How to Make Banana Peel Tea

Co-authored by Katie Hake RDN, LD

Last Updated: February 28, 2023

This tea is tastier than pills or black tea, and it doesn't need added sugar. Banana peel tea contains 5-HT and 5-HTP,^{[1]
X
Research source} the latter being a naturally occurring amino acid and chemical precursor as well as metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin and melatonin from tryptophan.

Ingredients

Banana peels - Use only organically grown bananas.
You can make a green tea from:
- Fresh peels
- Peels dried in small batches in a microwave oven on its lowest setting
- Peels frozen for a long time even if they are thoroughly freezer-burned
- Freeze dried peels - vacuum frozen at shops in many cities

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Preparing the Banana Peels

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1
Freeze the banana peels.
- As you eat bananas, peel off labels.
- Throw peels into your freezer.
2
Thaw the banana peels.
- Fill a pan when you have enough peels.
- Let them thaw in your pan for an hour or two.
- They should turn black.
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3
Pasteurize the thawed peels.
- Put the peels in an oven at pasteurization temperature (~65C/150ºF).
- Bake until dry. This should take less than one hour.
6
Store in a closed container in a cool, dark place.
- Glass jars (with or without gasket seals) are an excellent choice.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Preparing the Tea

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1
Pour hot water over one heaping teaspoon of the blended peel.
- That is about as strong as a black tea bag.
- Always adjust amounts to your taste.
2
Strain through a fine-mesh coffee strainer.
- The strainer can be lined with a paper coffee filter as well.
- Alternatively, put the pulverized peels in a tea bomb, then submerge the bomb in hot water and let steep for a short while.

Community Q&A

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Question

Why not just boil the fresh peel while eating the banana, then drink the water the peel was boiled in?

Community Answer

Honestly, that's the way I do it every time. I just give it a quick rinse first. As far as pesticides go, people eat the peels of apples, pears, etc. all the time with no major ill effects, so I don't think it's a big deal.

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Question

Why not just eat the banana an hour before bed?

Community Answer

Because most of the 5-HT and 5 HTP is in the peel, and you shouldn't eat uncooked peel because of possible harmful micro-organisms.

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Question

Because bananas have so many calories, will banana tea cause weight gain if I drink this tea everyday?

Community Answer

No,it won't. This is because you aren't eating the banana; you are absorbing nutrients from the peel.

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Tips

Wash the bananas with warm soapy water when you first bring them into your home, then rinse them thoroughly with clear, running water.
- This will eliminate the bananas as a source of young fruit flies and will reduce the chance of stray pesticides being incorporated in your tea.
- Hopefully, though, your bananas are truly free of harmful synthetic or natural chemicals.
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Things You'll Need

Freezer
Pan - baking pan or cake pan
Oven with low temperature range
Blender
Container with lid for storing dry tea - ice cream pail, tea tin, glass jar, or similar
Stainless steel coffee strainer