How to Make Sumac Tea (Sumac-Ade)

Jump to Recipe

Here is how to make sumac tea using wild sumac berries. It’s an easy recipe to make and is full of nutrients like vitamin C!

Important: Never consume wild plants or berries unless you know for certain what they are. Some wild plants and berries are poisonous. Please consult a wild edibles guide or expert when in doubt.

If you’re looking for a refreshing, healthy summer drink idea, this sumac tea is a great choice (fresh mint tea and water kefir soda are also favorites at our house).

My Family’s Experience Making Sumac Tea

Several years ago, some of my kids decided to make sumac tea using sumac berries growing on our property (we also have elderberry bushes that can be used to make this elderberry syrup and elderberry gummies).

They had been reading a book about wild edibles and found out that ripe sumac berries can be made into a nourishing tea drink (sometimes called Sumac-Ade).

After reading the book, my kids noticed some sumac bushes growing at the edge of our property. After getting permission, they took some of the berries and boiled them to make their own sumac tea.

I tried it and thought it was fairly bland (they didn’t add any sweetener). We then forgot about this drink and didn’t make any more Sumac-Ade for several years.

But recently while walking around my backyard, I noticed several bunches of deep red sumac berries growing on a bush (it may have been the same one my kids used a few years ago!).

Remembering my kids’ tea-making experiment, I decided to make another batch. But this time I used a different, no-heat, steeping method (I’ll explain why below).

I have to say the tea I made isn’t very strong tasting, but it does have a nice, subtle flavor. And adding some sweetener definitely makes it more tasty!

What is Sumac?

In reading about sumac tea, I was fascinated to learn that there are actually over 200 different species of sumac, all in the plant family of Anacardiaceae and genus known as Rhus.

Other well-known plants in the Anacardiaceae family include mango plants, cashew trees, and even poison ivy!

Various kinds of sumac plants are found all over the world. One particular type known as Syrian Sumac is found in Europe and Asia. The dried fruits of that sumac are used as a popular Middle Eastern spice.

But closer to home here in the U.S. (particularly in the Midwestern and Eastern U.S.), here are four of the more common types of sumacs:

• Staghorn sumac is one of the taller sumacs, reaching up to 25 feet in height. This sumac has hairy branches and the fruit are covered with straight, slender red hairs. It gets its name from the velvety hair (like a staghorn deer) covering the stems and fruit.
• Winged sumac is also known as “Shining Sumac.” It’s a small tree or shrub and has a rounded top. It was given this name because it has “winged” leaves (like ribs) along the stems where the main leaves connect. This is also sometimes called shining or dwarf sumac. Upper leaf surfaces are shiny and lower leaf surfaces are hairy.
• Smooth sumac is also a small tree or shrub like winged sumac. But where it differs is by not having the “wings” along the central stems. As the name suggests, smooth sumac doesn’t have hairs on the leaves, which are somewhat waxy. These berries have small red hairs.
• Fragrant sumac is the smallest of the common U.S. sumacs. It’s a shrub found in nearly all of the lower 48 U.S. states. Fragrant sumac is sometimes confused with poison ivy (remember, they’re in the same family!) because it has three leaflets. But fragrant sumac has little to no stalk on the middle leaflet and is also not vining like its toxic relative. It’s called “fragrant” because the leaves have a lemon-like scent when crushed.

All four of these sumacs are found in the U.S. and all produce edible reddish berries.

Affiliate links included below, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure here.

Why You’ll Love This Sumac Tea Recipe

There are a lot of things to love about homemade sumac tea. It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s good for you. I’d say all of those are great reasons to try it!

If you have sumac bushes growing around your yard, or you have access to a spot where you can pick the berries, you’ll have a free resource for making your own homemade nutritious drink!

I love learning about wild edibles and how they can be used in drinks and recipes. This year we’re growing an edible flower garden with things like borage, calendula, and nasturtium.

If you’re new to the concept of wild edibles, or just interested in expanding your knowledge, this book and this guide are both excellent places to start.

And as I’ll explain in a minute, it couldn’t be easier to make Sumac-Ade. It’s really one of the simplest recipes you’ll ever try.

As far as nutrition, sumac tea reportedly has vitamins such as C, A, and several of the B vitamins. It also has some minerals like calcium and potassium, along with antioxidant polyphenols.

Native Americans also reportedly used sumac for conditions like colds, fevers, and scurvy. Not bad for a free natural resource!

How to Make Sumac Tea

As I mentioned, this homemade Sumac-Ade recipe is so simple.

This is the method I used to make my tea using Smooth Sumac berries. The other types of sumac discussed above should work with this method also.

1. Find a sumac bush with ripe deep red to maroon berries.
2. Cut off as many bunches of berry clusters as you need. Generally four to six clusters per gallon of water is good. Don’t try to pick the individual berries, just cut the stem at the base of a cluster.
3. Pick off any visible bugs (mine had a couple of ants). Don’t rinse the clusters as this can remove some of the nutrients.
4. Add the berry clusters to a large dispenser or pitcher. (Something like this would work well.) Some people slightly crush the berries before soaking to speed up the process but I didn’t do that.
5. Add cool water to pitcher.
6. Cover and soak for 24 hours. The longer you soak, the stronger the tea will be.
7. Strain the tea through cheese cloth or a coffee filter into another jar. I used a coffee filter securely attached with a rubber band to the mouth of the jar.
8. Add sweetener such as powdered stevia that will dissolve in the cool tea. Or you can gently heat the tea and add a liquid sweetener such as honey.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions About Sumac Tea

Here are some questions commonly asked about sumac tea.

I thought sumac was poisonous. Why would you want to drink it?

There is a plant called poison sumac. But it’s a totally different plant than the type of sumac used to make this tea. The sumac varieties used to make tea have red berries (sometimes fuzzy). Poison sumac grows in swamps and wetlands and the berries are pale green or white. Always make sure you are positive about a plant’s identity before consuming any part of it.

Can you make sumac tea by heating the water?

One method of making sumac tea boils the water. While this may speed up the process, heating the berries too much can destroy their nutritional value. Heat can also release more tannins, causing a bitter flavor. I find it easier just to soak in cool water, plus it retains the nutrients.

How long does sumac tea last?

I can’t say for sure (mine disappeared pretty fast) but it would likely keep in the refrigerator for several days up to a week.

How soon do the berries need to be used after picking?

The ripe berry clusters can be stored in a dry, clean area or bag for several months to be used later on.

Interested in having a natural pharmacy in your backyard? Get your medicinal garden kit here!

More Natural Recipes

• How to Make Mint Tea From Fresh Mint
• How to Make Water Kefir Soda
• Adrenal Tonic Tincture
• How to Make Elderberry Syrup
• How to Make Comfrey Salve
• How to Stock a Natural Medicine Cabinet