The American wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens: see quot.; also called Canada tea or mountain tea. Also, the fruit of this.
1858. Hogg, Veg. Kingd., cxv. 482. The leaves [of Gaultheria procumbens] … when … dried … make an excellent substitute for tea,… and the plant is on that account called Tea-berry and Mountain Tea.
1884. Cassell’s Fam. Mag., March, 239/1. Here [in Houston, Texas] … the tea-berry tree, and huge orange trees … made me forget for a moment that I was expecting something very different.
1895. Outing (U.S.), XXVII. 18/1. Tiny white capillaire tea-berries, with a flavor like some rare perfume.
