How to Prepare Gynostemma Tea

Use a tea infuser with gynostemma tea.

Gynostemma is a plant from the cucumber family. The plant is grown in Southern China and can be dried and ground to use in tea recipes. Folk recipes say that gynostemma tea can increase life longevity and that it is a powerful antioxidant. The tea has a sweet taste, making it a good alternative for tea drinkers who don't care for the strong taste of green tea or the bitterness of black tea. Gynostemma is primarily found in whole leaf form, so you need to make it using a tea infuser. Does this Spark an idea?

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Teakettle
Mug
1 tsp. gynostemma tea
Small tea infuser (single serving size)

Instructions

- 1
  
  Boil water in a tea kettle.
- 2
  
  Add the water to a mug. You can warm the mug to keep the tea hot longer by pouring in hot water, letting it sit for a few minutes, then dumping it out before adding water for the tea.
- 3
  
  Place the gynostemma tea in the tea infuser.
- 4
  
  Add the tea infuser to the mug and let sit for three to five minutes. The longer you leave the infuser in the water, the stronger the tea.
- 5
  
  Remove the infuser and add milk or sugar if desired. Honey or sugar substitutes also sweeten a cup of tea.
- 6
  
  Enjoy your tea, but be cautious as it is very hot at first.

"Jiaogulan: China's "Immortality Herb"--Unlocking the Secrets of Nature's Powerful Adaptogen and Antioxidant"; Dr. Jialiu Liu and Michael Blumert; 1999
"The Ancient Wisdom of the Chinese Tonic Herbs"; Ron Teeguarden; 2000
"Wonder Herbs"; J. P. Saleeby; 2006