Fukien Tea (Carmona retusa)

Family: Boraginaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Carmona retusa or commonly known as Fukien Tea or Philippine Tea Tree is a 4 m tall deciduous well-branched shrub with small white flowers and small drupe fruits. The fruit is consumed raw while leaves infusion is used as a tea substitute. In the Philippines, the plant is considered as one of the most important medicinal plants. The leaves are used in the treatment of cough, diarrhoea, colic, and dysentery.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Fruit - raw. An infusion of the leaves is used as a substitute for tea. The leaves are dried in the shade and used as a tea. The fruit are eaten. — An infusion of the leaves is used as a substitute for tea.; The leaves are dried in the shade and used as a tea.; The fruit are eaten.

Habitat & North American Range

Open, dry, sunny habitats, such as thickets, shrub vegetation and teak forest at low and moderate elevations. Sandy soils and scrub forests. Usually occur in non-wetlands, but may occur in wetlands. (Zone 10)