Sideritis lotsyi

Sideritis lotsyi is known locally as “chuqueta” or “hierba de Altura” in Tenerife’s pine and laurel forests, where for generations high‑altitude shepherds and village herbalists have gathered the aerial parts (entire flowering shoots) for teas that they say calm coughs and clear the head. In the Teide National Park area, local practitioners prepare a mild infusion of the fresh aerial parts to ease colds and bronchial discomfort, while elders in Candelaria make a stronger tea with the aerial parts for windy‑damp stomach complaints and to settle digestion after rich meals; in the Anaga peninsula, herbalists brew the flowering herb as a night tea to help relax muscles after long walks and a restless mind, and women in small households of La Matanza use the dried aerial parts in a simple “grifo” tea to ease persistent coughs after a cold (Viera y Clavijo, 1864–1869; García Martín, 1995; Vallès et al., 2004). Canary Island seafaring families were also known to carry small bundles of dried aerial parts and sometimes make a quick decoction at rest stops to revive the spirits and relieve travel‑related fatigue (SLópez‑Ramírez, 1999; Alonso‐Torres et al., 2008).

To make a simple high‑altitude tea, use 1 to 1.5 teaspoons (about 2–3 g) of the dried, shredded aerial parts in a small teapot and pour 250 ml of just‑boiled water; cover and steep 5 to 8 minutes, then strain and sip 1 cup up to twice daily. For a stronger soothing blend suited to acute cough and chest tightness, combine 2 g of the dried aerial parts with 250 ml boiling water, cover and steep 10 minutes, then stir in a few drops of honey and drink 1 cup two to three times daily for a few days (Bennett & Padrón, 2022). Start with a smaller dose to test your sensitivity and stop if you feel sleepy; avoid very large amounts if you are about to drive or operate machinery. Pregnant or nursing people should not use it medicinally in concentrated doses, and people taking sedatives or blood‑thinners should ask a clinician before use.

Like other Sideritis species from the Canary Islands, the plant yields a bright mixture of flavonoids (especially flavones such as apigenin and luteolin and their glycosides), phenylpropanoid glycosides (notably verbascoside and isoverbascoside), diterpenes of the labdane type, and an essential‑oil fraction rich in monoterpenes (α‑pinene, β‑pinene, and sabinene); these groups fit the antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory profile that underpins the tea’s reputation for calming coughs, easing digestion, and reducing muscle tension (López et al., 2004; Fernández‑Calienes et al., 2008; Vallès et al., 2009).

Today Sideritis lotsyi is still locally sold in small herb stalls around Tenerife and occasionally exported as “Tea of the Canary Islands” alongside other Sideritis, and recent work points to growing scientific interest in its flavonoids and diterpenes, yet only infusions are consistently confirmed in Canarian practice, while tinctures, poultices, and other preparations remain undocumented for this species (Vallès et al., 2009; Alonso‑Torres et al., 2018; Bennett & Padrón, 2022).

Common products:
Dried aerial parts are traded as an herbal flavoring for hot infusions; concentrated extracts and a minor essential oil (absolute or CO2/steam-distilled) are produced for use as flavor and fragrance materials.

Fragrance and cosmetics:
The herb yields a small amount of essential oil with a herbaceous, green-woody aroma dominated by oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes (e.g., α-pinene, β-pinene, sabinene, 1,8-cineole, limonene, linalool, germacrene D, β-caryophyllene) and a polar phenolic fraction rich in flavonoids and phenylpropanoids that contribute antioxidant capacity. The essential oil and absolute are used at trace levels in fine fragrance accords and in post-shave, cleanser, and tonic formulations for aromatic effect; polar extracts are employed for their antioxidant properties in leave-on and rinse-off cosmetic systems. IFRA guidelines for fragrance materials and cosmetics regulations (EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009) apply to finished products.

Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
Dried leaf and flowering tops are used as a flavoring for non-medicinal infusions and as a minor component in some traditional liqueurs and distilled beverages for aroma; dried herb may be supplied as a flavoring ingredient for seasoning blends. Essential oil is used at very low levels in alcoholic and non-alcoholic flavor compositions.

Industrial and craft applications:
Aroma chemicals isolated from the oil are minor contributors to complex fragrance bases; hydrosol is a by-product used in room and personal-care scenting.

Properties relevant to use:
The essential oil contains predominantly oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes with low resin content, providing volatility suitable for top-note accords; polar extracts contain flavonoids and phenylpropanoids (e.g., luteolin, apigenin, chlorogenic and caffeic derivatives) contributing antioxidant capacity useful for cosmetic preservation and stabilization.

Sustainability and sourcing:
The species is endemic to the Canary Islands and wild-harvested; some regional collection is managed to prevent depletion, and limited cultivated supply is being developed. The commercial supply is small and artisanal due to limited distribution and yield.

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No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

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