Jiaogulan (Gynostemma Pentaphyllum) – Herb of Immortality

Brew & Taste

Jiaogulan infusion is light yellowish green with a pure, almost spring-like impression. The taste combines a slight sweetness with a refreshing grassiness, making the tea light and airy. The finish is just the right amount of astringent, enough to leave a pleasant, inoffensive aftertaste on your palate. This herb likely won't captivate you from the first sip, but will instead become smoother, more comprehensive, and calming the more you indulge.

Origins

Jiaogulan is native to southern China, from where it spread across East and Southeast Asia; literature mentions its occurrence from India and Bangladesh through Southeast Asia to Japan and Korea, and even New Guinea. In nature, it can be found as a vine in forests, bushes, and on the edges of roads on mountain slopes, typically at higher altitudes.

What exactly does it look like? Wikipedia describes Jiaogulan as a dioecious climbing plant that attaches itself to supports with tendrils. Its most distinctive feature is its serrated leaves, which most often grow in groups of five. That’s why its Latin name has the word ‘pentaphyllum’ – meaning ‘five-leaf’ – in it. Its fruit is a small, purple gourd that is inedible to humans

Its resistance to the elements is also interesting. Jiaogulan can withstand freezing temperatures to approximately -15°C, with the above-ground part dying off during the winter and sprouting again in the spring. Of course, this means you can cultivate it yourself in a pot, but you should know that the taste and nutrient content depends on the conditions in which it grows, i.e., soil, sun, moisture, and temperature fluctuations.

From a phytochemical point of view, Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is a surprisingly ""rich"" herb – the literature mentions the isolation of more than 200 compounds, the largest part of which are saponins. The main groups of substances contained in Jiaogulan (listed from the most typical/most frequently mentioned):

• Triterpenoid saponins,
• flavonoids,
• phytosterols/sterols,
• triterpenols,
• ginsenosides.

And let’s not forget its proven effects on health:

• Normal blood lipid levels,normal blood sugar levels,
• cardiovascular system support,
• normal homocysteine levels,
• normal blood circulation and pressure,
• normal liver function,
• gut pH balance,
• natural defenses – immune system,
• antioxidant.

Herb packaging preview

We pack our herbs in a strong, zip-lock aluminum packet which allows you to easily re-seal its contents. Thanks to the hermetic seal, the herbs are protected against humidity, light and foreign odors, all of which could noticeably affect the quality of the brew and the herb itself.