Ephedra is a genus of gymnosperm shrubs. Early Mormon settlers, who abstained from regular tea and coffee, drank the beverage made from Ephedra viridis. A handful of green or dry stems and leaves were placed in boiling water for each cup of tea desired. It was removed from the fire and allowed to steep for twenty minutes or more. To bring out the full flavor, a spoon of sugar or some strawberry jam was added depending on individual taste.
Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, September 29, 2011.
The photo was used in the following video. (It can also be viewed on YouTube.)
