, and carotenoids, which promote granulation and epithelialization of lesions on the skin.
- Natural endocrine disorders remedy in women (menstrual problems, menopause, premenstrual syndrome)
- Natural analgesic due to its alkaloids, mucus, flavonoids, and magnesium.
- Natural antispasmodic and diuretic due to the flavonoids and pectin, to purify the body from toxic elements and heavy metals.
- Natural immune system booster due to its extremely high mineral content
- Natural prostate healing herb
- Improves the condition of the oral mucous, which acts as a good prevention of cavities and gum diseases.
- Natural infertility remedy for both genders
- Natural hangover relief
- Natural spleen remedy
- Antiviral herb for Herpes
- It is a natural detoxifying herb that helps with heavy body intoxication
- Alkaline herb that restores energy levels
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- Ivan Chai tea is also recommended for the teething of infants. With powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, it greatly eases and facilitates teething.
- Consumption of Ivan Chai is very appropriate for pregnant (except last 3 months) and lactating women and infants. It has no side effects.
- Ivan Chai tea does not stain the tooth enamel, unlike Indian or Ceylon teas!
- When applied topically in the form of compresses made up of fresh crushed leaves, Ivan Chai is used for healing wounds, bruises and joint pain.
The nutritive aspects of Ivan Chai Tea
- Contains lots of trace elements such as iron, titanium, nickel, copper, manganese, lithium, molybdenum, as well as boron, potassium, calcium, sodium, etc. Few other plant have such rich mineral content! It contains a significant amount of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, lithium, etc. A high content of trace elements that stimulate hematopoiesis (iron, copper, manganese) and helps fight anemia and metabolic disorders, enhancing the protective functions of the body.
- Contains 16 amino acids (among which 6 Essential Amino Acids)
- Contains a huge amount of vitamin C, the vitamin of youth [more than Wild Rose]. Fireweed growing in the northern regions of the world contains much more vitamin C than that growing in southern regions. 100 grams of Ivan Chai tea leaves contain about 400 mg. of ascorbic acid (10 times more than lemons)!
- With high amounts of magnesium, B vitamins, and flavonoids, it is an effective non-synthetic soft sedative, which normalizes the psycho-emotional state. It reduces nervousness, anxiety, relieves headaches, and normalizes sleep.
- Contains up to 20% of pirogallic tannins, pectin, carotene, and other natural bioflavonoids
- Contains a small amount of alkaloids that possess remarkable healing properties,improve metabolism, blood circulation, nervous system function
- Fireweed roots are rich in starch (carbohydrate reserve) and polysaccharides (carbohydrates involved in immune response).
- Contains essential oils, therefore it retains its medicinal and aromatic properties for at least 72 hours after brewing.
https://www.amazon.com/Boosting-Willowherb-Fireweed-Prevent-Illnesses/dp/B07L8WVV96
Growing, harvesting and fermentation of Fireweed
Fireweed is a first colonizer plant that restores the soil and prepares the forest for regeneration, after a disturbance such as forest fires or logging. When the land is devastated by fire, this plant comes first, healing the ground and preparing the conditions for future settlement of other plants. It grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere in zones 2 to 7 (USDA).
The most potent Ivan Chai tea is collected at the peak of flowering in June-July, in the first quarter of the moon, from sunrise until noon.
To make Ivan tea, Fireweed leaves are bruised and fermented through an aerobic process. After 2 or 3 days the fermentation is stopped with heat. And the tea leaves are dried. Tea fermentation is an aerobic enzymatic process similar to the oxidative process that causes apples to turn brown. It changes both the flavor of the leaf and the color.
The fermentation process removes the acidic, freshly cut grass aroma, replacing it with a floral, fruity fragrance. This enzymatic oxidization and fermentation softens its astringency and bitterness while improving the taste.
For more potency, before drying, it is usually fermented then stored for a couple of weeks for final drying. The process of fermentation used in the production of Ivan Chai significantly strengthens harmonizing properties of the plant, improving taste and aroma. The shelf life of fermented Ivan Chai is 2 – 3 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op2BjUHk06s
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Ivan Chai in allopathic medicine:
- Pyatigorsk State Technological University in conjunction with the Natural Sciences conducted research the plant “Ivan Chai”, which grows in the territory of Russia. The research was founded on the basis of the expectation of new products that enhance the immune system and balance a number of components needed by the body.
- “Ivan Chai” was also thoroughly examined at the St. Petersburg Institute of Neurology, and researchers came to the following conclusions: “Ivan Chai is a great supportive herb, in the treatment of various forms of neuroses and neurosis-like states, and in post-traumatic stress disorder. Its use helps in avoiding the risk of substance abuse in stressful situations, reducing anxiety, depressive disorders, and stress. “Ivan Chai” also helps to reduce alcohol consumption” @ST.PIN.
- In the cardiology “Ivan Chai” is used in cardio neurosis cases, due to the rich content of the flavonoid giperozid , which normalizes blood pressure.
- It is scientifically proven that “Ivan Chai” has highest anti-inflammatory index among the commonly known plants, due to the very rich content of flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids, vitamin C, organic acids, triterpenoids, etc.
- Fireweed - A treasured medicine of the boreal forest