Mountain tea, Tsai, Tsailopita
Sideritis syriaca
Family: Lamiaceae
What it is like
A herb with woolly leaves. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 50 cm high. The leaves are oval or long and narrow. They can have teeth. The flowers are yellow with brown stripes on the inside. They grow in spikes at the top of the plant.
There are about 100 Sideritis species. The grow near the Mediterranean. Several species are dried and used for herbal teas.
Where it is found
It is a temperate or Mediterranean climate plant. It suits plant hardiness zone 8.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Crete, Europe, Greece, Mediterranean, Middle East, Slovenia, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye
How it is used for food
The leaves and flowering tops are brewed into tea.
It is sold in health food shops and local markets.
Edible parts
Leaves - tea
How it is grown
It can be grown by seed, cuttings or division.
Its other names
Local names
Amanos cayi