DCHP-1 Online

muskeg tea

• North either of two closely related evergreen shrubs, Ledum groenlandicum and L. decumbens var. palustre.

  See also: Labrador tea (def. 1a)  tea muskeg  

  • 1859  (1863)  We encamped after passing the Long Muskeg, where we got a supply of the muskeg tea (Ledum palustre) which makes a capital beverage in absence of a better
  • 1938  . . . others brought . . . leaves of the tea muskeg that they had got from Yellowknife Indians near the Bay.

• an infusion made from the leaves of L. groenlandicum or from the flowers of L. palustre.

  See also: Labrador tea (def. 1b)  

  • 1863  (1958)  We had tea too . . . "the tea muskeg" used by the Indians.
  • 1863  (1931)  [We were] taken into Chief's lodge . . . Pipe sent around . . . Meat and muskeg tea. Fat & water as cordial after.