Latsaka herbal tea

Description

Latsaka — “little tissues” in Malagasy

Ravintsara is not just an essential oil. It starts as a leaf, chewed or brewed by Malagasy families for generations. Latsaka is our herbal tea for the weeks when the throat feels scratchy, the nose runs and your hand reaches for the tissues without you noticing.

A gentle, pleasant-tasting infusion that opens the world of ravintsara to those who cannot use the essential oil: children, pregnant women after the third month, older people, or anyone who simply prefers a softer approach.

Latsaka at a glance

• Ingredients: ravintsara, hyssop, mallow
• Format: 20 individual tea bags = 27 g of plants
• Certification: certified organic FR-BIO-15 (Alpes Contrôles)
• Best season: autumn and winter, and the changes in between
• For: adults, children from age 3, pregnant women after the third month (on medical advice)

Why these three plants together

• Ravintsara — leaves from our own plantation in Madagascar (Sahambavy), the heart of the blend. The same plant as our essential oil, named Best Organic Product 2019, here as dried leaf: the same active compounds, a gentle dose, easy to use safely.
• Hyssop — a traditional plant used for the airways since Antiquity. It rounds out the ravintsara with a slightly warm note.
• Mallow — known for its soothing mucilage. It brings the soft, rounded note that makes the cup enjoyable, even for occasional tea drinkers.

How to prepare it

1. Heat water to around 80 °C (boiling water degrades the active compounds)
2. Pour it over 1 tea bag in a cup
3. Cover and leave to infuse for 6 to 8 minutes
4. Remove the bag. Drink it plain or with a spoonful of thyme honey (our favourite)

How often: 1 to 3 cups a day during seasonal low points, for 5 to 10 days.

Why not just the essential oil?

Ravintsara essential oil is powerful, but it calls for strict precautions: dosage, route of use, contraindications. The herbal tea is a valuable alternative:

• Suitable for sensitive groups: children from age 3, pregnant women after the third month, older people
• No complicated precautions: no drops to count, no risk of overdoing it
• A daily ritual: a hot cup brings comfort in itself, quite apart from the active compounds
• Complementary to the essential oil for those who use both

A genuine direct supply chain from Madagascar

Every ravintsara leaf in Latsaka comes from our own plantation in Sahambavy, on the Highlands of Madagascar. The same leaves we distil for our essential oil: hand-harvested, dried to our own standards, packed into tea bags in France.

Behind the scenes: From leaf to bottle — our direct supply chain (in French).

Precautions

• Not recommended for pregnant women in the first trimester
• Ask a doctor before giving it to children under 3
• Do not exceed 3 cups a day
• Do not use over long periods (10-day course maximum)
• Keep out of the reach of children
• Store in a dry place, away from light and moisture

Discover our other herbal teas

Latsaka is one of three herbal teas, each built for a season and a use:

• Mievona (Atishoo) — ravintsara, nettle, plantain. For hay fever season and the shift into spring.
• Ririnina (Deep Cold) — ravintsara, marjoram, elderberry. For the coldest weeks of the year.

To understand ravintsara and its properties, read our complete guide to ravintsara and winter immunity (in French).