How to Extract Mulberry Leaves for Tea, Extracts, and Powder

December 25, 2025 •

4 min read

Traditional Chinese medicine has used mulberry leaves for thousands of years to support health, and modern science has begun to explore their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. To reap these benefits, it is essential to know how to extract mulberry leaves, with different methods yielding distinct products like tea, tinctures, and powders.

Quick Summary

This guide provides instructions for home-based extraction of mulberry leaves into tea, alcohol-based tinctures, or fine powders for culinary and health applications. It covers the necessary preparation steps, various extraction methods, and key considerations for optimal results.

Key Points

Harvesting: Pick fresh, healthy leaves in the morning, avoiding damaged ones, to preserve their nutrient content.
Drying Methods: Use air-drying or a dehydrator to achieve brittle, crisp leaves while retaining their beneficial compounds.
Water Extraction: Make a simple herbal tea by steeping dried leaves in hot water for a gentle, easy-to-use extract.
Alcohol Extraction: Create a potent tincture by soaking crushed, dried leaves in food-grade alcohol for several weeks.
Powder Extraction: Grind fully dried leaves into a fine powder for versatile use in cooking, smoothies, or capsules.
Storage: Store all extracts and powders in airtight containers in a cool, dark place to maximize shelf life and potency.
Compound Preservation: Choose your extraction method based on whether you want water-soluble benefits (tea) or a broader, more concentrated spectrum of compounds (tincture).

Preparing Your Mulberry Leaves for Extraction

Before any extraction process begins, proper preparation of the leaves is crucial for safety and efficacy. High-quality leaves will lead to a better-quality final product.

Harvesting and Cleaning

Harvesting: Select young, fresh, and healthy leaves from the mulberry tree, typically in late spring to early summer. Harvest in the morning after the dew has evaporated but before the sun is too hot to best preserve their nutritional content. Avoid any leaves that show signs of damage, disease, or discoloration.
Cleaning: Gently rinse the harvested leaves under cold, running water to remove any dirt, insects, or other debris. Lay them out on a clean towel or mesh screen and pat them dry.

Drying Techniques

Drying is a crucial step for storing the leaves and preparing them for extraction. The right method helps preserve their flavor and beneficial compounds.

Air Drying: Spread the clean, fresh leaves in a single layer on a drying rack or mesh screen in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight. Turn the leaves daily to ensure even drying and prevent mold. This process can take several days. The leaves are ready when they are crisp and brittle to the touch.
Using a Dehydrator: For a faster, more controlled method, a food dehydrator is ideal. Arrange the leaves on the trays in a single layer and set the temperature to a low heat, typically 95–115°F (35–46°C) for herbs. Drying time varies but can take 3–8 hours. Check periodically until the leaves are brittle.
Microwave Method: For small batches, the microwave can work. Place leaves in a single layer between paper towels and microwave for 90 seconds, followed by 30-second intervals until crisp. Be very cautious to avoid burning. This method, however, may not preserve color as well as others.

Extraction Methods

The ideal extraction method depends on your desired final product, whether it's a simple brew or a concentrated tincture.

Water Extraction for Tea

Creating a herbal tea is the simplest and most traditional method to extract water-soluble compounds from mulberry leaves.

Boil the water: Bring a pot of fresh, filtered water to a boil. Let it cool for a minute to reach a temperature between 160–200°F (71–93°C).
Add the leaves: Place one teaspoon of dried, crushed mulberry leaves per 6–8 ounces of water into a teapot or cup. You can also use fresh leaves, which should be cut into strips.
Steep: Pour the hot water over the leaves and steep for 5–7 minutes, or longer for a stronger brew. For fresh leaves, boiling directly until the water is light green can be done.
Strain and serve: Strain the leaves and enjoy the tea. You can add honey or lemon to taste.

Alcohol Extraction for Tinctures

An alcohol extraction, or tincture, is a concentrated and shelf-stable way to preserve the beneficial compounds of mulberry leaves.

Preparation: Grind your dried mulberry leaves into a coarse powder. Place the powder in a clean, lidded glass jar.
Add solvent: Cover the powder with a food-grade alcohol solution, such as 70% ethanol. A common ratio is 1 part herb to 2 parts alcohol by weight.
Steep: Seal the jar tightly and store it in a cool, dark place for 4–6 weeks, shaking it daily to aid the extraction process.
Filter and bottle: After steeping, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth to remove all plant material. Transfer the resulting tincture to a dark glass bottle for storage.

Pulverization for Powder

Making a fine powder is an excellent way to use mulberry leaves in smoothies, capsules, or culinary dishes, like matcha.

Dry completely: Ensure your mulberry leaves are completely dry and brittle. They should snap easily.
Remove stems: For the finest powder, remove the thick central veins (midrib) from the leaves and cut away any woody stems.
Grind: Use a coffee grinder or a mortar and pestle to grind the leaves into a fine powder. Sieve the powder to remove any larger, unground pieces.
Store: Store the finished powder in an airtight container, ideally with a food desiccant, and keep it in a cool, dark place to maintain its potency and freshness.

Comparison of Mulberry Leaf Extraction Methods


Feature	Water Extraction (Tea)	Alcohol Extraction (Tincture)	Pulverization (Powder)
Equipment	Pot, teapot/cup, strainer	Lidded glass jar, sieve/cheesecloth, dark glass bottle	Grinder (coffee or mortar & pestle), sieve, airtight container
Time Required	10–15 minutes	4–6 weeks	10–20 minutes
Nutrient Profile	Extracts water-soluble compounds (flavonoids, vitamins, some minerals).	Extracts a broader spectrum of compounds, including fat-soluble ones, for higher potency.	Retains the entire nutrient profile of the leaf in its whole form.
Longevity	Freshly made for immediate consumption.	Can be stored for several years.	Can be stored for up to 2 years if kept airtight and dry.
Best For	Daily beverage, gentle health support.	Potent, concentrated dosing for targeted therapeutic use.	Incorporating into foods, capsules, or beverages for whole-leaf nutrition.

Conclusion

Whether you seek a gentle, nourishing tea, a potent tincture, or a versatile powder, extracting mulberry leaves at home is a simple and rewarding process. Proper harvesting and drying lay the foundation for a high-quality product, while selecting the right extraction method allows you to tailor the final result to your specific needs. From centuries-old medicinal applications to modern dietary supplementation, mastering the art of mulberry leaf extraction is a valuable skill for any herbal enthusiast seeking to integrate this potent botanical into their wellness routine.

Outbound Link

For a deeper scientific understanding of mulberry's bioactive compounds and their benefits, review the findings presented in this research paper.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can use fresh mulberry leaves for tea. Simply rinse them, cut them into strips, and boil them in water for a few minutes until the water turns light green. However, most tea recipes recommend using dried leaves for a more concentrated flavor.

Store fully dried and brittle mulberry leaves in an airtight container, such as a sealed pouch, mason jar, or metal tin. Keep the container in a cool, dark, and dry place to prevent moisture exposure, which can cause spoilage.

While generally safe, mulberry leaf extract can cause digestive upset like bloating or gas in some individuals. Those taking diabetes or blood pressure medication should consult a doctor before consuming it, as it may affect blood sugar levels.

For a highly concentrated extract, an alcohol-based tincture is most effective. This method extracts a wider range of bioactive compounds, including fat-soluble ones, and creates a shelf-stable product for potent dosing.

Yes, a microwave can be used for small batches, but it carries a risk of burning the leaves if overdone. It may also degrade the leaves' color more than a dehydrator or air-drying. For best results, dry in short, 30-second increments.

If properly prepared and stored in a dark glass bottle in a cool, dark place, a homemade mulberry leaf tincture can be stored and used effectively for several years.

Fermentation processes, which are used to create fermented mulberry leaf tea, can reduce the natural green odor, improve flavor, and increase the tea's resistance to spoilage. This process changes the leaf's chemical profile, creating a distinct product.