ENGLISH NAME: Sarıkız Tea
Plant
LATIN NAME: Sideritis
trojana Ehrend.
LOCAL NAMES:
Turkey: Sarıkız
COUNTRY: Turkey
(endemic to Mount Ida; not found in Czechia, Bulgaria, or Georgia)
WHERE TO FIND IT:
Region: Mount Ida
(Kazdağı), northwestern Turkey
Elevation: High-slope zones
(exact elevation range not documented)
Terrain:
Partially alkaline, calcareous, sandy-loam soils; low in salt and potassium,
rich in phosphorus and organic matter. Grows on thin soil deposits over steep
bedrock.
DESCRIPTION:
Sarıkız Tea Plant is a herbaceous perennial shrub with a bushy habit. It is
distinguished by its woolly white hairs and dark yellow flowers
found on both sides of the leaves. The plant thrives in the wild on rugged,
nutrient-variable mountain slopes and blooms in midsummer.
USABLE PARTS: Leaf, Flower
MEDICINAL
PROPERTIES:
Traditionally consumed as a daily aromatic tea for its soothing and therapeutic
effects. It is used in folk medicine for:
Chest and
respiratory ailments
Kidney infections
and stones
Peptic ulcers and
general stomach disorders
Cold and flu
symptoms
Antimicrobial
effects
UNDESIRED EFFECTS:
No widely reported adverse effects when consumed in moderate quantities.
Clinical research is limited; caution advised during pregnancy or with chronic
medication.
COMBINING WITH
OTHER MEDICINES:
Often consumed alone as a tea. Can be blended with linden, sage, or chamomile
in traditional Turkish herbal infusions.
PREPARATION:
Infuse dried flowers and leaves in hot water at a 2–5% ratio. Typically
consumed warm as a tea.
HARVEST TIME:
The plant blooms in July and is harvested in autumn.
HARVEST METHOD:
Collected by hand, often with the root (though root harvesting
should be limited to prevent overharvesting in wild populations).
CONSERVATION
(STORAGE):
Dry in shaded, well-ventilated areas to preserve the woolly texture and
aromatic compounds. Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry place
for up to one year.