Tea
Tea Tee as its name implies, makes the most refreshing tea with a fabulous flavour. Pick a sprig and pop it into your tea cup. Pour over boiling water and allow it to steep for a few minutes. Remove the sprig and you will have a wonderful drink. It's very hard to describe the flavour as its quite unique, but as my party trick, when asked to speak about our native foods, is to make everyone a cup of tea. From teenagers to the elderly, the tea has always been well received, and surprised at how good it tastes.
Oil
Tea Tree oil is an inexpensive natural alternative to chemical-based skin and nail treatments, personal care products and disinfectants, among other things you may like to try. Tea Tree oil in commercial quantities mainly comes from a different Tea Tree species, leptospermum alternifolia, however oil from Leptospermum scoparium has similar properties. In a highly concentrated form it has many medicinal properties, but is not to be taken orally. Studies have shown that the chemicals in tea tree oil kills several common bacteria, including E. coli, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Using tea tree oil as a natural sanitizer for hands or surfaces may help kill a number of germs responsible for colds, flu and other illnesses. The chemicals in tea tree oil reduce allergic skin reactions by decreasing swelling. People use tea tree oil for acne, toenail fungus, athlete's foot, dandruff, lice, mites, psoriasis and as a deodorant. Tea Tree oil can be applied to the skin after diluting it with a carrier oil such as coconut, olive oil or a moisturizer. Diluting the tea tree oil decreases the risk of skin irritation. It is also important to avoid applying the oil close to the eyes to prevent irritation and redness.
Manuka Honey
Manuka Honey is made by bees feasting on the flowers of Tea Tree, Leptospermum scoparium. The honey is not only delicious as a spread on toast or in cooking, but has many healing qualities due to its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The main use for medicinal Manuka Honey is for treating minor wounds and burns, soothing skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis and soothing a cough or sore throat. Manuka Honey has been found to help with digestive health, oral health and may ease pain and inflammation.
One of the major antibacterial components of Manuka Honey is a compound called methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO comes from the conversion of another compound in Manuka Honey known as dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a high concentration of which is found in the nectar of Tea Tree flowers. the higher the concentration of MGO, the stronger the antibacterial effect.
Honey producers have a scale for rating the potency of Manuka Honey. The rating is called the Unique Mauka Factor (UMF). The UMF rating reflects the concentrations of 3 signature compounds found in genuine Manuka Honey, MGO, DHA, and leptosperin. To be considered potent enough to be therapeutic, Manuka Honey needs a minimum rating of UMF 10+. Leptosperin is a naturally occurring chemical, found only in the nectar of Tea Tree flowers, Leptospermum scoparium ( and a few close relatives) and can therefore be used to confirm the authenticity of honey labelled "Manuka".
Garden Plantings
Although Tea Tree has so many outstanding features, this plant can be just appreciated for its beauty. A Tea Tree plant in the garden will make you smile when it bursts into flower in spring and early summer, with a showy display of delicate white flowers. A mass planting is quite stunning. Tea tree is able to grow in a variety of soils, climates and conditions and will tolerate sands, heavy clays , wet, dry, salt and harsh inland frosts. Its fine roots hold the soil on difficult sites such as embankments. If you are short on room try using it as a topiary plant in a container. Tea Tree may get to 2m in height in ideal conditions and about 1m wide, but generally doesn't reach these heights. Tea Tree is an ideal shrub layer plant for revegetation sites, as it is so tough and accommodating to varying conditions.
There are so many reasons to love this common but humble Tea Tree.
Tea Tee as its name implies, makes the most refreshing tea with a fabulous flavour. Pick a sprig and pop it into your tea cup. Pour over boiling water and allow it to steep for a few minutes. Remove the sprig and you will have a wonderful drink. It's very hard to describe the flavour as its quite unique, but as my party trick, when asked to speak about our native foods, is to make everyone a cup of tea. From teenagers to the elderly, the tea has always been well received, and surprised at how good it tastes.
Oil
Tea Tree oil is an inexpensive natural alternative to chemical-based skin and nail treatments, personal care products and disinfectants, among other things you may like to try. Tea Tree oil in commercial quantities mainly comes from a different Tea Tree species, leptospermum alternifolia, however oil from Leptospermum scoparium has similar properties. In a highly concentrated form it has many medicinal properties, but is not to be taken orally. Studies have shown that the chemicals in tea tree oil kills several common bacteria, including E. coli, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Using tea tree oil as a natural sanitizer for hands or surfaces may help kill a number of germs responsible for colds, flu and other illnesses. The chemicals in tea tree oil reduce allergic skin reactions by decreasing swelling. People use tea tree oil for acne, toenail fungus, athlete's foot, dandruff, lice, mites, psoriasis and as a deodorant. Tea Tree oil can be applied to the skin after diluting it with a carrier oil such as coconut, olive oil or a moisturizer. Diluting the tea tree oil decreases the risk of skin irritation. It is also important to avoid applying the oil close to the eyes to prevent irritation and redness.
Manuka Honey
Manuka Honey is made by bees feasting on the flowers of Tea Tree, Leptospermum scoparium. The honey is not only delicious as a spread on toast or in cooking, but has many healing qualities due to its antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
The main use for medicinal Manuka Honey is for treating minor wounds and burns, soothing skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis and soothing a cough or sore throat. Manuka Honey has been found to help with digestive health, oral health and may ease pain and inflammation.
One of the major antibacterial components of Manuka Honey is a compound called methylglyoxal (MGO). MGO comes from the conversion of another compound in Manuka Honey known as dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a high concentration of which is found in the nectar of Tea Tree flowers. the higher the concentration of MGO, the stronger the antibacterial effect.
Honey producers have a scale for rating the potency of Manuka Honey. The rating is called the Unique Mauka Factor (UMF). The UMF rating reflects the concentrations of 3 signature compounds found in genuine Manuka Honey, MGO, DHA, and leptosperin. To be considered potent enough to be therapeutic, Manuka Honey needs a minimum rating of UMF 10+. Leptosperin is a naturally occurring chemical, found only in the nectar of Tea Tree flowers, Leptospermum scoparium ( and a few close relatives) and can therefore be used to confirm the authenticity of honey labelled "Manuka".
Garden Plantings
Although Tea Tree has so many outstanding features, this plant can be just appreciated for its beauty. A Tea Tree plant in the garden will make you smile when it bursts into flower in spring and early summer, with a showy display of delicate white flowers. A mass planting is quite stunning. Tea tree is able to grow in a variety of soils, climates and conditions and will tolerate sands, heavy clays , wet, dry, salt and harsh inland frosts. Its fine roots hold the soil on difficult sites such as embankments. If you are short on room try using it as a topiary plant in a container. Tea Tree may get to 2m in height in ideal conditions and about 1m wide, but generally doesn't reach these heights. Tea Tree is an ideal shrub layer plant for revegetation sites, as it is so tough and accommodating to varying conditions.
There are so many reasons to love this common but humble Tea Tree.
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