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WHAT
IS TEA TREE WATER
FROM THE HARVEST TO TOPI TOPI TEA TREE
WATER
Traditionally, the leaves are harvested on an annual basis to
extract oil for therapeutic and commercial properties. The oil is
extracted from the foliage by a steam distillation process. Steam
releases the oil from the glands in the leaves and vaporizes the
oil.
A distilling plant consists of a distilling vessel, a
condenser, and a receiver or separator. Steam may be generated
within the distilling pot itself or can be supplied by a boiler or
steam generator.
A common bush still has a
capacity of 0.5 to 5 tonnes, is elevated from the ground (for direct
firing) and the removable or hinged tank lid can be sealed to
make the container steam-tight . Inside the tank, approximately 30
cm from the bottom a grid is fitted not only to support the closely
packed plant material but also to separate the boiling water from
the foliage and to allow a constant steam flow. The top outlet
carries the combined steam and vaporized oil to the condenser and
then collected in the separator where the less dense oil rises to
the surface and floats on the water, where it is ready to be tapped
off.
The remaining water was
drained back into the external water supply and was regarded as
wastewater until its enormous healing properties were
discovered.
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