Bottle Brush Tea? Why not give it a shot.

in #nature5 years ago

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I've got this Bottle Brush Bush out on the nature strip.

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It is flowering like mad this year and due to the recent windy spring winds, heaps of it has fallen all over the place with its red carpeting.
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Bottle Brush Tree

Callistemon is the scientific name given to the Bottle Brush species.
The Bottle Brush is given its name due to the fact that its long flowers resemble a Bottle Brush - jesh we're cluey in Oz.

So, I was thinking, surely there must be something done with the flowers, as the birds go crazy for the nectar - so it means there must be some kinda sweetness, right?

Tea
So, doing some little Googling research, it turns out that it can be used as a tea.

"Bottlebrush flowers have a sweet nectar which can either be consumed by sucking on the flowers or by soaking the flowers in water to make a sweet drink." Link

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I inserted some of the flowers inside a coffee filter paper satche and gave it a whirl.

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It didn't really colour the water too much.

Flavour
It had a subtle earthy sweet taste, not very strong or alluring.

I think it would go good mixed with some other ingredients.

I'll try it again later, cause if it is a diuretic, then today it would not be welcome. Ha ha.

Benefits ??
I'll just take verbatim from this website as it already synthesises a list of remedies/traditions.

Traditional benefits of Bottle bush plant

  • Used as diuretic and for relieving problems of the urinary tract.
  • Used by women as douche to cleanse the genitourinary tract from excessive menstruation or mucosal discharge as leukorrhea.
  • Used for urinary incontinence and bed-wetting in children.
  • In Jamaica, decoction used as “hot tea” treatment of gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and skin infections.
  • Indigenous people of Australia used the bottle brush flowers as a natural energy drink.
  • Bottle brush essential oil is used to harmonize a room or house bringing tranquil healing vibrations.

Have a great day and thanks for reading.

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Wow. Didn’t realise that could be used as tea. I’m more a coffee drinker though. !COFFEEA

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I also prefer coffee but can only drink in AM or else I can't sleep

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I never would have thought of this. Great idea. I have edema a lot o this would help me too :)

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