Oswego tea

noun

Os·​we·​go tea ä-ˈswē-gō- How to pronounce Oswego tea (audio)
: a North American mint (Monarda didyma) with showy scarlet irregular flowers

Examples of Oswego tea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Other common names for monarda include bergamot and Oswego tea, referring to the use of foliage in brewing tea. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Oswego River, N. Y.

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Oswego tea was in 1747

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Cite this Entry

“Oswego tea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Oswego%20tea. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

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