Of Fireweed & Tea

Fireweed is fairly common throughout east and west North America and parts of Europe, from upper temperate regions all the way to the Arctic Circle. This ubiquitous plant of the primrose family is straightforward to identify, and in this episode I'll show you how. It's also very useful. All parts are edible, and I especially love tea made from its fragrant leaves. I'll show you how to harvest, prepare and ferment the leaves for a tea you'll never forget, including the simple but important trick to avoiding mold in the fermentation.

Note that I have stated the leaves "spiral" up the stem twice in this video. This is an important growth pattern that helps distinguish fireweed from some potentially toxic lilies during its young shoot phase. Also, pay especial attention to the lanceolate leaf form, and that the leaves' veins curve back in before they reach the edge of the leaves. These are also very important early identification criteria. When the flowers bloom, it is much easier to distinguish fireweed from all lilies as lily flowers have 6 tepals while fireweed flowers have four distinct petals and sepals. Some lilies are very toxic to humans and pets, so it is important to know how to distinguish them at all stages of growth.

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Видео Of Fireweed & Tea канала The Naturalist