Recipe: Eucalyptus Tea

“I breathe in the horsy scent of eucalyptus, the thick sugary pine, aware of each breath I take, how each one keeps me in the world a few seconds longer.” ― Jandy Nelson

Inspiration for Eucalyptus Tea

I am in the middle of an herbal obsession… probably because I am currently obsessed with The Apothecary Diaries, a manga and anime series about a seemingly ordinary young woman named Maomao and her uncanny “Sherlock Holmes” adventures within a beautiful yet dangerous Chinese Court. I love a good mystery and drama that includes political intrigue and science. It has romantic elements, but they are not the focus of the story.

I’ve been sick in bed watching it, and it really stinks to be desperate for outdoor air and gardening when I can barely pull myself out of bed. All of the obsessive brewing and experimenting in the story had me inspired to create a tea for my respiratory issues. So, I mustered some energy, and I managed to harvest my first silver dollar Eucalyptus stem to create a common cold tea. It did not disappoint!

Eucalyptus is one of my favorite plants. It is indigenous mainly to Australia, with over 700 species in its family. The one I’m growing in my garden is called Silver Dollar Eucalyptus, and this is the variety in which I make my fresh tea from. It has velvety sage colored leaves that appear like silver coins when drenched in water―quite a mesmerizing effect! If creating a tea from scratch, it is best to use only the leaves of either Silver Dollar Eucalyptus or Blue Gum Eucalyptus. Now, I know what you may be thinking if you are at all familiar with this plant: isn’t Eucalyptus poisonous?

Poisonous or Safe?

There is conflicting information about Eucalyptus being highly toxic and that it should be avoided at all costs. However, as Maomao and plenty of real scientists have deduced, many plants in moderation are in fact medicinal when consumed in the appropriate amounts. Plus, if you think about it, everything is bad for you if consumed in excess. Even water.

The only part of Eucalyptus that is edible for humans are the leaves, and the leaves should never be eaten whole. Eucalyptus is only safe to consume when the leaves are brewed into an infusion, or small portions of the leaf are added to flavor food. Once the flavor is extracted from the leaves, discard or compost the remaining foliage.

The toxicity of eucalyptus depends on which part is consumed, and how it is processed. It is primarily the compound Eucalyptol responsible for the toxicity of eucalyptus, and it is present in the leaves, bark, and flowers of the plant. According to WebMD and the National Library of Medicine when consumed in small amounts for flavor and tea, it can be safe for up to 12 weeks. However, when the essential oil is taken by mouth, even less than a teaspoon can prove to be fatal.

Never eat any other part of the plant, and avoid ingesting Eucalyptus Essential Oil at all costs. The National Capital Poison Center stresses that swallowing the oil is not safe, with possible fatal results. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and lethargy, but could also include low blood pressure, heart palpitations, lung injury, seizures, coma, or even death.

Healthline and the National Library of Medicine note that Eucalyptus tea may ease common cold symptoms, bronchitis, asthma, nasal congestion, sinusitis, and other respiratory issues. Personally, this was a highly effective tea for me, easing my cold symptoms and relaxing me enough to put me to sleep.

As a disclaimer, however, always check with a medical professional before ingesting any teas and infusions, which may cause irritation, allergic reactions, or interfere with other medications. This is especially important if you are pregnant.

Why You’ll Love This Eucalyptus Tea Recipe

• Herbaceous and sweet taste.
• Easy to brew, and can be made with either fresh or dry tea leaves.
• Additional flavors can be added.
• Soothing for respiratory ailments.
• Can be made vegan or vegetarian depending on the sweetener used.

Where to find Eucalyptus

I am using the fresh Eucalyptus growing in my yard. Some plant nurseries, botanical gardens, and botanical enthusiasts sell the plant as a sapling. If a fresh one is unavailable, Mountain Rose Herbs sells dried Eucalyptus leaves. To use the dried variety, steep 1 dried leaf or ½ tsp of the crushed leaf in 8oz (226ml) hot water for 10 minutes.

Do you like your eucalyptus tea strong or weak?

Cooking Method

This infusion is brewed using a hot water kettle and a stainless steel tea infuser. Mine is from Teavana and was a gift from my mother from the early 2000s. Unfortunately, Teavana is no longer in business, but the strainer still works, and I don’t ever see a reason to replace it anytime soon. Similar infusers and strainers can be found at Mountain Rose Herbs or the Spice and Tea Exchange.

Boil the water, then allow the eucalyptus to steep for 7 to 10 minutes. Discard the leaves when finished.

To keep this dish vegan, sweeten with sugar, date sugar, stevia, or any other animal-product free sweetener.

Eucalyptus Tea Pairs Well With…

A delicious side….

A delicious dessert….

A delicious read….

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Special Tools and Equipment

• hot water kettle
• tea infuser and strainer

References and Sources

Did you give this Eucalyptus Tea recipe a try? If so, please rate it and tell us how it went in the comments below!