Very interesting--I wonder if the pioneers recognized that this tea--if it did come from Ephedra--is a stimulant. Perhaps the pick-me-up theyy may have gotten from it would have been more of a reason to drink it than just for the taste. It would make sense also, if they were trying to give up their [caffeine] tea, to find a substitute that maybe unknowingly relieved the caffeine craving. All conjecture and speculation, of course! I would love it if anyone could find other sources or references to this Ephedra plant use. Tschuss! (I presume Diane must be German/Swiss--how do get umlauts on your keyboard?) Robert ------------------ Reply Separator -------------------- Originally From: "diane epperson" <editorz@inreach.com> Subject: [HANDCART-L] Mormon tea Date: 06/17/98 04:07pm Here in the desert, we have a local plant called, variously, Mormon, Mexican, Squaw, or Desert Tea. It is a species of *Ephedra* and quite beautiful. The natives and early settlers brewed it as a drink by steeping the stems in boiling water. It also was used as a tonic for kidney ailments, to purify the blood, and for colds, stomach disorders, and ulcers. I presume the appellation "Mormon" tea was added to the list of names when the Mormon Batallion came through here in 1846-47 to blaze a wagon road to California from Council Bluffs. I live quite near the trail, now known as the Southern Emigrant Trail, and this plant is abundantly available. One day I decided to try it, so I picked a bunch of stalks and took it home to make sun tea. For additional flavoring, I added some bright red ocotillo blossoms. It was pretty bland but had a refreshing taste--especially useful, I should think, to improve the taste of plain water that is less than desirable. Tschüss __________________________________________________________ Diane Epperson --from sunny Ocotillo in the flaming Yuha Desert of Southern California editorz@inreach.com "Eala Fria Fresena!" -- "Lever Dod As Slaav!" Researching . . . FLESNER, EBER, BUSS, ELLERMEIER of Illinois aus Deutschland LEWIS, COLEMAN, HART of New Jersey ANDERSEN, EDMISTON, SNOW of Utah . . . und mein rottweiler WORF (Canis klingon)