Sumac Tea

[eyeguy 54]

12 buds in the water to sit overnight. Should be nice by morning or lunch. 

[pushbutton]

Tis the season!

[reinhard1]

Do you soak it and then simmer it?  Never had this.  good luck.

[Crow Hunter]

Brings back memories... I used to make it at boy scout camp as a kid, drinking it out of my canteen.

[eyeguy 54]

Cold water.  hot water releases the tannins, ok but might get a little bitter. Soak a nice long time then strain.  If too strong, just add a little water. 

[delcecchi]

You don't mash them or anything? 

[eyeguy 54]

no, dont mash.  put in a container you can put a lid on.  Then just shake it a half dozen times or so over 12 hours or more. it's really good.  When done run thru a wire screen sifter.( i have used a cut up t shirt when I couldn't find it... lol) let it settle a few minutes and pour slowly into another container. the sediment settles nice. the pics show the color for the strength I like. hoping to go pick a bunch of sumac today and store a bit. 

[eyeguy 54]

found out I can freeze a buncha buds so went and grabbed a bunch.  Found bonus grapes also with a tip from a friend.  

sumac is really prime right now. the funnest part is licking my palm after picking a bunch. I swear it tastes like sweet tarts. Tea does also but not as strong. 

 

 

[RebelSS]

"the funnest part is licking my palm after picking a bunch. I swear it tastes like sweet tarts."

 

Uhh...you sure that's  SUMAC yer lickin'? Not a Cane Toad or anything?!  See any white rabbits with vests and pocket watches? Sorry, I just had to.  

I actually had to go read up on it after your post...amazing! See! I learned something today! 

 

http://www.healing-from-home-remedies.com/sumac-tea.html

Edited August 24, 2015 by RebelSS

[eyeguy 54]

brew time.   this is from one bag. 

[leechlake]

who knew?  Sumac tea...we've got it every where at our cabin and it's in every ditch around.  I may give it a whirl.  Great tip eye.

[RebelSS]

I'm gonna go hunt some down tomorrow. Thanks for the tip!  

[eyeguy 54]

If anybody is close to the blanchard dam it's everywhere on the east side. 

[ThunderLund78]

Can't believe I hadn't heard about this before.  I'll have to try, there's hundreds of sumac at my mom & dads place...

[eyeguy 54]

this is from not quite one grocery bag full of buds. 

[eyeguy 54]

rubbed back and forth to set the seeds free. this is from one bag.  Amaretto goes just dandy with the tea!  

[chaffmj]

Eyeguy you have gone into over drive on everything  lately. You make me feel like a loafer.

Edited August 26, 2015 by chaffmj

[eyeguy 54]

lol.  its the fun time of the year.   

[delcecchi]

So the seeds are the good stuff for making tea?

[RebelSS]

How'd ya weed out the chaff and bits of stuff from the seeds?

[eyeguy 54]

I dont weed out the chaff.  I have not made tea from the seeds only but it will work fine. Might need to skim off the top. the heavy stuff sink to bottom.  Buddy does his from seeds. I have only made it from the buds.  Wanted to get a bunch for later in the year so did this and then transferred to quart baggies and put in the freezer. I havn't done this much at once so this is fun.  I like the tea straight but really good with a little amaretto...    some might want a little sweetener added. 

[pushbutton]

Last year started separating the berries as well. There are often lots of little critters and egg sack weby things intertwined in the berries, and by doing this allows you to get more it them/it out. When picking I try to take the looser/ dryer fronds as they seem to be less "buggy". Suppose with a fan and a screen,, you could blow out a lot of the chaff and stuff.... but ....tell myself it just adds a complexity to the flavour.....lol. And yep, the tea does make a mighty fine set up 

[eyeguy 54]

did a test with the seeds.  1 cup seeds in the jar for about 4 hours.  worked ok but lotta chaff so strained the tea thru a dishtowel for the last step.  lots less freezer space used. didnt take any bugs out so if they were in there they are part of the tea

[RebelSS]

OK, silly question...found me a hillside of sumac...do I need to wait until it turns red to pick the berries? 

[RebelSS]

Never mind my above post; I've figured it out.