Teaberry or American Wintergreen (inspiration for Teaberry gum)

Opis:
Teaberry 0r American Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) was the inspiration for David Clark founder of the Clark Candy Company. From Alleghany Pennsylvania, Clark wanted to capture this flavor in his Teaberry gum, first marketed in early 1900's. It reached greatest popularity in the 1960's. It still has a cult following today! This native plant can be found in acidic soils where blueberry, rhododendron, and mountain laurel also grow. I you see any of those three plants you are likely to see Teaberry as well. It is a low growing plant and technically a 'shrub' because of its woody rhizome. It will spread across the ground by this rhizome. It may only produce 2 to 5 leaves in a year's growth and one or two red berries. The leaves are small round and leathery and have a succulent-like feel to them. The scent and flavor in the leaves is oil of wintergreen or methyl salicylate a compound related to asprin. Concentrated oil of wintergreen can be toxic and anyone allergic to asparin should not consume this because of its biochemical similarity to asparin (salicylic acid). This episode like my channel is to teach and educate people in going outdoors and learning about the plants and animals in their environment! I am all about natural history education and nature ' environmental education through hands-on learning outdoors.