red raspberry leaves for tea

[henny penny]

I have mature organic red raspberry bushes and would like to harvest and dry the leaves for tea. What is the best way to do this? Can I harvest leaves anytime or are they best in the early Spring? Can I brew the fresh leaves or is it best brewed after drying? Any recipes, please?
TIA!

[Rhiannon Feimorgan]

I've been told that the best time to gather them is in early spring when the new leaves are appearing.

[Aubergine68]

They are supposed to be best in spring, but I've gathered them in summer, too and still found them good.

I have a dark pantry in my basement with no windows. I either hang herbs to dry there from nails in the beams or spread them on a screen or cookie sheet to dry on a shelf. I have a dehydrator, but our climate is pretty dry so I find herbs dry quite well without using it.

I have been storing the dried herbs in canning jars, but some got musty-smelling last year, so I think I will just use paper bags and see if the quality is better.

I've never brewed the fresh leaves, but I don't see why one couldn't.