How To Make Corn Silk Tea: Herbal Remedy With Benefits for UTI

When you shuck your corn for the next summer evening meal, save the silk! You can brew up a tea with the fresh silk or dry it for later use. Besides being tasty, there are many corn silk tea benefits, especially for a UTI or urinary tract infection.

Corn silk makes a very nice tasting tea that is traditionally employed as an anti-inflammatory for UTI and urinary discomfort.

Corn Silk Tea Benefits

Fresh or dried corn silk makes a very nice tasting tea that is traditionally employed as an anti-inflammatory tea for the urinary tract, including urinary tract infections or UTI.

Two cups a day for several weeks helps with cystitis, urethritis and prostatitis. It is tonic to the prostate and urinary tract and is a safe herbal tea for people of all ages, children and the elderly.

Corn silk tea soothes and relaxes the lining of the urinary tract and bladder, relieving irritation and improving urine flow and elimination.

This is a great remedy for people with incontinence and any type of urinary discomfort. If you are prone to UTI or urinary tract infections, corn silk is the herb for you.

You don’t have to be inflamed to enjoy a cup of corn silk tea, though. Corn silk is a nutritive herb that is high in potassium.

In addition to tea, fresh corn silk can be eaten as a food that contains easy-to-assimilate nutrients. Use it as a topping for just about any salad type dish; just mince it into tiny pieces. If you try to eat it in long strings, it will be nothing but irritating.

How to Dry Corn Silk

If you go through as much corn as we do, there is no way to eat or drink all the fresh silk, so you can dry it to make corn silk tea later.

To preserve corn silk, pull the silk from the cob and separate if from the husk. Run your fingers through the silk a little to loosen it from being in one big clump.

Place the corn silk on a flat basket and set it out on the counter to dry. Depending on the weather this can take a few days.

Once all the water is gone from the silk and it feels slightly crispy, you can store it in a jar or paper bag. Corn silk keeps this way for about one year.

How To Make Corn Silk Tea

Corn silk has a mildly sweet flavor and makes a good tasting, nutritive and refreshing summer tea. So next time you make corn on the cob, make some tea and reap the benefits of corn silk tea!

Basic Corn Silk Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons fresh or dried corn silk

Instructions

1. Put the water and corn silk into a pot and bring to a boil with the lid on the pot.
2. As soon as it comes to a boil, turn the heat down to lowest setting and simmer for 10 minutes.
3. Turn off the heat and let the silk continue to steep for another 30 minutes.
4. Strain the silk and warm your tea or drink at room temperature.

Summer Sun Tea Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 4 tablespoons chopped fresh corn silk

Instructions

1. Put the corn silk and water in half-gallon Mason jar out in the sun for half a day.
2. Bring it in the house, and strain the herbs out.
3. Add honey and lemon or lime to taste. Serve the corn silk tea chilled or at room temperature.

Are you ready to go deeper with your herbal tea journey? Check out the Herbal Tea Kick-Start Guide

As with all herbal remedies, if you are pregnant or taking medications, do not take herbs until you discuss it with your health care provider. Many herbs are contra-indicated in pregnancy and while take medications. The content contained on this site is not intended for the treatment of disease. This is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Use of recommendations is at the choice and risk of the reader. If any symptoms persist, seek medical attention. Consult your health care provider before beginning use of corn silk or any herb.