Jilungin Profile
Jilungin
Terminalia canescens
For deep sleep, evening rituals and calm restoration.
Herbal Intelligence
Understanding Jilungin
Jilungin (Terminalia canescens) is a small tree native to the Kimberley and the far north-west of Australia. The Nyul Nyul people of the Kimberley make a herbal tea from its leaves, and in recent years it has become one of the best known Australian bush teas.
The taste is mild and earthy, with a little sweetness. Most people take Jilungin as a cup of tea or as a liquid extract, and it is the herb our customers reach for in the evening, when they want to slow down and get ready for sleep.
Cultural use
Jilungin is the name used by the Nyul Nyul people of the Kimberley region of Western Australia, who make a herbal tea from the leaves of the tree(1). The knowledge of the plant, and of how to gather and prepare it, is theirs.
The tree has other names. The Western Australian Herbarium records it as Joolal, a shrub or tree of one to ten metres that grows in stony soil, red sand and sandstone country across the Kimberley and into the Pilbara(2). It is also called the Winged Nut Tree, and it belongs to the same genus as Kakadu Plum.
Jilungin tea is now drunk well beyond the Kimberley. It has become popular around Australia and is finding drinkers overseas(1), most often as a tea for the evening. As interest grows, it matters that the leaf is sourced in a way that respects the people whose plant it is.
Phytochemistry
The main compounds identified in Jilungin leaf are tannins and related polyphenols: ellagic acid, geraniin, pedunculagin and punicalagin(1). The same 2024 analysis found the leaf high in dietary fibre, and reported strong antioxidant activity when the infusion was tested in the laboratory(1). These are laboratory findings. Jilungin has not yet been studied in people.
Modern herbal use
Jilungin is new to Western herbalism, so it does not have a settled place in the textbooks. Herbalists who work with it think of it as a gentle nervine: an evening herb, taken as a cup of tea in the hour before bed or as a liquid extract in a little water.
People build it into the wind-down part of the day, on its own or blended with herbs such as Passionflower, Valerian or Lemon Myrtle. It also suits a quiet cup after dinner.
Research on Jilungin has only just begun. The first detailed study of the leaf was published in 2024 and looked at its composition and how it behaves in laboratory tests(1). There are no clinical trials in people, so we describe how it is used, not what it will do.
Developed and reviewed by Laura Grace, Owner and Creative Director of Happy Herb Co, Herb Educator and Registered Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant ·
This profile is intended as a researched educational guide and does not replace the broader perspective of a herbal consultation.
Sources
- Akter, S., Phan, A. D. T., Adiamo, O. Q., Bobasa, E. M., Seididamyeh, M., Rajagopal, G., Sivakumar, D., & Sultanbawa, Y. (2024). Bio-functional properties of Jilungin (Terminalia canescens). Journal of Food Science, 89(11), 7664-7679. https://doi.org/10.1111/1750-3841.17457
- Western Australian Herbarium (1998-). Terminalia canescens (DC.) T.Durand. Florabase: the Western Australian flora. Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. https://florabase.dbca.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/5300
In everyday life
Connect with Jilungin
How it's used
Jilungin leaf is used in two main ways.
- Tea. Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaf in a cup of just-boiled water, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes, then strain. The flavour is mild and earthy.
- Liquid extract. A tincture taken in a little water, for those who want Jilungin without brewing a pot. Follow the directions on the label.
Jilungin is usually taken in the evening, before bed.
A Moment with Jilungin
A Kimberley night.
Hold the dried leaf, grey-green and plain. The Nyul Nyul people of the Dampier Peninsula have brewed it at night for longer than anyone can say, and they still harvest it by hand.
Steep a teaspoon or two for ten minutes in the evening. Turn off one light you usually leave on, and drink it in the dimmer room.
Sip slowly. This leaf comes from the oldest continuous culture on earth, and it is offered to you with permission. What are you being trusted with?
In the Botanical Guides
Where Jilungin appears
FAQ
Jilungin: frequently asked questions
What is Jilungin?
Jilungin (Terminalia canescens) is a small tree native to the Kimberley and the far north-west of Australia. The Nyul Nyul people of the Kimberley make a herbal tea from its leaves. Today Jilungin is one of the best known Australian bush teas, taken as a tea or a liquid extract, most often in the evening.
What is Jilungin tea good for?
Jilungin is long associated with evening calm and sleep. It is a leaf tea of the Nyul Nyul people of the Kimberley, and herbalists who use it think of it as a gentle nervine for the end of the day. Research has so far been done only in the laboratory, not in people, so we describe how it is used, not what it will do.
When should I use Jilungin for sleep?
Jilungin is best known as a herb people reach for when they want a gentle way to wind down at night. Most people have a cup of Jilungin tea, or a liquid extract in a little water, about an hour before bed, as part of a regular evening routine.
How do you make Jilungin tea?
Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried Jilungin leaf in a cup of just-boiled water, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes, then strain. The flavour is mild and earthy, so it needs little added. Most people drink it in the evening.
Does Jilungin contain caffeine?
Jilungin is drunk and sold as a caffeine-free tea. It is not related to the tea plant, and the published analysis of the leaf names tannins such as ellagic acid and punicalagin as its main compounds. That is why Jilungin is usually chosen as an evening cup.
What does Jilungin taste like?
Jilungin tea is mild and earthy, with a little sweetness. It is a gentle cup with none of the bitterness of stronger evening herbs, so most people drink it plain. Lemon Myrtle is a good partner if you want a brighter flavour.
Who should not take Jilungin?
Take care with Jilungin if you have a known allergy or sensitivity to plants of the Combretaceae family, which includes the Terminalia trees, or a history of reactions to herbs. If you take medication or have a health condition, check with your health professional first.
Precautions
Individuals with known allergies or sensitivities to plants in the Combretaceae family, which includes Jilungin, should exercise caution. It's advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before consumption, especially if you have a history of allergic reactions to plants or herbal remedies.
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