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Friday, October 5, 2012

ti baum (te ti bonm?)

I am not sure what the English name for this plant is.  The tea from this plant is good for stomach cramps, indigestion and other things.  You might want to look it up under the French name Petit Baume.  If you know what the leaves look like, you might be able to compare them with what you find on the net.
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9 comments:

  1. Where do you purchase?

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    1. Haitian Mom & Pop stores. Do you have Haitian friends? Many Haitians grow tea leaves in their backyard. My mother grows all sort of tea leaves in her backyard.

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    2. Haitian co~workers I can find out if they know where to get them. Thanks

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    3. I found a store. When I asked for the leaves I think they gave me mint. So to make the tea do you use mint and ginger and it's called Te Ti Baum or are the leaves called Te Ti baum?? Confusing

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    4. From what I know there are about three different types of ti bonm

      The one with the smaller leaves does have a little mint in its aroma.
      They are used against cramps, digestive problems, blood problems and stomachache.
      Some people may take it with ginger, cinnamon sticks and honey. But all you really need is honey.

      The larger leaf type may be a little bit stronger. It's used for stomach cramps and inflammation. It's used as antibiotic baths for some skin diseases, foot fungus, and eczema. It's used as vapor baths for women who had just given birth. And it's used to make warm compresses for headaches.

      I don't know anything about the third one. I don't think it grows in Haiti.

      If you want to be sure about what the store gave you when you bought it, you may always go back and ask them: Is this fèy ti bonm or is it fèy mant? They might explain to you what the difference is.

      If you're in the Miami area or any area highly populated with Haitians, you can also check the flea markets, you'll find it there for sure.

      If the ti bonm tea is made for drinking, you may add cinnamon sticks, ginger, and a sweetening agent if you'd like, but most people drink it plain (only with sugar).

      If the boiled ti bonm is made for baths (for example: vapor bath for a pregnant person), it definitely shouldn't be mixed with anything else.

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    5. Also, I did speak to my mom (she knows the leaf really well and has used it for all her nine pregnancies).
      She told me that although ti bonm might have a faint minty smell, it's different from the real mint leaf.

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  2. Do you know where I can find sitronel to make some tea?

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    1. Are you in the US? ..in Florida?
      Usually some Haitian markets will have them.
      If there are no markets near you. Try a Haitian Church and asks around. Someone is bound to have a sitwonel plant at home.

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