New Jersey Tea Posted on July 1, 2012 by Axie Perennial shrub. A favorite of bees, deer, rabbits… During the Revolutionary War, the colonists used it as a tea substitute! The roots contain a blood-clotting chemical. Native. New Jersey Tea (Ceanothus americanus) Share this:Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)