Organic Wild Lettuce Loose Leaf Tea

Organic Wild Lettuce Loose Leaf Tea is organically grown wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa), properly dried to keep the plant's inherent character and cut for loose-leaf brewing. It is caffeine-free with a soft, earthen, slightly bitter taste, and it can be sipped on its own or folded into an evening ritual. Offered in 4oz, 1lb and 10lb sizes with nothing else in the bag.

At a glance

• Organically grown Lactuca virosa leaf, cut for loose-leaf brewing
• Caffeine-free, soft, earthen and slightly bitter
• Carries lactucin and lactucopicrin, sesquiterpene lactones
• Steep 1 tsp per cup for 5 to 10 minutes
• An evening cup, nothing else in the bag
• Sizes: 4oz, 1lb and 10lb

The herb. Wild lettuce (Lactuca virosa) is a tall biennial in the daisy family, Asteraceae, native to Europe and naturalized in parts of North America. Cut the stem and it bleeds a milky latex that dries to a brown resin called lactucarium. The bitterness and the plant's relaxing reputation are linked to sesquiterpene lactones, mainly lactucin and lactucopicrin.

What's in it. The dried leaf carries lactucin, lactucopicrin and related sesquiterpene lactones, along with flavonoids, coumarins and triterpenes. There is no caffeine and no opiate alkaloid of any kind, despite the old nickname opium lettuce.

Dosage, first time. Steep 1 tsp of leaf per cup in boiling water for 5 to 10 minutes, strain and serve warm or over ice. Begin with a single cup in the evening and see how you feel before brewing it stronger.

Regular use. Regular drinkers keep to one teaspoon per cup and one cup in the evening. The bitterness builds with a longer steep, so many stop at about seven minutes and add honey. For a more concentrated experience, see our Wild Lettuce Extract Powder.

What to expect. Users describe a mellow, body-focused ease and a quieter mind, the kind of cup that suits the last hour of the day with a bath or a book. It is not a daytime tea, and at tea strength it is not the heavy sedative some forum posts make it out to be.

Side effects. Drowsiness is the main effect and the reason to keep it for the evening. Larger amounts can bring dizziness, nausea, dry mouth or dilated pupils, so keep to tea strength. People allergic to ragweed or other daisy-family plants may react; stop use at the first sign of irritation.

Interactions and cautions. Do not combine with alcohol, sedative medications or other relaxing botanicals without guidance, and do not drive after drinking it until you know how it affects you. Not for use if pregnant or nursing. Consult a healthcare professional before use if you take any medication.

Ingredients and storage. Organically Grown Wild Lettuce (Lactuca virosa). Keep sealed, cool and out of direct light; the leaf loses aroma if left open.

Common questions

• Does wild lettuce tea make you sleepy? Users often describe it as relaxing and mellow, so it is brewed as an evening cup.
• How bitter is wild lettuce tea? Moderately bitter and earthy, more so with a longer steep, and honey balances it well.
• Is wild lettuce tea the same as lactucarium? No, lactucarium is the dried latex resin, while this tea is the whole dried leaf brewed at ordinary strength.

Disclaimer. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Wild lettuce is a traditional botanical, and traditional use does not establish that it will produce any particular result. Consult your healthcare provider before use if you take any medication or have a medical condition. Use at your own risk and keep out of reach of children. Formulated by Healing Herbals, run by a practicing herbalist of 13+ years.