Cherry stems: origins, uses and how to make cherry stem tea

When you’re looking to feel better in your body, you soon come across old home remedies, and cherry stems are one of them.

You’ll find them in herbalist shops, sold loose, in tea bags or as capsules, and they’re often billed as the ultimate ‘slimming’ herbal tea. But what’s the real story? Here’s what we know about their composition, their traditional uses and the precautions worth knowing, with no false promises.

What are cherry stems?

Cherry stems are the stalks of cherries, the small stem that joins the fruit to the branch. Stems from both the sweet cherry (Latin name Prunus avium) and the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) are used. Prepared as an infusion or a decoction, they are one of the best-known remedies in French folk tradition.

Once the cherries have been harvested, the stems are set aside and dried so they keep for several months. Tradition credits them with various virtues, and they are often linked to slimming. Yet no effect on weight, cellulite or health has been shown in humans, and no health claim has been authorised for them in Europe.

What do cherry stems contain?

Analyses of cherry stalks, or peduncles, mainly find:

• polyphenols, including flavonoids, which are also found in plenty of fruit, vegetables and tea;
• tannins, which give them their slightly astringent taste;
• potassium salts, a mineral found in many plants.

A cup of herbal tea only provides small amounts, and the content varies with the variety, the harvest and the drying. So a herbal tea is first and foremost a hot drink, which simply counts towards your fluid intake for the day.

Mostly traditional uses

In folk medicine, cherry stems were used to ‘help you pass water’, particularly for aching joints or urinary complaints. These uses belong to tradition: they haven’t been confirmed by robust studies, and an infusion is not a treatment for arthritis, a urinary tract infection or kidney disease. If it hurts when you pass water, or if you have painful joints or swollen legs, see your GP rather than treating yourself.

Cherry stems for slimming? What you need to know

The kidneys and liver filter and eliminate the body’s waste every day, without needing a cleanse.

No herbal tea, whatever it is, makes fat disappear: when you drink more, you simply make more trips to the loo, and the water you lose has nothing to do with body fat. Drinking less to feel less bloated would be a bad idea too: your body needs water throughout the day.

The same goes for cellulite: whether it’s adipose cellulite or orange-peel skin linked to water retention, no herbal tea works on dimpled skin. The feeling of heavy legs also has a range of causes (hot weather, standing for long periods, problems with the veins), and it’s worth seeing a doctor if it persists.

A more rounded routine

If you enjoy the taste of cherry stem tea, there’s nothing to stop you having a cup now and then, simply for the pleasure of it. To look after your figure and your skin, focus instead on simple habits: drink water regularly, move every day, walk, take the stairs, and opt for a varied diet rich in vegetables, fruit and wholegrains. As for skincare, regularly massaging the areas concerned, by hand or with a cupping cup, is an easy way to make time for your skin.

How to prepare cherry stems

You’ll find dried cherry stems in herbalist shops, pharmacies or organic shops. If you’d like to prepare them yourself, choose unsprayed cherries, rinse the stems and leave them to dry away from the light before storing them in a tightly sealed jar.

Cherry stem herbal tea

Cherry stem herbal tea was once a traditional home remedy, and it’s still a classic. It can easily be made at home simply by drying the cherry stems, and today it is also available in herbalist shops and pharmacies.

How to prepare the herbal tea: add 2 tablespoons of dried cherry stems to 1 litre of water. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 10 minutes. Allow the mixture to cool slightly, then strain to keep only the liquid.

The flavour is a little astringent: if you find the taste too bitter, you can soften it with a slice of lemon, a pinch of cinnamon or a touch of honey.

For a decoction: Leave a small handful of dried cherry stems to soak overnight in one litre of cold water. Then bring to the boil and simmer for about twenty minutes. Allow to cool and strain before drinking.

A decoction takes longer to prepare, but makes a stronger-tasting drink.

Cherry stem infusion

An infusion is lighter than a decoction. Bring one litre of water to the boil, pour it over a small handful of dried stems and leave to steep for about ten minutes before straining. Keep it in the fridge and drink it the same day.

Precautions to be aware of

• A herbal tea is no substitute for treatment or for your doctor’s advice.
• Avoid herbal teas reputed to be diuretic during pregnancy and breastfeeding, for children, and if you have kidney or heart disease.
• If you’re taking any medication, particularly a diuretic or a blood pressure medicine, ask your GP or pharmacist first.
• Don’t rely on them to change your figure: losing a little water has nothing to do with losing fat.

What about cherry stem capsules?

Cherry stems are also available as capsules or ampoules, sold as food supplements. They have no proven effect on water retention or cellulite, and they are in no way a substitute for a varied, balanced diet. If you take them, stick to the dose stated on the packaging, keep drinking normally throughout the day and ask your pharmacist for advice, especially if you’re on medication.

At Cellublue, our Cellublue Anti-Cellulite Capsules are also a food supplement. Their ingredients and the daily dose to follow are shown on the product page and on the packaging. Like any supplement, they are not a substitute for a varied, balanced diet or a healthy lifestyle: do not exceed the stated dose, keep them out of the reach of young children and ask a healthcare professional for advice if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or taking any medication.

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Useful categories: Slimming Nutrition, Weight Management.