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Labrador Tea - Muskekopukwa

maria gladue

In Cree, this means " muskeg tea" or medicine tea"

A delicious and powerful medicinal tea, used by the first nation's some time ago. It is commonly known as Labrador tea today. It's scientific name is Ledum Groenlandicum.

I knew it as soon as I saw it!
I knew it as soon as I saw it!

I WAS SO EXCITED TO FIND THESE! I have read about labrador tea before, I have been asked for it by customers, yet sadly I have never come across it until now. And why is that? Well, I am a forager, a wildcrafter. And each hunt is a treasure hunt. We never really know what we find until we find it. The one most important thing that we have learned when we forage, is that if you go out with your mind set on a plan, you will be disappointed to some degree. Since we don't own any big property to go foraging on, we scout. We go places far and wide throughout Alberta and that's how we forage. And since we are very big on not going to the same place, we don't always find the same things over and over again. We may visit a spot again years later, but for sustainability purposes, we find new places to forage each time we venture out.

So this find was very exciting to us. As soon I I saw the little tops poking out from the snow bank, I yelled to my husband, " look hun it's labrador tea!!" We took out our book to confirm. Looked up it's look alike and made a positive ID right there in the forest!

So now that we have finally come across it in our paths when nature intended us to, my plan us to research and learn as much as I can about it. Natural paths tend to go to school and already know everything, but me, I am a wildcrafter, and so everything I know is self taught, and it is taught purely on personal experiences. If I have not foraged, research, and consumed a plant or mushroom personally then I won't provide it in my shop. Why ? Because I need to KNOW what I am providing. Like really know inside and out. And that's just how we like to do things! It's more personal this way too!

Ok so as I said, this was the first time finding Labrador tea, and so it was the first time consuming it too! And I must say it was an experience ! I had posted the finds on my Facebook page, asking the amazing community about the best way to make tea. I have multiple trys to make the perfect cup based on what I was told.

1st try : Not a good turn out. I used very little leaves, and I used 95 degree hot water to pour over the leaves and let steep for 15 minutes. This was recommended due to the potential toxicity in the plant.

My first brew of Labrador tea. I was not impressed. I followed the "modern day method"
My first brew of Labrador tea. I was not impressed. I followed the "modern day method"

So I then took the advice of others, and I made another pot. This time, I used about a handful of fresh leaves to one medium pot, and brought it to a boil. I then turned off the heat once I saw the rolling bubbles form, and took off the burner. I let it steep for 15 minutes, and this was the outcome:

Ah, this was more my style of tea! It has a pungent smell, but a very mild taste.
Ah, this was more my style of tea! It has a pungent smell, but a very mild taste.

So that brew was amazing to try. I added some honey for flavor and my husband and I both tried it. We loved it!

This morning, I brewed one more pot of tea. However, this time I am using my newly dehydrated leaves. I must say, the difference between fresh and dried with any evergreen tea is profound. If you like a strong cup, always use dried. So here is thismorning brew using the dried leaves. I had used the same method and same amount if leaves as last night.

Look at that rich color! I followed the traditional method used by first nation's peoples.
Look at that rich color! I followed the traditional method used by first nation's peoples.

This third try with making labrador tea is my favorite. I only drank one cup, because this is a tea you drink in moderation, but it was delicious. I used no sweetners this time so I can taste every single note of flavor this plant has to offer. I will post a recipe and directions below so that you too can make the perfect cup!


Well, now I would like to share with you how to identify labrador tea plant. For me it was quite easy, however it has 3 other relatives depending on your region, and it also have a poisonous look a like.

The poisonous look a like is called the Bog Laurels. I have no photos to provide, but I do know that bog laurels have a whitish fluffy underside of the leaf, and it blooms a gorgeous pink flower.


So the properly identify the Labrador tea plant, look for low growing evergreen shrub with long oblong leaves. The top of the leaves will have a waxy costing smooth to the touch snd the bottom underside of the leaf is a rusty color, and wooly in texture. Super easy to distinguish ! You may harvest this plant all year around, but keep a few things in mind. Never harvest before it has flowered in the warm months. Harvesting in the early fall with bring more medicine. Harvesting after the first frost and into the winter will bring a more sweeter flavor.

Top side of the Labrador tea plant
Top side of the Labrador tea plant

And the bottom:

Bottom is rusty colored with a wooly texture
Bottom is rusty colored with a wooly texture

The labrador tea plant grows in abundance in bogs, marshes and coniferous forests all over Canada.

There are 3 types of Labrador tea that grow in canada.

Labrador tea - L groenlandicum

Glandular Labrador tea - aka trappers tea- L glandulosum

Marsh Labrador tea- L palustre


Glandular labrador tea is considered relatively toxic and is not recommended to use in a boil. However Labrador tea ( mine) is relatively safe in moderate amounts and can be used to make tea by boiling.

The tops of this shrub look like little dresses hanging in the wind
The tops of this shrub look like little dresses hanging in the wind

Alright so let's get down to the potential medicinal benifits of Labrador tea, and the potential dangers and cautions.

Labrador tea was traditionally used by Canada's first nation's. It has a widespread use for treating colds, respiratory illnesses, and flu. It may help to purify the blood and acts as a diuretic. Labrador tea us astringent and is powerful for healing the skin and can help to ease diareah.

It also has bug repellentproperties due to its pungent scent.

Labrador tea is also great for calming anxious nerves. When drinking a strong brew it can have a sedative effect die to the narcotic compounds. When used in a light brew, it can have a stimulating and energizing effect

Traditionally this tea was made as a strong decoction snd steeped for hours. This is the traditional way.

However modern day science will say otherwise. To make it only using 94 degree got water and steep no more then 15 minutes.

The reason for this is that the longer you steep, the more narcotic compoundscare released. Which are grayanotoxins and ledol. Taken is large quantities is can cause cramps, stomach ache, vomiting, delirium snd even paralysis.


I made the modern day way yesterday ( first brew pictured above) and then I made it the traditional way, and I much prefer the traditional way. In terms of common sense, so long as it's drank in moderation, using traditional herbal medicine the way our ancestors used it, is the best way. They knew way more then modern day science does in this day and age in my opinion.


In traditional uses, this tea was even used to help ease the pain of child birth, taken by the mother 3 days brior to giving birth. Yet modern day science says not to be consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women. All of the pharmaceutical websites state that it is considered unsafe to use during pregnancy due to jot enough information. As does so many other herbal medicines. Not because it's been proven to be unsafe, but because they just don't know. So they instead fear monger. Ponderosa Pine needle tea has a simular story.


Now to get to the recipes snd methods !

So if your our harvesting your own for the first time, drying is super easy. Depending on your oven, you should be able to put the temperature as low as 170 degrees f . Mine does, and I also leave the door cracked open. My oven is old school so not sure if this can be done with new Dancy ovens!

I spread the leaves on my baking sheet and I dehydrate until they can snap to the touch. Watch them closely. An hour will be enough.

The house  smells so good right now!
The house smells so good right now!

For the tea, there are two ways. I am going to share with you the traditional method. The modern day method is just pouring scalding water over the leaves and simmering for 15 min.


I like the traditional method.

-Take a small handful of dried leaves. (8 to 10 leaves)

-Place into a medium sized pot of water

-Turn up to medium high

-bring to a boil

-turn off heat

-remove from heat and allow to simmer. Traditionally it is simmered for hours but 15 to 20 minutes is sufficient to get the rich color.


You can enjoy this tea with orange peels, lemon peels, or raw honey. Drink it in moderation, 1 cup a few times a week for therapeutic purposes.

Perfect!
Perfect!



It is best to make sure to always come to your own conclusions about anything you might want to consume, especially with powerful herbal medicines.

*****Safe to consume using the traditional method if consumed in moderation.

I would keep it safe and not consume if you are pregnant if breastfeeding. We have so many other options available to us in terms of sedation and pain relief during child birth.

Do not confuse labrador tea with bog laurels. Always make sure you 100% identify this tea before harvesting. ******


Disclaimer

This blog post is for educational purposes only. This tea ahould Not to be used without the proper advise and direction of your physician or naturopath.

Due to lack of human studies, pregnant and breastfeeding women should jot consume labradortea.

The information in this post is not meant to diagnose, cure or otherwise treat any illness or disease. *



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