Australian lemon myrtle tea: plant identity and safe terminology

What plant is lemon myrtle?

The Australian National Botanic Gardens identifies lemon-scented myrtle as Backhousia citriodora, a member of the myrtle family native to parts of Queensland. Its aromatic leaves explain why it is used to flavour foods and drinks, but its name does not make it a cultivar of Camellia sinensis.

The plant is distinct from lemon balm, lemon verbena and ordinary black or green tea. A packet described only as “lemon tea” may use any of these plants or may contain a flavoured tea blend; the ingredient list determines the correct classification.

How is it used in drinks?

An Australian native-food plant profile records leaf use in tea blends and beverages. Culinary preparations use food-grade leaves; they should not be confused with concentrated essential oils or medicinal extracts.

A single universal infusion temperature or therapeutic dose is not established by these sources. Tea preparations may contain other herbs, added sugar or Camellia tea, so taste and caffeine cannot be inferred from the name alone.

Caffeine, safety and evidence

A pure lemon-myrtle leaf infusion does not contain the tea plant and is ordinarily categorized as a botanical infusion rather than caffeinated true tea. Blended products must be checked separately.

Historical food use is not proof that every commercial concentrate is appropriate to drink, nor that the infusion treats infection, anxiety or another condition. The food-grade leaf and essential oil are not interchangeable.

A frequent point of confusion

“Native Australian tea,” “lemon myrtle tea,” and “lemon-flavoured black tea” can describe different products. ONGTEH records lemon myrtle by its plant identity and ingredient rather than treating it as a seventh type of tea.

Claim-level source review

Checked 26 October 2026. The following narrow findings are traceable to their original publications. Their presence does not certify every statement elsewhere in this article or authenticate individual tea products.

Kew’s Plants of the World Online accepts the botanical name Backhousia citriodora F.Muell. and lists its native range as Queensland. This resolves the scientific taxon, not the identity of every commercial product labelled lemon myrtle. [Taxonomic identity: Read taxonomic identity source ↗]

Because Backhousia citriodora belongs to the myrtle family rather than Camellia, an infusion composed only of this plant is a botanical infusion, not a category of true tea. Added tea leaves in a blend would change its caffeine classification. [Family and classification: Read family and classification source ↗]

Kew’s taxonomic account does not assess culinary dose, individual purity, allergies, pregnancy use or efficacy. Those questions require different kinds of evidence. [Limit of taxonomy: Read limit of taxonomy source ↗]

Still open: remaining article claims, relevant regional variations and source updates; product origin, composition and health effects require separate evidence.