Small-Leaf Ku Ding Tea (Ilex kudingcha) — Naturally Sun-Dried Bitter Herbal Tea, 100g

Small-Leaf Ku Ding Tea (Ilex kudingcha) is the tender bud and leaf tea of a revered traditional Chinese bitter herb known in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as Xiǎo Yè Kǔ Dīng Chá (小叶苦丁茶). Also called Green Mountain Green Water Tea, it has been prized for centuries as a cooling, fire-clearing herb used to refresh the spirit, clear heat, and support the body's natural balance. Its nature is bitter, sweet, and cold, making it a gentle yet distinctly refreshing herb for soothing internal heat and harmonizing the Liver and Stomach.

Key Selling Points

• Traditional heat-clearing bitter herbal tea
• Tender bud and young leaf grade
• Naturally sun-dried, no roasting
• Sichuan-origin small-leaf variety
• 100g bottled, new-crop freshness

Quality & Sensory

Each batch is carefully gathered as tender buds and young leaves, then naturally sun-dried to preserve their deep green color, delicate curl, and clean herbal aroma. When brewed, the leaves unfurl slowly and yield a pale golden-green infusion with a distinctly bitter opening note that softens into a lingering, gently sweet aftertaste — a classic signature of fine Ku Ding tea.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Daily hot tea brewing
• Cooling summer infusion
• After-meal digestive tea
• Blended with chrysanthemum or honeysuckle
• Cold-brewed refreshing drink

Traditional Uses

In folk herbal practice, Ku Ding tea is brewed as a daily infusion to clear internal heat, refresh the mind, and support digestion after rich meals. It is often taken alone as a simple bitter tea, or blended with chrysanthemum, honeysuckle, or goji berry for a more rounded cup. In summer, it is enjoyed both hot and cold as a cooling seasonal beverage, and in some regional traditions it is simmered gently with a touch of rock sugar to soften its bitterness.

FAQ Q&A