Every day, around five billion cups of tea are drunk around the world. But few people know about the flower that their tea comes from.

In this episode, we explore Camellia sinensis - the flowering plant behind so many varieties of tea, from green to black to oolong. We take a look back more than 4000 years ago to uncover the story of Emperor Shennong, the Chinese ruler said to have discovered tea by accident, and follow how the plant spread across the world.

The Camellia flower has become a symbol for numerous movements, and tea is a staple drink across continents for its flavor and health benefits.

If you’d like to know a little more about the flower behind the world’s most consumed drink (behind water), grab yourself a cup of tea, and take a listen to this episode.

Covered in this episode:

1. The history of tea.
2. How tea spread across the world.
3. The health benefits of drinking tea.
4. How the camellia flower made its way to America.
5. The symbolism that the camellia flower has become known for.
6. How to grow camellia at home.
7. And more…

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to Plant Connection on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rootstemleafblog/

Root Stem Leaf - https://www.rootstemleaf.com/

LISTEN

Plant Connection - https://plant-connection.captivate.fm

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZDb9ovKXRTomKYnyqF8Rv

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-connection/id1801774758

CREDITS

Script - Jacob Ashton (https://jacobashton.net/)

Research - Adriana Gogolin

Produced by Claricast.

Witch hazel is an individualist. It blooms in winter when almost nothing else will. And that’s not the only surprise it’s hiding up its sleeve.

In this episode, we explore the fascinating story of witch hazel - a distinctive woodland shrub with flame-colored flowers that appear in late autumn and winter, earning it the nickname “winter bloom.”

But beyond its striking characteristics, witch hazel also has an interesting history. One that led to its use around the world for its healing properties.

We travel back to the mid-1840s, when Theron T. Pond found his attention captured by witch hazel. That curiosity would eventually help shape the products of the T.T. Pond Company, known today as Pond’s.

You’ll also discover where the plant got its name (it’s not from the supernatural!) and a whole lot more.

Covered in this episode:

• The origin story of witch hazel and Pond’s.
• How witch hazel survives its winter bloom.
• The industrial rise of witch hazel as a healing tonic.
• Surprising historical uses, from dowsing rods to traditional remedies.
• Where the name “witch hazel” comes from.
• The plant’s unique, explosive seed dispersal.
• How to grow witch hazel at home.
• And more…

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to Plant Connection on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rootstemleafblog/

Root Stem Leaf - https://www.rootstemleaf.com/

LISTEN

Plant Connection - https://plant-connection.captivate.fm

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZDb9ovKXRTomKYnyqF8Rv

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-connection/id1801774758

CREDITS

Script - Jacob Ashton (https://jacobashton.net/)

Research - Adriana Gogolin

Produced by Claricast.

Long before borders were drawn in North America, one tree carried a message of peace and solidarity.

That tree was the white pine.

In this episode, we explore the story of the white pine and its deep cultural significance across North America, from the Great Peacemaker’s journey between tribes with a message of friendship, to the white pine tree that may have been sitting in your home at Christmas time.

We uncover how this tree became a foundation of American life - shaping homes, ships, and settlements, and how its near destruction has come about multiple times throughout history.

Listen now to explore how a single tree came to shape a continent, and why its story still matters today.

Covered in this episode:

1. How the white pine became a symbol of unity and peace.
2. The origin of the phrase “bury the hatchet”.
3. How the white pine shaped early American life and industry.
4. The story of The Pine Tree Riot.
5. The fungus that wiped out over half of mature North American white pines in the 1900s.
6. How to grow a white pine tree.
7. And more…

If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to Plant Connection on your favourite podcast platform so you don’t miss the next one.

LEARN MORE

Follow on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rootstemleafblog/

Root Stem Leaf - https://www.rootstemleaf.com/

LISTEN

Plant Connection - https://plant-connection.captivate.fm

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6ZDb9ovKXRTomKYnyqF8Rv

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plant-connection/id1801774758

CREDITS

Script - Jacob Ashton (https://jacobashton.net/)

Research - Adriana Gogolin

Produced by Claricast.