Help: Bayberry

Subject: Bayberry
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 07:12 PM

Just got back from the bar, someone who has come back from China has a packet of Bayberrys. What on Earth are Bayberrys. In English please Thanks

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 12:48 PM

Not sure if you mean the plant or not, but have a look at this site, esp. under "Other Species" as it mentions use as tea in China: click here

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: Megan L
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:08 PM

All my dictionary says is evergreen shrub used for making bay rum.

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:14 PM

Local lore on Cape Cod was that a packet of bayberries under the pillow would bring peaceful sleep and good dreams.

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 01:19 PM

We always burn bayberry candles in December; lovely scent.

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 06:35 PM

"packet"---Are we talking, perhaps, of scented/flavored cigarettes? Like the clove ones?

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 06:51 PM

These berries, not yet opened, are in a sealed foil packet, and on the picture look similar to Raspberrys. Still curious!

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 07:16 PM

OK, bayberry is an evergreen with very waxy,scented berries. The early colonials in the US (1600-1700's) used them to scent tallow candles because tallow smells so bad when burned, and beeswax was not readily available.

Check out kat/katlaughing's link........

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 08:07 PM

It sounds as though it is probably dried berries, then? I would be very careful before making any tea from them. Please do check the link I posted; while they do use it as a tea in China, it sounds as though it is for medicinal purposes and as though there are some properties to be aware of which may cause discomfort.

Here is another site with more information, esp. if you scroll down.

If you type in "Chinese bayberry tea" on google, there are quite a few sites which show up.

kat

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: MMario
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 09:58 PM

The bayberries that are used for candlewax are very small - about an eighth of an inch across - globular and covered with a waxy finish. so I suspect these may be from the other "bayberry" the one used for "bay rum" shaving lotion

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: fox4zero
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 05:39 AM

Block Island (RI)is overgrown with Bayberry bushes which do produce 3 mm hard "berries" which yield a wax when boiled in enormous numbers. The resulting wax has a very pleasant odor when burned as a candle. While the LEAF here is used as a seasoning (like real bay leaves) I'm sure that the Berry is NOT for ingestion in any form! I'm sure the tea reference is a different Bayberry.

Bayberry bushes are never allowed to grow here in proximity to buildings because of their intense heat in brush fires. I think that Massachusetts, the BAY STATE was nicknamed after its once-abundant bayberry bushes.

Larry Parish

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: MMario
Date: 17 Jul 01 - 09:29 AM

No - Massachusetts was named the Bay state because of Cape Cod Bay and Massachusetts Bay. Between the two of them they are virtually the entire coastline, with the exception of the "south side" of the Cape and the wee bit above Cape Ann.

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 11:24 AM

Back in 2007 someone was looking for a song about bayberry candles. I've refreshed the thread: Lyr Req: Bayberry Candles (Irish Christmas song?)

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: pdq
Date: 17 Dec 10 - 02:32 PM

Just got back from the bar, someone who has come back from China has a packet of Bayberrys. ~ initial post

Not with real bayberries since they are limited to the eastern hardwood forest area of the US, roughly from Dallas to the Atlantic Ocean and up to (roughly) Washinton DC.

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: Boho
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 12:16 AM

I've bought them fresh in Hong Kong, quite tasty fruit.

Chinese bayberry

Subject: RE: Help: Bayberry
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 12:58 PM

Not with real bayberries...
REAL bayberries, pdq? :)

I think these bayberries are probably just as real to the Chinese as the ones you know are to you!