This red raspberry leaf tea recipe is one I have used for YEARS. I used it pre-pregnancy to tone my uterus and prepare it for pregnancy. I used it during pregnancy to support a healthy uterus, to prime the body for labor and childbirth. And it didn’t stop there. I used it postpartum to heal my uterus and pelvic area and help rebalance hormones.

I still drink it to this day. It’s an excellent uterine tonic and helps support the hormones and functions that are specific to female health and anatomy.

• Red raspberry leaf tea tastes NOTHING like raspberries. It tastes more like a black breakfast tea.
• It's believed to shorten the final stages of labor and reduce complications.
• Can be foraged in your own backyard (Grow a Good Life and The Grizzly Forager have great posts on how to do this)

I plan on taking a DEEP DIVE into RRL and all of its benefits for women, especially women with T1D. So keep your eyes peeled for that! This post is just the recipe.

Non-Pregnant Ladies: 1-3 cups of tea per day. Each cup containing 1TBSP of loose leaf tea (or 1 tea bag).

Pregnant: This is a controversial one. Just about every article on Google tells you to wait until the 3rd trimester. Some midwives recommend waiting until the 2nd trimester. This is because RRL can increase uterine contractions and threaten early labor, though there are no studies to support this. And other midwives recommend drinking it at every point in your pregnancy journey (pre-pregnancy to postnatal) because it has been used safely during pregnancy for centuries.

If you’re pregnant, talk with your midwife or doctor. Start with 1 cup daily and watch for any uterine cramping or other reactions. If you don’t experience any then you can up it to 2 cups daily. If you notice any cramping cut back on your dosage for 2 weeks and try again.

I personally took an this herbal tincture containing Red Raspberry Leaf tea all throughout my pregnancy and introduced the tea in my 2nd trimester.

Labor Day Tea: I got this labor day tea recipe from Mama Natural. 4 cups of water with 1.5 cups of loose RR leaf (or 24 tea bags! Yes, that’s no type…TWENTY FOUR tea bags). Let steep in hot water for 20-30 minutes. Strain (if using loose leaf tea) and sip through the day.

While Red Raspberry Leaf tea has been touted for it's pregnancy & labor benefits, there is also a fair amount of literature and anecdotal evidence showing that it can also extend your due date, potentially pushing you past 40 weeks.

FGO is my favorite loose leaf brand for RRL Tea. Traditional Medicinals is my favorite tea bag brand.

• RRL Iced Tea: Pour over ice and add frozen raspberries and some maple syrup
• RRL Tea Latte: Add a splash of creamer or milk and some maple syrup
• Spiced Tea: Add a pinch of cinnamon and clove, and a bit of honey.

Check out my other favorite (naturally) sugar free drinks here. Because who wants to bolus for drinks?! Not me!