How to Make Mugwort Tea: Brewing Tips and Tricks

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Mugwort has been used in traditional medicine and folk remedies for centuries. If you're interested in its digestive or calming properties, brew a cup of mugwort tea. Mugwort has a grassy and slightly bittersweet taste that's pleasant on its own. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of steeping a simple cup of mugwort tea.

Things You Should Know

  • Start with either dried or fresh mugwort leaves . Steep them in boiling water for 5 to 15 minutes.
  • Mugwort is thought to aid insomnia and irregular menstrual cycles, and has been proven to have antioxidant and antifungal properties.
  • Mix mugwort with white tea , camomile , cinnamon, and nutmeg to make a tea for lucid dreaming.
1

Collect dried or fresh mugwort leaves.

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  1. Most people use dried mugwort since the flavor is more mellow. Fresh mugwort has a stronger, bitter flavor, but it's completely fine to use fresh leaves in your tea. Gather 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves (1.2 to 2.4 g) or pick a few fresh leaves to make 1 serving of mugwort tea.
    • Mugwort is thought to treat insomnia, nerve disorders, and irregular menstrual cycles although more research is needed. Studies have found that mugwort does have antioxidant and antifungal properties. [1]
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2

Place the mugwort in a tea strainer.

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  1. Use an infuser basket instead of a tea ball and put it in a mug or teapot. Tea balls pack the leaves too tightly, so the water can't infuse properly. Tea baskets allow for a lot more circulation, so you'll get great-tasting tea every time.
    • Feel free to use large paper filters —these also give the mugwort tea more room to circulate.
3

Pour boiling water over the mugwort.

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  1. To make a pot of mugwort tea, just increase the amount of water and mugwort leaves. Keep in mind that you can adjust the amount of water depending on your taste—if you like a stronger taste, use half as much water.
    • For the best taste, use freshly boiled water.
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4

Cover and steep the tea for 5 to 15 minutes.

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  1. If you prefer a mild, delicate flavor, steep the tea for just 5 minutes. For a really strong, robust cup of mugwort tea, let it steep up to 15 minutes. [2]
    • If you're not sure, taste a spoonful of the tea after 5 minutes. If it seems weak to you, continue to steep and taste the tea every few minutes.
5

Strain the tea and add sweetener if you like.

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  1. Give the tea a taste and add a little honey, maple syrup, or agave syrup if you'd like it to be a bit sweeter. Mugwort tea has a naturally grassy or bittersweet taste.
    • Throw out the old mugwort leaves or toss them onto your compost pile.
    • For a mugwort latte, stir in warm milk or plant-based milk like oat or soy.
    • Add your favorite spices, too—try a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for instance.
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6

Pour it over ice if you want a cold drink.

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  1. Just because it's toasty out doesn't mean you have to forgo the benefits of your mugwort tea. Fill a glass with ice and slowly pour the mugwort tea into it. Add sweeteners if you like and enjoy.
    • Steep a few leaves of peppermint or spearmint with the mugwort if you'd like an extra-cooling flavor. [3]
7

Add chamomile for a calming blend.

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  1. If you're drinking mugwort for its meditative qualities, add an equal amount of chamomile buds to the mugwort. Then, add twice as much black tea to a strainer and steep your mindful mugwort blend for 2 minutes. [4]
    • Drink your tea in the evening or whenever you need a bit of peace.
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8

Add white tea for a lucid dreaming blend.

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  1. If you're hoping for prophetic dreams, make a tea blend of equal parts white tea and mugwort. Add 1/2 part of chamomile buds along with a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg. Then, steep your tea and sip it just before you go to sleep. [5]
    • Some people place their dream journal right next to their bed, so they can write down prophetic or revealing dreams as soon as they wake.

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      Tips

      • For mugwort tea that aids in digestion, add mint, sage, or fennel. [6] Research shows that it can actually stimulate appetite and treat stomach inflammation. [7]
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      • It's generally safe to drink up to 3 cups (710 ml) of mugwort tea a day, but stop if you develop a rash, hives, or signs of an allergic reaction.
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      Warnings

      • Mugwort is very similar to ragweed. If you're allergic to ragweed pollen, you may want to avoid mugwort since it can trigger an allergic response. [8]
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      • Avoid drinking mugwort during pregnancy because it can cause uterine contractions. Since more research is needed to determine if it's safe to use while breastfeeding, it's best to avoid it. [9]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7583039/
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/qhjkmWs8dg4?t=170
      3. ↑ https://gourmetsafari.com/recipe/mugwort-tea-muggles-brew/
      4. ↑ https://engagingthesensesfoundation.com/tea-recipes-to-strengthen-your-intuition/
      5. ↑ https://engagingthesensesfoundation.com/tea-recipes-to-strengthen-your-intuition/
      6. ↑ http://www.flowerfolkherbs.com/articles1/category/mugwort
      7. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7583039/
      8. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267181/
      9. ↑ https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/mugwort

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