Botanical
Volume
Origin
Culture
Tea tree, also known as Melaleuca alternifolia, belongs to the Myrtaceae family. It is a shrub that can reach 5 to 6 meters in height, with bark that peels off in thin strips. It grows wild or cultivated in the humid regions of Australia, the Comoros, Madagascar, Zambia, and South Africa.
The leaves of the tea tree are alternate, lanceolate, and intensely green, emitting a powerful aromatic fragrance. Traditional Australian healers used these leaves to treat various conditions, wounds, and injuries, similar to the use of ravintsara by Malagasy healers. This practice was observed by James Cook and adopted aboard his ships, thereby improving the sailors' quality of life.
The white flowers of the tea tree are arranged in spikes, distinguishing it from niaouli. Tea tree essential oil, obtained by steam distillation of the leafy branches, is a clear colorless or pale yellow liquid.
