I was recently invited to attend the third International Vine Tea Conference in Laifeng County, Hubei Province, China. Alongside leading professors, Chinese health professionals, and other tea specialists, we experienced something totally different.
It was a unique experience, and being interested in herbal innovation as much as tea, I was very surprised to find this hidden gem that has been around for over 1200 years as a natural Chinese health beverage. But discovering why was the most interesting.
I was also asked to present on how vine tea could be used in blending, so we spent weeks prior to attending the conference on working on what ingredients could be blended with vine tea. We developed blends that could be used every day as functional blends.
Vine tea is traditionally brewed from Ampelopsis grossedentata, and it is a very, very unique looking plant. Vine tea is not related to the tea plant at all but is often consumed daily by the people of many of the provinces including Guizhou, Hunan, Guangxi, Hubei, and Jiangxi.
Vine tea’s therapeutic efficacy and unique health benefits are attracting global interest as it is widely recognized as the king of flavonoids by many, and the Chinese ethnic groups including the Tuija, Yao, Zhuang, and Miao people who have been using it for centuries.
Its uses in China range from being a daily, general wellness tonic for health to helping ailments such as heatstroke to cooling the body. Studies report vine tea helping ease a sore throat and helping to regulate blood sugar as well.
Studies researched in China also show vine tea can positively support gut microbiota whilst supporting immune functions, digestion, and metabolic health.
Vine tea contains the key flavonoid dihydromyricetin (DHM), which has been shown by Chinese researchers to be beneficial for liver support; it is also caffeine free.
The conference, organized by several Chinese agricultural and tea organizations, aimed to promote the global development of Laifeng vine tea.
Key highlights of the conference included:
- Events such as the 3rd China Vine Tea Fair
- New-Style Vine Tea Beverage Creative Competition
- Judging the first National Vine Tea Competition
- Keynote speeches, field visits, and discussions on technological innovation, market expansion, and cultural communication in the vine tea industry.
What surprised me the most was the high levels of polyphenols and flavonoids reported in this unique-looking dry leaf, which when brewed, the wet leaf was not unlike some green teas.
The flavor profile balances natural sweetness with a slight tartness and complex herbal notes but finishes with a pleasant taste that would suit most palates.
Like wine, coffee, or tea, tastes vary depending on the region. The most notable feature is the lingering sweet aftertaste, which is something that does not normally occur with herbals.
Being a judge for vine tea was certainly a new experience, and after receiving schooling from seasoned experts and professors who study vine tea on what to expect, we began.
When we first saw the trays of dry leaf, it looked like piles of frosty looking ferns that had been recently snowed upon.
The whole judging process was carried on as though we were judging the highest quality specialty teas, and we were lectured on what to look for, such as what was a good dry leaf and bad dry leaf. There were also many variations in color, ranging from pure white, deep mauve, and pale cream.
The liquors ranged from crystal clear, pale lemon, to rich gold, but the wet leaves all became a pale soft green like green tea.
Next came the taste experience, and here you really started to be able to identify a great vine tea compared to one of lesser quality.
Finally, we again cupped the champions of the vine tea! Yes, we understood what great quality vine tea tasted like.
The local vine tea farmers were so excited to showcase their vine tea at the festival; the local people swear by the health benefits, and I believe this is a true, hidden gem.
Over the four days, we experienced some of the most beautiful cultural festivals I have ever seen.
The Vine Tea festival, the cultural activities, the judging, and the amount of research that has gone into this unique plant all made for a truly wonderful new “tea” experience. After consuming vine tea every day from breakfast to evening, we certainly felt healthy, and we learned more about an herb that could be utilized much more in every day life.
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