Warndu's Lemon Scented Tea Tree

Leptospermum petersonii, commonly known as lemon-scented teatree, is a species of shrub or small tree that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has thin, fibrous or flaky bark, often strongly-scented elliptic to lance-shaped leaves, white flowers and fruit that are retained for several years. 

Fast growing, drought hardy native feature tree for sunny locations in both coastal and inland gardens. Leaves are freshly lemon-scented when crushed, slender, and borne on rust-red stems. Crush the leaves with your hand and a wonderful lemon aroma will excite your senses.

It smells like a lemon rainforest and has a beautiful eucalyptus and lemon aroma. Fabulous in an aromatic tea, with great medicinal properties but also wondrous with seafoods, broths and baking.

◎  Common Name: Lemon Tea Tree, Lemon-scented Tea Tree

◎  Scientific or Latin Name: Leptospermum petersonii

◎  Comparison: Eucalyptus and lemon 

◎  Seasonality: All year dried

◎  Region: Widely found

◎  Taste Profile: Lemon Scented Tea Tree has a sharper, slightly spicier lemon flavour than the Lemon Myrtle, with a fabulous aroma of lemon and eucalyptus.

◎  Types: Lemon-scented Tea Tree contains all of the noteworthy benefits of Tea Tree while delighting the senses with its tangy, citronella scent. We offer Lemon Scented Tea Tree as a whole leaf, dried and ground. Most recently it features as a scent in some exciting new Home & Body products.

Benefits

• Lemon tea tree oil is 70 to 80 percent citral. Citral is an aroma and flavor compound used for citrus effect and also has strong antimicrobial properties. Citral is often useful to mask odors, especially the smell of smoke.
• Another compound found in lemon tea tree essential oil, citronellal, has insect repellent properties and is highly effective against mosquitoes. It also has strong antifungal qualities. While citronellol is also an insect repellent, especially at short distances.
• Lemon tea tree oil is an impressive stimulant for most of the body’s organ system. This essential oil cleans wounds, promotes the elimination of waste through the intestines, kidneys, and lymphatic system, reduces headaches, relieves aching joints, and releases muscle tension.
• Lemon tea tree oil is a strong healer of the skin by eliminating microbes and fungi. It also promotes the healing process through cell regeneration and the development of scar tissue to close wounds.
• Anti-inflammatory properties help with clearing up rashes, acne, and some allergic reactions.
• Lemon tea tree essential oil assists in effective lung processes by stimulating the bronchi and thinning out the mucous, consequently relieving congestion.

Traditional Aboriginal Food and Uses

Used in aboriginal Australian tribes for generations to boost immunity, tea tree oil has also been used commercially for over 100 years. Organic tea tree oil is one of the most extensively researched of all the essential oils.

Western & Modern

The leaves are used to brew a strongly aromatic tea, or they can be added as a flavouring to china tea. They are strongly lemon-scented.

Like regular tea tree oil, this lemon-scented variety is also extremely effective as a bathroom and household cleanser. You can also use it to support skin health and balance, especially when used in ointments, salves and compresses.

Medicinal

Lemon Tea Tree (Leptospermum petersonii) is from the same plant family as common Tea Tree Oil but has different active components. The oil has all the highly effective antiseptic, anti-bacterial and antifungal properties associated with the tea tree oil itself but with a tangy, refreshing, bright lemon fragrance. It aids concentration and freshens up a home. As part of a respiratory blend Lemon Scented Tea Tree will help to combat coughs and colds. It is recommended for the treatment of oily skin and acne, and it is also successfully used as a powerful insect repellent.

The leaves, and especially the essential oil obtained from them, is antibacterial and used as a bactericide.

• As a Compress: To promote healthy skin tissue, use tea tree oil in a compress. Put 10 drops of tea tree oil in 4 oz of water, soak a cloth in the water and wrap on needed area.
• Scalp Health: Tea tree essential oil has great benefits as a scalp cleanser. Pure tea tree oil can be irritating to the skin when applied directly, so add a few drops to your favorite shampoo.
• Fresh Mouth: Diluted in water, pure and natural tea tree oil can be used as a mouthwash to enhance mouth health. Add 2 drops of tea tree essential oil in 2 oz of water and gargle.

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Warndu Products featuring Lemon Scented Tea Tree

Try the aromatic power of our Lemon Tea Tree as a dried and ground spice. This delightfully fragrant leaf can also be found in our newest range of Home & Body products, the Botanical Bath Soak and Botanical Face Steam.

 

 

Note: The term 'Bush Tucker' and 'Bush Food' are not Warndu's preferred terms for Australian Native Ingredients or Australian Botanicals.

Images: © Luisa Brimble