The History of “ Ivan Chai ”
Willowherb tea (also known as Ivan Chai and Fireweed Tea) is a traditional fermented herbal wellness tea. Willowherb has been used safely as an herbal tea for hundreds of years in Siberia, both as a dried green leaf and as a fermented tea. Ivan Chai (willowherb tea) is considered safe through centuries of traditional use.
The name of the tea “Ivan Chai” was coined by the Western World. “Ivan” is a traditional Russian name, while “Chai” means tea in Russian. It´s also called Kaporie Chai by the name of the village between Estonian border and St.Petersburg.
Before the black tea conquered Russia in the 19th century fermented rosebay willowherb(Chamaenerion angustifolium) aka Ivan Chai used to be most common caffeine free hot drink. For centuries in Europe Russian Tea or Ivan Chai was the tea of commerce. It´s little know that until 1916 Russia was the biggest supplier of tea in the world. During the Crimean and Napoleonic wars in the mid 1800s the trade was disrupted. That infamous tea used to be the second more important export article than linen and fur.
Russian healer Peter Badmayev opened up a clinic for aristocrats at the beginning of the 20th century. Many of his remedies that where consumed by the members of the tsars family where made with rosebay willowherb. The clinic became very popular and many patients came from all over the world to find cure. Doctor Badmadyev claimed that plant elixirs containing Ivan Chai might extend human life but he was arrested at the age of 109 during the October Revolution by the Bolsheviks in 1917 accused of anti-revolution views. He was tortured for couple months in a prison and after liberation he died as his heath had became worse. Despite of all that he never told the secrets about the magical life prolonging elixir to anyone. However, fireweed continued to be used as an herbal supplement in Russian homes. At some point a few years later the Bolsheviks came to their senses again and realized that Ivan Chai might still be useful for the people. In the village of Koporje, which is situated not far from Estonia in between Narva and St. Petersburg a scientific factory was build to produce a unique drink for the soldiers of the Red Army. It was common knowledge among Russian peasants that drinking Ivan Chai can help to cope with physically very demanding activities.
The Health benefits of Ivan Chai
Willowherb tea is naturally caffeine-free and - unlike regular black, green or white teas - does not contain taurine, purine, oxalic or uric acids.
Its high biological activity and amazing healing properties still affects modern doctors. Fermented fireweed Tea is our helper in dealing with such a nasty chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, diseases of capillaries, varicose veins, various forms of skin and dental, articular diseases.
Highly useful properties of tea depend on the presence of a large number of different vitamins, especially vitamin C, rutin, peptides and various micro elements, organic acids and other substances beneficial to the body.
Depending on the soil Ivan chai contains around 70 micro elements, various B-vitamins and has 5-6 times more vitamin-C than lemon.
Because Ivan Chai contains the oenothein B, it was shown to have healing effects on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) and prostatic cancer when used as a complementary supplement.
Fireweed contains an easily digestible protein that fills the body with energy and vivacity, restores strength and increases vitality.
Ivan Chai is universal in its properties and can be the object of love and adoration not only by adults, but also by children of different age (2-3 years from the moment of birth).
Regular intake of this tea helps in overcoming autumn blues and winter depression, in the time of emergence of epidemics of viral respiratory and intestinal diseases, successfully defending any person from being infected by them.