Botanical Name: Rubus idaeus

Common Name:

English: Raspberry
Also, known as: American Raspberry, American red raspberry, Hind berry, Wild Red Raspberry, Gray leaf red raspberry

Origin: Ukraine

Harvested: Wild or cultivated

Parts Used: Leaves

General Information:

Rubus idaeus is a deciduous shrub growing to 6 feet by 5 feet at a medium rate. Red raspberry is our common raspberry. It produces canes that last two years, are sterile in their first year, and produce delicious berries in their second year. Grows in hedges, fields, abandoned lots, and thickets. Common throughout most of North America. In its first year, a new, unbranched stem grows vigorously to its full height of 5-8 feet, bearing large pinnately compound leaves with five or seven leaflets, but usually no flowers. In its second year, a stem does not grow taller but produces several side shoots, which bear smaller leaves with three or five leaflets. Leaves are alternate and compound with 3 or 5 leaflets, mostly in 3s on flowering stems and pinnately in 5s on non-flowering stems. Leaflets are egg-shaped to oblong, the center leaflet is stalked and sometimes 2 or 3 lobed, the lateral leaflets stalkless and unlobed, typically 1.0-3.5 inches long, 1-2 inches wide, with a long taper to a slender, pointed tip and rounded to heart-shaped at the base. Edges are single or double-toothed, the upper surface dark green, sparsely hairy to smooth, lower surface silvery and densely hairy. Small, white, cup-shaped flowers grow in loose clusters of five at the tips and upper leaf axils of 1-year-old stems. Flowers are white, around half an inch across with 5 mostly erect, oblong to narrowly spatula-shaped petals that tend to fall off early. Fruits, Fruit is around to cone-shaped cluster, about half inch in diameter of fleshy drupelets, turning purplish red and easily separating from the receptacle when mature.

To help differentiate plants from blackberries if berries are not present, raspberry brambles are much smaller than blackberry, averaging only 5 feet. Raspberries tend to have more prickles than blackberries, but blackberry prickles are more substantial.

How to use:

Hot Infusion:

The basic method for dried herbs and flower is, take 2-3 tablespoons of dried herb in a cup or teapot. Pour hot water over it and cover it with lid for 10-30 minutes. Hot water is needed to draw out the antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, flavonoids, and volatile oils from the botanicals. Strain and squeeze out as much as liquid as possible and enjoy!

Tips:

You can sweeten your herbal tea with a bit of honey, natural fruit juice, stevia leaves powder and or licorice root powder.
You can make ice cubes or pops by freezing tea in ice trays or pop moulds.

Precautions:

You should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before using any herbal products, particularly if you are pregnant, nursing, or on any medications.

All information on this website is for educational purposes ONLY.

This information has not been evaluated by Health Canada.

This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Raspberry Leaves Fine Cut