Great Lost Teas
Part III – Pillow Lake Tea (S. Africa)
Attracted by the many unique species of flora and fauna, naturalist, James Young made a study of Pillow Lake in 1915.
One of his discoveries was a tea plant that grows in the shallow water around the edge of the lake. In the winter the leaves shrivel-up and drop onto the surface where they discolour the water around the plant. Young observed many small fish seemed to gather in schools in these 'tea-clouds.' He correctly identified them as immature 'Lark Fish' and noted that where-as the adult Lark Fish is usually a dark brown colour, which enables it to blend in with the river bed and avoid predators, these baby fish were pale and whitish.
After some study and experimentation, he concluded that the Lark Fish gains its dark pigmentation while young, as a result of immersing itself in the tea-clouds that form in the water around the tea plants. The tea-clouds also seem to keep predators away from the fish, when they are young.
Many of Young's guides would boil up and drink tea water, collected from the edge of the lake.
When Young tried this, he experienced a mild allergic reaction, which he described as a tingling of the lips, an itching of the palate and a mild swelling of the tongue and throat. He experienced a similar reaction after eating some roasted Lark Fish and concluded that the tea may be slightly toxic for some individuals.
James Young's study of Pillow Lake was published in 6 large volumes. His account of the tea plants and Lark Fish can be found in Vol 2, chapter 3.
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