Libo Kuding Tea

Libo Kuding Tea

　　  Kuding tea is a type of shrub whose leaves are steamed and then sun-dried to make the tea. The finished tea appears oily yellow or brown in color, with oily yellow being considered the best quality. Kuding tea has a slightly bitter taste but leaves a sweet aftertaste and lingering fragrance, making it a favorite beverage among the Buyi, Shui, Miao, and Han people of Libo.

　　  Kuding tea has cooling properties and can not only quench thirst but also help clear internal heat, detoxify the body, soothe the liver, and strengthen the stomach. Therefore, locals in Libo also use Kuding tea to treat more than ten types of ailments such as heat-related toothache, conjunctivitis, burns, oral ulcers, and white dysentery. It's worth highlighting that there is also a rare wild five-ridged Kuding tea growing within Libo County. Commonly known as “big sticky peach” or “cow sticky peach,” this variety is found only in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Hainan provinces across the country. With a national population of just 439 plants, Libo alone has 210 of them. Among these, one tree located in the Daqikong Scenic Area is estimated to be 220 years old.