Jiaogulan Tea Recipes

Uses for Jiaogulan Herbal Tea: Recipes and Recommendations

Directions for making a Jiaogulan Herbal Tea

One of the easiest and most popular ways of preparing Jiaogulan is to brew a tea. There are two types of teas: infusions and decoctions. If you have ever poured hot water over a tea bag, you have made an infusion; an infusion is simply herbs steeped in hot water. A decoction is herbs boiled in water. When you simmer cinnamon sticks and cloves in apple cider, you're making a decoction.

Jiaogulan Organic Tea Infusion by the Cup

Boil pure water (spring water is our favorite) and infuse fresh Jiaogulan leaf. Use 1 teaspoon/1gm of Jiaogulan for an 8oz/250ml cup. Infuse the leaf for about 3 to 10 minutes. Enjoy your tea while nibbling on the settling sweet leaves; there's no need for a tea bag.

Jiaogulan has a delicate flavor that is easily compromised by chemical additives in tap water. To enjoy the best cup of Jiaogulan possible, use only pure water. Unlike most teas, our Jiaogulan does not get bitter after infusion. The longer it sits, the sweeter it gets.

Jiaogulan Herbal Tea Infusion by the Pot

Jiaogulan by the pot ~ use a screened pot or tea strainer. Make sure to leave plenty of room for the leaves to expand. Add a teaspoon of Jiaogulan for each 8oz/250ml of water. Add an extra spoon of tea for the pot. Cover the leaves with boiled water and rinse for a about 10 or 15 seconds. Pour off the rinse water to remove any residue or dust. Cover the leaves a second time with boiled water and steep for 3 to 15 minutes.

Jiaogulan is also great served chilled. Make a pot in the morning and place it in the refrigerate to enjoy all day long in the hot season.

Jiaogulan Sun Tea Recipe

Use a clear glass jar and add a teaspoon of Jiaogulan for each 8oz/250ml of water. Cover the jar and place in direct sunlight for 1 to 2 hours. Enjoy your Jiaogulan sun tea as is or chill and serve over ice.

Directions for making a Jiaogulan Herbal Tea as a Decoction

If you really appreciate the a full flavored Jiaogulan tea infusion, then you’ll be amazed at how much more you can receive. Make a Jiaogulan Decoction by hard boiling the leaves for 1 to 3 minutes in pure water. Remove from the fire and cover the pot or transfer into an insulated thermos with the leaves. Enjoy all day long.

Jiaogulan Herbal Tea is great chilled.

Place your infused tea in the refrigerator or pour over ice. Now you can enjoy drinking healthy and delicious tea even in warm weather.

Jiaogulan in an Anti-Aging WholeFoodBar

We knew someone would eventually figure out this great application of Jiaogulan Tea Powder. The folks at Regenration have done just that. Click on the image here to order your own...

Click on the image find out more...

Using the Infused Jiaogulan Leaves

After you’ve enjoy a pot of Jiaogulan tea, why use the already infused leaves.

Internal Uses for Jiaogulan

Throw your infused Jiaogulan leaves into salads, pasta or stir fry. The leaves will add roughage and you’ll get a slightly sweet/bitter taste added to your entrée. Use dried Jiaogulan leaves in baking – cookies, cakes, muffins and even ice cream.

In Japan, Jiaogulan was discovered as an effective and healthy natural sweetener more than 20 years ago. Today you can find Jiaogulan in Japanese ice cream and bottled drinks.

Topical Uses for Jiaogulan

Apply Jiaogulan leaves as a compress to give yourself a facial. Put Jiaogulan leaves in cheese cloth or a stocking. Apply to areas of dry or rough skin. Try this on an elbow during the dry, cold months of winter. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Our production workers powder Jiaogulan for use in capsules and baking. But, Jiaogulan powder can also be used in cosmetics, soaps, creams and shampoos. After a day working the grinding machine, our workers get lots of compliments from loved ones. They say that the powder gets on there forearms and keeps them soft for a couple of weeks. See how to make Jiaogulan Massage Oils and Salve below.

Directions for making a Jiaogulan Herbal Massage Oil

Use Jiaogulan in Massage Oil to make your skin smooth and more radiant. The method for extracting Jiaogulan's active ingredients into a carrier oil are similar to making a tincture (see below.) Select an oil by determining your need for use below.

Jiaogulan massage oil: Carrier Oil Listing

• We usually use an organic extra-Virgin olive oil for massage and dry skin support
• For face creams you may wish to use almond, coconut, sesame or another good quality oil
• Select other oils based on their own medicinal properties

Cover jiaogulan leaves with oil. Keep the oil slightly warm during the extraction process. Use a warmer if you would like to speed up the process. Shake/stir the jiaogulan a couple of times a day. Leave it in the oil from 3 days to 2 weeks.

Jiaogulan's active ingredients saponins/gypenosides dissolve in oil (and water). Press the Jiaogulan leaves through several layers of cheesecloth to extract the oil. Add any scent desired and store in a dark, glass jar in a cool place.

Use Jiaogulan Oil and Jiaogulan Tea in combination to strengthened and beautify skin weakened or damaged by smoke, pollution, harsh weather and stress. Jiaogulan is renowned for enhancing blood circulation and flow. Increased circulation contributes to your body's tone by making your skin fuller, fresher, relaxed and elastic.

Making your own Jiaogulan Salve

For making salve you follow the recipe above for oil. After you have your jiaogulan oil to the scent or strength you desire, warm it up just enough so it will melt wax. You add about 1 Tbls. of organic beeswax for every cup of oil. Stir beeswax into the warmed oil until its dissolved. Pour into dark glass containers and close with a lid. If you find your salve is not as thick as you wish you can reheat it and add more beeswax.

Directions for making a Jiaogulan Tincture with Vodka

1 Glass Jar (dark glass preferred)
1 Part Jiaogulan Leaves
5 Parts 100 Proof Alcohol
(Russia Standard Vodka is our preference)

Place the Jiaogulan leaves in a glass jar with a tight lid and cover with vodka. Shake well and store in a dark, cool place. Top off the jar everyday until the leaves are fully expanded and covered with vodka. Shake the bottle once or twice a day for 30 days. Formation of small bubbles is indicative of saponins/gypenosides; the active ingredient within the herb. Strain and squeeze the leaves to remove all vodka. Throw away the leaves (Chinese people are known to keep the leaves in the tincture for years) and store in a cool, dark place. The tincture will keep for many years.

Jiaogulan Tincture Serving Suggestions

We know that alcohol extracts the gypenosides (active ingredient) from Jiaogulan and helps to get them into the body as quickly as possible. Start by taking a few drops of tincture under your tongue and work your way up to the following serving suggestions:

Take 1 to 3 teaspoons daily

Some people find that Jiaogulan Tincture gives them a scratchy throat or makes them cough. If you have similar experience: chase your Jiaogulan tincture with water or swish it around in your mouth will a little saliva before you swallow.

Spiritual Slant: empower our tincture with healthy energy. Start your tincture of the first day of the new moon and complete your tincture 28 days later when the moon cycle starts over. When you shake your tincture everyday, pray or chant a mantra for good health and vitality.

• Moon Phases - 1990-2005
• Interactive Moon Phase Finder - a nice tool for finding the condition of the moon based on a given date.

How to make a Tincture with Vinegar

The recipe for making a tincture with organic apple cider vinegar is the same as with 100 proof alcohol. The shelf life, however, of this tincture is only one year where as alcohol tincture can last 100 years or more. You also get the added health benefits associated with drinking apple cider.

• See the benefits of apple cider here www.LifeEvents.org/apple-cider-vinegar-with-honey.htm

Jiaogulan Jelly - Here is a recipe for "Preserving Youth Jelly".

5 teaspoons jiaogulan
2 teaspoons agar-agar powder
85g/3 oz. granulated sugar
A few drops of rose or jasmine essence
Creme fraiche, to serve (optional)

1. Add jiaogulan to 500ml/1 pint of hot water to make a strong infusion. Let steep for 20 minutes.
2. Pour the strained tea into a saucepan and sprinkle the agar-agar powder over the surface. Bring slowly to the boil and stir until the agar-agar has dissolved. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the flower essence, and then pour the mixture into the individual jelly moulds or bowls. Set aside to cool, and then leave to set for a few hours in the refrigerator.

Serve with creme fraiche, if you like.
Serves 4.

What is the recipe for Thai Tea?

This area is not about Jiaogulan, but lots of people ask us this question. How do you make the milky-sweet Thai tea common in Thai restaurants around the world?

In Thailand this tea is called Cha Yen and it’s important that you order it that way in-country as there or many other kinds of tea served in here. Cha Yen literally translates as Tea Cool - Chilled Tea.

Traditional Thai Iced Tea Recipe – Cha Yen from Thailand

1 cup Thai Tea (Cha Thai)
6 cups Water
1 cup Sugar
1 can Evaporative Milk
Half-and-Half cream (a western touch)

1. Bring the water to a boil in a large saucepan.
2. Add the tea and remove the pan from heat.
3. Stir to submerge all the tea leaves in the water.
4. Steep for about 5 minutes.
5. Pour the brew through a coffee filter or a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher.
6. Add the sugar to the hot tea and stir to dissolve.
7. Cool to room temperature.
8. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
9. Fill tall glasses with crushed ice.
10. Add enough of the tea to fill the glasses to within 1 inch from the top.
11. Then float 3 to 4 tablespoons of evaporated milk over the ice in each glass.
12. For a taste of the west, include a half-and-half creamer with, or instead of, evaporative milk

Traditionally the tea used to make Cha Yen is a low-quality black tea grown in the northern hills of Thailand. The tea is placed in a strainer and boiling water is poured over it 4 or 5 times. The tea becomes a muddy red color and is VERY strong. The tea is poured into a plastic bag over lots of ice, sugar-water syrup is added, evaporative milk is poured over the top, a straw is inserted into the baggy and you are handed your personal package of yummy Cha Yen.

Thai restaurants around the world use Cha Thai found in Asian supermarkets. We feel, however, Thai Tea is best made with a Grade A Oolong Tea; it is certainly more healthy for you. We have the freshest possible High-Grade Oolong available Direct-from-the-Source here in Thailand. Order yours here.

Do you have your own ideas for how to use Jiaogulan. If you would like to share them, please contact us.

Thank you for visiting.

Bulk Order Organic Jiaogulan Tea direct from the source in Northern Thailand.

Available for Personal Use or Packaged for Resell.