Burdock Root Tea: Recipe, Detox Claims and Safety

Burdock root tea is a water infusion of burdock root that takes 2 hours 5 minutes to prepare and yields 2 servings.

This cold-steeped version is a simple way to make herbal detox tea without added sugar. It can be served chilled or warmed after straining.

What is burdock root tea?

Burdock root tea is made by steeping the root of the burdock plant in water. Fresh or dried burdock root can be used, although the recipe below is designed specifically for fresh root.

Burdock root has an earthy flavor. The finished infusion may taste lighter than a tea made by simmering the root; its strength depends on how thinly the root is sliced and how long it steeps.

Choose fresh burdock root sold for food use. Do not substitute a foraged root unless it has been reliably identified, because plants can be mistaken for one another.

How do you make burdock root tea?

This recipe uses a 2-hour refrigerated steep and about 5 minutes of hands-on preparation. It makes approximately 2 cups, or 2 servings of about 1 cup each.

Ingredients

15 g fresh burdock root, about 2 tablespoons or 1/8 cup when thinly sliced
475 mL drinking water, about 2 US cups

Steps

Wash the burdock root thoroughly under running water, scrubbing away any dirt.
Slice the root thinly and measure out 15 g, or about 2 tablespoons.
Combine the sliced burdock root and water in a clean, covered container.
Refrigerate for 2 hours to infuse.
Strain into cups and serve chilled, or gently warm the strained tea before serving.

For another infusion idea, try the ai detox recipe generator.

Keep leftover burdock root tea refrigerated and drink it within 24 hours for the best flavor. Discard it after 2–3 days, or sooner if it becomes cloudy, slimy or sour-smelling. Do not leave it at room temperature for more than a few hours.

What does burdock root tea do for detox?

Burdock root tea provides water, which helps support normal hydration. That is not the same as proving that the tea removes toxins or improves the body's detoxification process.

The liver and kidneys do most of the body's detoxification work. The lungs and gut also help eliminate waste, while sweat removes only trace amounts. No good clinical evidence establishes that burdock root tea speeds up those processes.

Fresh burdock root contains fiber and minerals, but those whole-root values cannot be assumed to transfer into strained tea. Research on burdock root preparations also cannot automatically be applied to a homemade infusion, which can vary in strength. See the overview of burdock root tea benefits for more on the claims and evidence.

How much burdock root tea should you drink, and when?

There is no established evidence-based dose of burdock root tea for detox. The approximately 1-cup serving in this recipe is a convenient portion, not a recommended medical dose.

You can have a serving at a time that suits you, including with a meal. Drinking more is not known to provide extra detox benefits, and burdock root tea does not need to replace plain water or other parts of a balanced diet.

If you use a commercial burdock root tea instead of fresh root, follow its preparation directions; products can differ in ingredients and strength.

What are the side effects of burdock root tea?

Burdock root may cause an allergic reaction in some people. People with allergies to plants in the daisy family, including ragweed, should be cautious. Stop drinking the tea if you develop a rash or other unexpected symptoms, and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.

Ask a healthcare professional before using burdock root tea if you have diabetes or kidney disease, or take diabetes medicines, diuretics, lithium or blood-thinning medicines. Possible interactions and the safety of regular use are not well established.

Pregnant or breastfeeding people and children should also check with a healthcare professional before using burdock root tea because safety information is limited. Get urgent medical help for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or a severe allergic reaction. Read more about burdock root tea side effects.

What else should you know about burdock root tea?

Does burdock root tea contain caffeine?

Burdock root itself does not naturally contain caffeine. Check the label of a commercial blend, since other added ingredients may contain it.

Can you use dried burdock root instead?

Dried burdock root is also used to make tea, but it may need a different quantity and preparation method. Follow the product's directions rather than treating the fresh-root measurement in this recipe as an equivalent.