Origin and history
The tea tree, or tea tree , is a small tree native to Australia, belonging to the Myrtaceae family. Aboriginal Australians have used it for centuries for its medicinal properties: they crushed the leaves and applied them directly to wounds or brewed infusions to soothe coughs and sore throats. Its name, "tea tree," comes from Captain James Cook, who, during his 18th-century expeditions, is said to have used its leaves to prepare an infusion reminiscent of tea.