It’s Labrador, man

I’m sitting halfway up the hills formed from the Precambrian Shield near a cluster of old dry pine trees, which must be at least a half-century old. These wizened tiny trees – our northern Bonsais, I like to call them – live and grow in the cracks of the rocks and have to be some of the most stubborn plants in the world. Their craggy grey branches contrast with the bright deep blue skies. But I look deeper into the tiny northern Bonsai forest for my real quest – the elusive tea of northern Quebec-Labrador.

On closer examination, I see the crystal reflection of the tiny dewdrops, glistening from a recently departed fog that had kept everyone gloomy for the past two weeks. It’s a perfect day for picking – a light breeze, sunshine and a few hours alone. With the mist lifted, the tiny Labrador tea leaves are just right for harvesting, before the flowering goes full bloom and dries them out.

I’m writing these words at home and waiting for my fresh tea leaves to boil for a few more minutes before adding regular orange pekoe to get that Whamstigooshioo flavour. To stop the steeping process, I quickly add cold fresh water and top off the pot for a few minutes. Not long after, one of my many nephews shows up for a drink of tea. Soon, I have another pot of tea brewing, two-and-a-half gallons should do the trick for this morning to quench my thirsty nephews.

Back in the day, Labrador tea was a flavouring additive with medicinal properties. The tea comes in many different sizes, colours and potencies. Those who come from Quebec know Labrador tea, but it is treated like an herbal tea. For me and many others, the tiniest teas produce a light minty flavour and odour which is pleasant and thirst-quenching to boot. It’s one of my favourite drinks.

I thought about the many different types of teas from around the world and wondered why we had tea in the first place. A long time ago, when tea was first introduced to the barbarians from England (which is what the Asians thought of them 500 years ago), the first sips were spat out and called sludge water by an unknowing English savage.

Within a century, tea had become a major commodity, so economically powerful that whoever controlled the tea trade, could control the world. Angry Boston colonialists grew incensed after the British raised already ruinous taxes on their tea. Their rebellion that resulted became known as the Boston Tea Party, which led the way to a major war over a large piece of real estate to our south. Eventually, tea became a symbol for peace and tranquility.

This interest in tea made its way north via the Hudson Bay Company where it was traded for furs, amongst other items. Tobacco was a close second and flour came in third. Other luxury food items were also sought by our people, but tea far surpassed any other item. When times were tough and tea was a luxury item, the Labrador tea, with its soothing scents and tastes, more than made up for the loss of varieties from India.

My teapot boileth over and I hurry to get a few sips in before my thirsty nephews arrive to consume large cups of tea – their grateful smiles tell me my brew was pretty good. The tiny plant is more than just flavouring, its therapeutic harvesting from the great wild northern landscape – your view as you crouch down to snip off more leaves from Mother Earth.

I highly recommend cutting the leaves off living plants rather than pulling out the entire plant and removing the leaves at home. Doing this leaves no leaves, get it? Don’t forget, you get to snip again a few more times during the short summer season, leaving time for your therapy to take hold and enjoy what you reap.