Tea Tree (Leptospermum scoparium)

Family: Myrtaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Bloom Color: Pink, Red. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Irregular or sprawling, Rounded.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Sap/Syrup

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

pungent leaves are a fragrant and refreshing tea substitute. — The fresh, pungent leaves are a fragrant and refreshing tea substitute.; Of excellent quality, in taste trials this species has often received higher marks than the traditional China tea obtained from Camellia sinensis.; It is important to brew the leaves for considerably longer than normal teas to ensure the flavour is released into the water.; A sweet manna is sometimes exuded from the stems as a result of insect damage.

Habitat & North American Range

Many habitats in lowland to alpine areas, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Rocky and sandy heathland, often by streams. (Zone 8)