Labrador tea

Labrador tea

Labrador tea, is a name commonly applied to two species: Ledum palustre (Northern Labrador Tea, also known as Rhododendron tomentosum) and Ledum groenlandicum (Bog Labrador Tea). In Labrador itself, Labrador Tea is also frequently called Indian Tea. Both are plants in the Heath family (Ericaceae) with strongly aromatic leaves that can be used to make a very palatable herbal tea. Labrador tea has been a favorite beverage among Athabaskan and Eskimo people for many years. Labrador tea is a low shrub with evergreen leaves. The leaves are smooth on top with often wrinkled edges, and fuzzy white to red-brown underneath. The tiny white flowers grow in hemispherical clusters and are very fragrant and sticky and highly attractive to bees.

Uses

The Athabaskans use it as a beverage and also as medicine for weak blood, colds, tuberculosis, dizziness, stomach problems, heartburn, kidney problems and hangover.

Habitat

Ledum palustre grows in peaty soils, shrubby areas, moss and lichen tundra. Ledum groenlandicum grows in bogs and wet shores, and sometimes on rocky alpine slopes. Both species are generally northern (north temperate to tundra) in distribution, with the range of L. groenlandicum somewhat farther south.

Harvesting

Both Ledum palustre and Ledum groenlandicum grow slowly, so pick individual leaves rather than whole branches, and harvest from different shrubs. In addition, Labrador tea grows in abundance in large patches so it should not be difficult to move from plant to plant to avoid over-harvesting. Labrador tea is an evergreen plant and will be available all year long.

External links and references

* [http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Ledum%20groenlandicum.pdf#xml=http://www.fs.fed.us/cgi-bin/texis/searchallsites/search.allsites/xml.txt?query=labrador+tea&db=allsites&id=424d40580] . Labrador Tea from the point of view of the US Forest Service

* [http://www.labradortea.eu http://www.labradortea.eu] Labrador Tea - (grunge)rock band from Brno, Czech Republic


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Labrador tea — Tea Tea (t[=e]), n. [Chin. tsh[=a], Prov. Chin. te: cf. F. th[ e].] 1. The prepared leaves of a shrub, or small tree ({Thea Chinensis} or {Camellia Chinensis}). The shrub is a native of China, but has been introduced to some extent into some… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Labrador tea — Labrador Lab ra*dor , n. A region of British America on the Atlantic coast, north of Newfoundland. [1913 Webster] {Labrador duck} (Zo[ o]l.), a sea duck ({Camtolaimus Labradorius}) allied to the eider ducks. It was formerly common on the coast of …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Labrador-tea — grenlandinis gailis statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Erikinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Rhododendron groenlandicum), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Ledum groenlandicum; Rhododendron groenlandicum angl. Labrador tea; ledum vok …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Labrador tea — noun evergreen shrub of eastern North America having white or creamy bell shaped flowers and dark green hairy leaves used for tea during American Revolution • Syn: ↑crystal tea, ↑Ledum groenlandicum • Hypernyms: ↑shrub, ↑bush • Member Holonyms:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Labrador tea — noun Date: 1767 a low growing ericaceous evergreen shrub (Ledum groenlandicum) chiefly of northern North America with white or creamy bell shaped flowers and leaves sometimes used in making tea; also a related shrub (L. glandulosum) of western… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Labrador tea — a North American bog shrub, Ledum groenlandicum, of the heath family, having evergreen leaves and rounded clusters of white flowers. [1760 70, Amer.] * * * ▪ plant  common name for two species of low growing, perennial evergreen shrubs in the… …   Universalium

  • Labrador tea — evergreen shrub of northern North America with bell shaped flowers and fragrant leaves (in Canada its leaves are used for making tea) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • Labrador tea — noun a low growing northern shrub with fragrant leathery evergreen leaves, sometimes used in Canada to make tea. [Genus Ledum.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • Marsh Labrador Tea — Taxobox | name = Marsh Labrador Tea image width = 240px image caption = R. tomentosum in flower regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Magnoliopsida ordo = Ericales familia = Ericaceae genus = Rhododendron subsectio = Ledum species =… …   Wikipedia

  • Tea — (t[=e]), n. [Chin. tsh[=a], Prov. Chin. te: cf. F. th[ e].] 1. The prepared leaves of a shrub, or small tree ({Thea Chinensis} or {Camellia Chinensis}). The shrub is a native of China, but has been introduced to some extent into some other… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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