Grow & Use Hawthorn Berries: Tea, Tincture & Heart Benefits
Nov 04, 2025
Discover how to make an herbal hawthorn berry tea recipe, explore heart-supportive benefits, and craft a homemade tincture with this wintery, homegrown herbal guide rooted in slow living.
When winter comes, the leaves are gone and hawthorn looks bare except for its poky branches and those bright red berries still hanging on. It always takes me back to the little duplex we lived in on the main street of town before we ever had our farm. There was a hawthorn tree right in our yard, and I didn’t know what it was until after we had moved away. Looking back, I realize there was medicine right outside my window and I didn’t even know it.
Now I keep hawthorn around because of how much it supports the heart — both emotionally and physically. God’s handiwork is woven through the way this plant sheds its leaves, blooms again, and brings new life. Hawthorn is a reminder that each season has its purpose.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Growing and harvesting guidance so you can cultivate hawthorn right at home
- A hawthorn berry tea recipe, perfect for cozy winter moments
- A simple guide on making your own tincture at home
- The top heart-supportive benefits, explained with clarity
The Legal Stuff
This post is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your healthcare provider before using herbs medicinally—especially if you're pregnant, nursing, or on medications. Affiliate links in this post may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Why I Love Hawthorn in Winter
Hawthorn has long been used in traditional herbalism as a heart tonic. Certain compounds in the berries, flowers, and leaves help relax blood vessels and support healthy circulation. Many people also find it calming for stress and emotional heartaches, which makes it a helpful herb in more ways than one. Used traditionally in both Eastern and Western herbal medicine for digestion, cardiovascular support, and mild calming effects.
In addition to strengthening the heart’s overall health, hawthorn has many other benefits:
- Supports heart health
- Hawthorn has a long history as a heart-strengthening herb.
- Anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants. Hawthorn has a long history as a heart-strengthening herb. Extracts have sometimes been used to support circulation and ease the gentle symptoms of mild heart failure. It’s rich in antioxidants and may gently support blood vessel and lipid health, though human evidence is still limited.
- Supports healthy digestion
- Reduces stress and anxiety
Today, hawthorn is one of my favorite plants to keep close at hand. I appreciate how it not only strengthens the heart but also brings calm and steadiness during stressful seasons. Looking back, I see how God often plants remedies right in our lives, even if we don’t recognize them at first. My early days may have overlooked hawthorn, but now it’s become a faithful companion in my apothecary.
Getting to Know Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a small deciduous shrub or tree in the Rosaceae family, known for its clusters of white or pink spring flowers and red berries that ripen in the fall. These trees grow 15 to 30 feet tall and thrive across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. There are over 200 types of hawthorn!
Some common varieties include:
- English hawthorn
- Chinese hawthorn
- Midland hawthorn
What Parts of Hawthorn Are Used?
While hawthorn berries get most of the attention, the flowers and young spring leaves are also traditionally used. They are considered safe when harvested properly and enjoyed in teas or tinctures. The flowers have a light, floral taste, while the young leaves are mild and grassy.
-
Berries (flesh/skin): Safe to use in teas, syrups, jams, and tinctures. Rich in antioxidants and cardiovascular-supportive compounds.
-
Seeds (inside berries): Not edible. Avoid chewing or crushing them, as they contain amygdalin (like apple seeds). Whole dried berries can still be steeped or tinctured, since intact seeds don’t release much.
-
Leaves (young spring leaves): Traditionally used in teas and tinctures alongside flowers and berries. Mild, grassy flavor; safe when harvested tender and fresh.
-
Flowers: Lightly floral, historically used with leaves and berries as part of hawthorn’s heart-supportive blend.
Important safety note: Use hawthorn berry pulp and skin freely. Whole berries may be steeped or tinctured, but avoid crushing the seeds, which are not edible. Blossoms and tender spring leaves for safe use.
How to Grow Hawthorn at Home
Hawthorn grows best in full sun and well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic soil. If you're starting a tea garden, you may also find inspiration in our post on How to Grow an Herbal Tea Garden. Late fall or early spring is the best time for planting. Once established, hawthorn is drought-tolerant and hardy.
A few tips for planting and care:
- Leave 20 feet of space between trees
- Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot
- Prune in winter or early spring to keep the plant healthy
Harvesting & Drying for Use
Once you learn how to grow hawthorn, it’s easy to fall in love with using every part of the plant. Harvest the leaves in early to mid-spring, the flowers at full bloom in late spring, and the berries in late summer through fall. Use sharp pruning shears to avoid damaging the plant.
Dry the leaves and flowers by laying them out in a dry, shaded area for about a week. If you want to explore more ways to preserve herbs and fruits, check out our guides: How to Dry Herbs Without a Dehydrator, How to Preserve Flowers for Tea, and How to Dry Orange Slices. For berries, I prefer using a dehydrator for 8–10 hours until they become leathery and flexible.
How I Make Hawthorn Berry Tea
If I were explaining hawthorn tea to a friend new to herbs, I’d say it’s one of the best teas for the heart — not just physically but emotionally too. It’s simple to make and has a slightly tart, fruity flavor with a floral undertone.
How to Make a Simple Tincture
Tinctures are one of the easiest ways to preserve and use herbs year-round. Here’s how I make a basic hawthorn tincture at home:
- Fill a clean jar halfway with dried hawthorn berries, leaves, or flowers.
- Cover completely with 80-proof vodka or brandy.
- Label, date, and store in a dark place for 4–6 weeks.
- Shake weekly.
- Strain using cheesecloth and pour into amber glass bottles with droppers.
Want a deeper dive? Read: Tincture Making & Crafting Your Own Recipes. Dosage varies based on individual needs and professional advice, so always consult your favorite herbalist or healthcare provider.
If you love learning how to use herbs seasonally, you might also enjoy our Free Herbal Monograph Journal Pages — they're perfect for tracking your own notes.
Tips from My Apothecary Table
- Use a French press for easy tea straining.
- Always avoid hawthorn seeds — they're not edible.
- Pair hawthorn with rosehips, lemon balm, or elderflower for a custom blend (Farmhouse Teas sells our favorite single herbs here).
- Label all tinctures clearly with the herb and date.
A Few Things You Might Be Wondering
Is hawthorn berry tea caffeine-free?
Yes! It’s naturally caffeine-free and perfect for evenings or stressful days.
Who should avoid hawthorn?
Children, pregnant or nursing women, and those on heart or blood pressure meds should consult a provider before using hawthorn. Hawthorn has a long history as a heart-strengthening herb. Extracts have sometimes been used to support circulation and ease minor symptoms of mild heart failure. It’s rich in antioxidants and may gently support blood vessel and lipid health, though human evidence is still limited.
Are there any side effects?
Hawthorn is usually well tolerated, but it may cause dizziness or nausea if taken on an empty stomach or in large amounts.
What Hawthorn Reminds Me of Each Winter
Hawthorn may look plain in winter, but it has so much to offer if you take the time to get to know it. We’ve covered how to grow it, when to harvest, and how to make both tea and tincture at home. I like to keep hawthorn nearby for anyone with a family history of heart issues, and I always find it encouraging to see how God provides healing plants in each season.
Before you go, I’d encourage you to brew a cup of hawthorn tea or make a tincture, and then jot down your notes in a monograph journal page so you remember what you learned. If you’d like to keep exploring, grab one of our free guides — like the Tea Steeping 101 Guide — and let’s keep growing together.
Read on About Additional Herbs
- How to Dry Herbs for Tea
- Winter Herbal Tea Blends
- Homemade Chai Tea
- Herbal Tea vs. Regular Tea
- How to Start Your Herbal Tea Garden
