Red/Black Raspberry leaf

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I am not clear on whether the Red raspberry leaf plant is the same as what we, of English birth call Red Raspberries that we can eat, also, is the Blk. Raspberry leaf plant the same as we call Blackberries, which we also eat.

I am working on a garment for my prolapse problem, trying to keep it inside. If it works I will probably patent it!!!
Daphne

Hi Daphne,
Yes, the red raspberry plant has the red raspberries that you eat on it. It is the leaf though that is used for tea. The leaves should be gathered in the spring and early summer. I use a dehydrator to dry them. There is also a black and yellow raspberry and maybe others that I'm not aware of. Blackberries are different. I have them growing on my place too. Blackberries and raspberries are related but are different. The leaves of the blackberry plant are also used for medicinal purposes but not the same purposes that raspberry leaves are used for. If you do a search on the Internet, you should come up with some images of both plants that will help you tell them apart. One way I can think of is that when you look at the underside of a raspberry leaf, it will look lighter than the top of the leaf. When the raspberry leaf is dried, the underside will have almost a silver look to it with the top side being much darker. The blackberry leaf doesn't look that way. Both sides will look almost the same color while it is fresh and also after it is dried.
I hope that helps,
Little Bit

I've recently started drinking Traditional Medicinals organic raspberry leaf tea. I can get this right in my supermarket, which is a huge advantage to me, though I'm sure not the same as growing it or buying it dried from a local source. Nice pleasant taste and I don't feel the need to sweeten.

I'm trying this too (have a cup in front of me right now in fact). I like the taste but wonder if it will be effective. Let us know how you get on with it.

Thank you all for your responses. The reason I was asking the question was because a few years ago a friend gave me a plant she called Red Raspberry leaf. it had a pink flower, four or five petals, and she said the fruit was really hard and dry so you couldn't eat it which made me think it may have been the plant that the tea was made from but I didn't want to try it just in-case it wasn't the right one. At the time my husband did a search of the internet and found the proper name for it but I guess at sometime I have thrown it away. Is it possible to post pictures on this forum, if it is I would be happy to do so as the plant is quite pretty.