Labrador tea facts for kids
Labrador tea is a common name for three types of plants that are very similar. They all belong to the Rhododendron plant family. The name also refers to an herbal tea made from the leaves of these plants.
All three species are mostly found in wetland areas. They are part of the heath family of plants. The herbal tea has been a favorite drink for many years among Athabaskan First Nations and Inuit people.
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What Labrador Tea Plants Look Like
The three types of plants used to make Labrador tea are low-growing shrubs. They grow slowly and have leaves that stay green all year round. These species are:
- Rhododendron tomentosum (also called northern Labrador tea)
- Rhododendron groenlandicum (also called bog Labrador tea)
- Rhododendron neoglandulosum (also called western Labrador tea or trapper's tea)
The leaves of these plants are smooth on top. Their edges are often a bit wrinkled. The underside of the leaves is usually fuzzy, ranging in color from white to reddish-brown.
You can find R. tomentosum, R. groenlandicum, and R. neoglandulosum growing in wetlands and peat bogs.
How People Use Labrador Tea
Many Athabaskan and other indigenous peoples brew the leaves of these plants to make a drink. Some groups, like the Pomo, Kashaya, Tolowa, and Yurok people in Northern California, boil the leaves of Western Labrador Tea. They make a special herbal tea to help with coughs and colds.
Some companies in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador use plant extracts from the leaves to create natural skin care products. Other people use Labrador tea to add flavor to meat. They do this by boiling the leaves and branches in water. Then, they soak the meat in this flavored water.
In the 1700s, some German brewers used R. tomentosum when making beer. However, this practice was later stopped.
Important Safety Information
It is important to know that there is not enough information to say that Labrador tea is always safe to drink. How toxic it is can be different depending on the plant species and where it grows.
Drinking too much Labrador tea is not a good idea. It can make you feel unwell. For example, it might cause you to feel dizzy or sleepy. It could also make you throw up. In very large amounts, it can cause more serious problems.
The plants contain natural substances that can be harmful if too much is consumed. R. groenlandicum is generally considered to have the lowest amount of these substances. It is always best to be careful and not consume large quantities of Labrador tea.
See also
In Spanish: Té de Labrador para niños
