In the peat bogs and coniferous forests of Quebec grows a small shrub with a very special character: Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum). Well adapted to acidic soils and the sometimes harsh conditions of the boreal forest, it is one of those discreet plants that nonetheless tell a great story.

Its evergreen, narrow leaves, covered with brownish down on their underside, release a resinous, fresh, and deeply aromatic scent when crushed. In late spring, the shrub is covered with small white flowers clustered in bouquets.

A Plant Deeply Rooted in Our History

Labrador tea has long been used by several indigenous peoples of North America, who had intimate knowledge of the plants in their territory. Its leaves were notably prepared as an infusion and used in various traditional practices.

The plant was also adopted as a beverage and aromatic plant by European settlers. Its distinctive fragrance and abundant presence in certain regions made it a valuable resource of the Nordic flora.

This long history testifies to a close relationship between Labrador tea, the populations, and the natural environments where it grows.

An Essential Oil with a Unique Composition

Steam distillation of the aerial parts extracts a particularly concentrated and complex essential oil.

Its chemical profile can vary depending on the location, harvest period, and the part of the plant distilled. It notably contains various monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, including sabinene, limonene, alpha-pinene, and several compounds from the germacrene and selinene families.

This richness translates into a fragrance that immediately evokes the forest: green, resinous, woody, fresh, and slightly camphoraceous, with an aromatic depth all its own.

Labrador tea is also a relatively rare essential oil. Its distillation yield is low, and its harvesting requires precise knowledge of the plant and its environment. Each drop thus represents a significant amount of plant material and all the know-how needed to preserve its precious aromatic compounds.

What Research Teaches Us

The composition of Labrador tea and its aromatic constituents have been the subject of scientific research for several decades. Studies have notably focused on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities of various extracts of the plant and its essential oil.

This work helps us better understand the phytochemical richness of this Nordic plant. However, it does not allow for conclusions about therapeutic effects in humans: the results obtained in the laboratory must be interpreted with caution.

The interest of Labrador tea lies as much in this scientific richness as in its history and its identity deeply linked to our territory.

Labrador Tea at Aliksir

At Aliksir, we explore Labrador tea in different forms to reveal its full richness. Essential oil, gourmet oil, essential water, and hydrosol : each of these products expresses the plant in a different way, from the aromatic power of the essential oil to the delicacy of the essential water and hydrosol, as well as its use in cooking.

Through these different expressions, Aliksir invites you to discover the full richness of this plant and to better understand the aromatic treasures of our territory. To see the entire collection, click here.