Xiao Ye Ku Ding Cha (Ilex kudingcha) — Sichuan Small-Leaf Bitter Tea, Loose Leaf 500g

Xiao Ye Ku Ding Cha (Ilex kudingcha), also known as Small-Leaf Kuding Tea or Bitter Ding Tea, is the dried small leaf of a revered traditional Chinese bitter tea plant. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Ku Ding Cha has long been prized as a cooling, fire-clearing herb used to refresh the spirit, clear the head, and support the body's natural balance during warm seasons. Its nature is bitter, cold, and clarifying, making it a gentle yet distinctly refreshing herb for soothing internal heat and promoting a light, clear feeling.

Key Selling Points

• Small-leaf Kuding tea from Sichuan
• Traditional cooling bitter tea herb
• Loose leaf, 500g bulk pack
• New-crop, unsweetened pure leaf
• Ideal for daily hot or cold brewing

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully harvested and dried to preserve the small leaves' deep green color, delicate curled shape, and clean herbal aroma. When brewed, the leaves unfurl slowly and yield a pale golden-green infusion with a distinctly bitter first taste that softens into a lingering, refreshing sweetness on the finish. The texture of the leaf is crisp and light, and the liquor remains clear with no cloudiness.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Daily hot tea brewing
• Cold-brewed summer refreshment
• Blending with chrysanthemum or honeysuckle
• After-meal palate cleanser
• Office and travel tea flask

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Ku Ding Cha is brewed as a daily tea to clear internal heat, refresh the mind, and support a light, balanced feeling, especially during hot weather. It is often steeped alone in a teapot or gaiwan, or blended with chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, and goji berry for a cooling summer infusion. In some regional traditions, the leaves are also added to soups or simmered as a simple decoction for seasonal refreshment.

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