At a glance
Yuqing small-leaf kuding is associated with Ligustrum robustum leaf material, distinct from large-leaf holly kuding. A place or bitter-tea name does not make different species and preparations interchangeable.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Chinese name | 余庆小叶苦丁茶 |
| Browsing group | Herbal infusion |
| Associated origin | Yuqing County, Zunyi, Guizhou; other small-leaf products need their own source identification |
| Material form | Identified prepared small-leaf Ligustrum material |
Taste and appearance
The original table describes tight clean even strands, vivid or lustrous green colour, clear bright yellow-green liquor, rich fresh aroma and slight bitterness followed by sweet refreshing flavour. The lower comparison is less tight or even. Infused leaves are soft lively tender green with some single leaves in lower tiers. Appearance does not authenticate a Yuqing lot.
The original liquor photograph is withheld because identical pixels were assigned to another tea name. Its named identity could not be confirmed; the original file is preserved.
The cover is the original material illustration. These images are not TeaPlain tasting samples or proof of origin, grade, age, authenticity or image rights clearance.
Grade characteristics
This preserves the earlier Chinese edition’s sensory comparison. It is not a complete verified current standard table and does not grade your packet. Plant material, growing area, processing and grade are separate details. Decorative star rankings are omitted.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare the grades.
| Feature | Extra grade (old comparison) | Grade 1 (old comparison) | Grade 2 (old comparison) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Tight even clean strands | Tight fairly even clean strands | Fairly tight fairly even clean strands |
| Dry colour | Vivid green | Vivid green | Lustrous green |
| Liquor | Clear yellow-green | Bright yellow-green | Bright yellow-green |
| Aroma | Rich fresh aroma | Rich fresh aroma | Fairly rich fresh aroma |
| Taste | Slightly bitter, sweet refreshing | Slightly bitter, sweet refreshing | Slightly bitter fragrant mellow |
| Infused material | Tender bright green soft lively even leaves | Bright green soft lively even leaves, some single leaves | Tender green soft lively fairly even leaves, some single leaves |
Inherited sensory comparisons retained without decorative stars. Not a complete verified current standard, identity test or authentication of the pictured lot.
Names and origin
The inherited material is a privet-family/Oleaceae product rather than the Ilex/Aquifoliaceae large-leaf material. An actual local producer describes cultivation and processed leaf products, so the old blanket entirely-wild claim is unsuitable. Its nutrient counts, sleep-friendly claim and ideal daily dose are not independent evidence for every packet. Verify a specific Yuqing protected-origin claim rather than treating all Sichuan or Jiangsu small-leaf tea as the same origin.
Everyday benefits
An unsweetened, clearly identified food-grade infusion can be enjoyed for flavour and as an alternative to a sweetened drink. The earlier therapeutic claims are not established for this cup. It is not a treatment or a substitute for food or prescribed care.
Who may enjoy this tea
For readers who enjoy an identified slightly bitter leaf infusion with sweet return.
When to take care
If taking medicines or Iron supplements, follow their instructions and ask a pharmacist about the actual product rather than assume that all herbal drinks have the same interactions. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, allergies and suitability for children need the identified ingredients and preparation; this page gives no medicinal dose.
How to brew
Original prose: glass or porcelain cup
The inherited method uses a heat-safe glass or porcelain cup, 1:50, 90–100°C / 194–212°F water, refilling at about one-third remaining and roughly three infusions. It gives no first steeping time. For an identified food-grade product only, an arithmetic example is 3 g with 150 mL Actual water; that is not a dose validated for every herb. Follow the complete packet instructions first. Different plant species, plant parts and processing cannot share one universal recipe.
These inherited directions are awaiting hands-on testing. Refilling changes the concentration and is not a new measured batch. Let the drink cool enough to sip; do not use a photograph to identify unknown plants.
Read the original illustration separately
Illustration: glass cup. Warm the empty cup, add 3 g, use 85°C / 185°F water to one-third, gently swirl, top up to seven-tenths and wait 2–3 minutes. Caption:1:50, refill at one-third, about three infusions. This ratio would mean 150 mL Actual water for 3g, but the drawing gives neither measured water nor capacity; fractions cannot establish it. This is separate from the prose’s higher temperature.
For ordinary teaware options, see brew without a gaiwan. Keep each complete method together instead of selecting temperature, dose and time from different preparations.
Adjust your cup
Identify the ingredients and follow the actual food product’s complete preparation instructions first. Once that is clear, adjust within those directions for taste. Do not increase the dose or boiling time of unknown plant material to make it suitable for drinking.
How to buy
Check exact botanical identity, plant part, food-use directions, full ingredients, producer, batch, origin claim and dates. A trade name, photograph or traditional medicinal reputation does not identify unknown plant material for drinking.
See buy your first Chinese tea for packet comparisons.
China price reference
Undated figures retained from the Chinese edition, in Chinese yuan (CNY). No original brand, batch, harvest or quotation date was recorded. These are not verified current retail quotes, a market average or manufacturer-suggested retail prices.
| Chinese-edition tier | CNY per 500 g (one jin) | Equivalent CNY per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Extra grade | 700 | 140 |
| Grade 1 | 450 | 90 |
Per 100 g is an arithmetic conversion, not a quoted packet. Do not infer a missing sensory or price tier. Compare actual growing area, style, harvest, roast, weight and channel. A currency conversion does not make a UK or US retail offer comparable to a China historical figure.
How to store
Original storage method
Keep the bag or food-safe container tightly sealed, in a cool dry place protected from light, moisture and strong smells. Reseal after taking a portion and check the closure, particularly during humid seasonal changes. Keep it away from cooking steam, the dishwasher, sunny windows and spices. Follow the product’s date and storage label; no universal shelf life is established here.
The old suggestion of refrigeration for slow use is conditional on the actual label. Seal against fridge moisture and smells; let a cold pack warm while still sealed before opening. This does not establish a universal shelf-life extension.
Origin, processing and history
The original chart labels heat-fixing, dehydration, rolling, strand shaping and drying. It illustrates a general style, not a wild-harvest certificate or universal botanical identity.
Common questions
Is small-leaf kuding the same plant as large-leaf kuding?
Not automatically. Yuqing-associated Ligustrum leaf products and large-leaf Ilex products have different identities. Verify species, part and producer rather than applying the same recipe or medicine claim to both.
Can I move one number from this recipe into a different vessel?
Keep leaf form, measured dose and actual water, temperature, timing and separation together. Nominal capacity or a fill fraction is not a measured ratio.
Compare Large Leaf Kuding Tea, or browse the herbal infusion overview.
Editorial notes and updates
Updated 16 October 2026. Valid original descriptions, sensory comparisons, prose and image methods, storage handling, China price figures and usable pictures are retained with their scope. Doubtful medical, ranking and exact historical claims are revised or omitted. Current full grade clauses and historical prices are not certified. Original Chinese-labelled graphics have English reading notes; no TeaPlain tasting or brewing test is claimed. Internal research and image audits record the decisions.