Huaqiao Vine Tea

Huaqiao Vine Tea

　　Huaqiao Vine Tea, also known as mountain sweet tea, eyebrow tea, white tea, or dragon beard tea, is made from the stems and leaves of Ampelopsis grossedentata (Hand-Mazz. W.T. Wang), a plant belonging to the grape family (Vitaceae) and the genus Ampelopsis. This climbing vine is entirely hairless, with tendrils growing opposite the leaves. The leaves are alternate, forming either a two-pinnate compound leaf with 9–13 small leaflets or a one-pinnate compound leaf with 3–7 small leaflets. The leaflets are oval or egg-shaped, measuring 2.5–9 cm in length and 1.6–5 cm in width, with distinct small serrations along the edges and prominent reticulate veins. The flowers are yellow-green, five-petaled, and grow in cymes that are opposite the leaves. The fruit is an egg-shaped berry that turns purplish-black when ripe, with a diameter of 5–6 mm. The tea has a mild, sweet taste and a cooling nature. It is known for its health benefits, including clearing heat and toxins, providing antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, dispelling wind and dampness, strengthening bones and muscles, lowering blood pressure and blood lipids, and protecting the liver. It is a valuable plant resource used both as food and medicine. Traditionally, it has been used to help prevent and treat conditions such as high blood pressure, colds and fever, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, eczema, and dermatitis, playing an indispensable role in times when medical resources were scarce. Research conducted by institutions such as the China Pharmaceutical University on its extracts has found that its active components include flavonoid compounds such as ampelopsin and dihydromyricetin, which exhibit minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations comparable to those of an equivalent amount of berberine.

　　Source: Hengnan County Government Portal Website