Labrador Tea

I first encountered Labrador Tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) when a friend shared leaves with me that she had picked while living in the Yukon.  I fell in love with the shiny green leaves and their fuzzy reddish-orange undersides.  This herb makes a very fine tea with a taste somewhat like bergamot.  It is said to be rich in Vitamin C.  I have since heard that it can be toxic in large quantities, but I have never encountered any problems after drinking a cup or two.  In the Fair Trade store where I used to volunteer we sold a tea that was made up of a number of herbs, including this one, from an Indigenous producer group.  I don’t believe that that particular tea is available anymore, but you can buy Labrador Tea from other sources if you don’t happen to live in a region where it grows.  Labrador tea has been over-harvested in the wild in some places, so it is important to only obtain it from suppliers who practice sustainable cultivation and harvesting.  (Ledum latifolium is an earlier botanical name for Labrador Tea.)