Lippia alba
The size of the plant and of its bag can vary a little from the photograph — each one grows at its own pace. We keep them as consistent as we can.
Overview
Juanilama tea is one of the best-loved home remedies in Central America, and the plant is among the most cited in ethnobotanical surveys of the region. It's a native, aromatic shrub: just brush its leaves to release their scent. Curiously, not all plants smell the same: depending on the plant, the aroma ranges from aniseed to lemon or mint.
Culture
- Habit
- Shrub
- Height
- 2.00 m
- Growth Rate
- Slow
- Pollinators
- Insects
- Cultivation Status
- Cultivated, Wild
Native to our region and easy to grow: full sun and any well-drained soil. It roots easily from cuttings. Plant at 30–50 cm; leaves can be harvested within 3–4 months. Regular pruning keeps it compact and bushy.
Edible Uses
The leaves make a very pleasant aromatic tea, hot or iced. They also flavor soups and stews, and are sometimes cooked as a green.
Medicinal
Leaf tea is a traditional Central American remedy for digestive trouble, colds and flu, and to calm the nerves and palpitations. The leaves are also used in aromatic baths.
Traditional uses for information only. Not a substitute for advice from a health professional.
Agroforestry
A secondary species of the medium stratum with a short to medium cycle. It works as a low edge along beds or between young trees: harvested for tea, its prunings feed the soil and its flowers draw pollinating insects.