Basic Introduction to Asbestos Eagle Tea
Eagle tea is a woody plant of the Lauraceae family, belonging to evergreen trees, with leaves arranged alternately, thick in texture, and dark green in color. It is widespread in mountainous areas of Sichuan. Its young branches and leaves can be dried and steeped like tea, locally known as eagle tea or old tea. The leaves of eagle tea are oval-shaped, green on the front and white on the back, hence it's also called white tea. Eagle tea contains a lot of aromatic oils and polyphenolic compounds. When steeped, it has a fragrant aroma and robust flavor, initially astringent then sweet, with a strong and lasting taste. Drinking it in summer is particularly refreshing and invigorating. In folk tradition, it is believed to have the effects of relieving heat and aiding digestion. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” records its uses for “stopping coughs, expelling phlegm, alleviating asthma, and quenching thirst.”
Nutritional Value
Eagle tea contains various components such as amino acids, mineral elements, vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, flavonoids, polyphenols, and more. Due to its high content of iron, selenium, zinc, and chromium, it is beneficial for improving the functions of the hematopoietic system and endocrine system. Other trace elements, such as rubidium, phosphorus, and zinc, have health benefits for the brain nerves and cardiovascular system. It has various health benefits for the human body, including quenching thirst, relieving summer heat, aiding digestion, detoxifying and reducing swelling, invigorating the mind, improving vision and digestion, dispersing stasis and stopping pain, stopping diarrhea and hiccups.
Product Characteristics
Rich in various trace elements beneficial to humans, the tea brews to an amber color, requiring a small amount of leaves to produce a large volume of liquid. Remarkably, the tea water does not spoil overnight during summer. It is a natural drink for relieving summer heat, capable of quenching thirst, removing greasiness, aiding weight loss, lowering blood pressure, and refreshing the mind. It has a miraculous effect on calming the mind and nourishing the spirit, hence it is called “longevity tea.” Regular consumption is beneficial for health. This pure wild ecological tea may not look appealing, but it has a very unique fragrance. After drinking, the aftertaste lingers, making it unforgettable upon first try.
Eagle tea is a woody plant of the Lauraceae family, referred to directly as the eagle tea tree in “The Sichuan Wild Economic Plant Catalogue.” It is an evergreen tree with leaves arranged alternately and a very thick texture, deep green in color. This tree is widespread in the mountainous areas of Sichuan, requiring a higher altitude for growth, and is more commonly found in places like Ya'an and Shifang. Its young branches and leaves, when dried, can be steeped like tea. Locals call it eagle tea, also known as old yin tea or old forest tea (in the Leshan and Emei regions). In particular, there is a custom in rural Sichuan of self-picking, self-making, and self-drinking eagle tea.
The main biochemical components of eagle tea do not include caffeine, so it does not have an excitatory effect and will not affect sleep. Moreover, its soluble sugar content is as high as 8.5%, giving it a fragrant and sweet aftertaste when drunk.
Tasting Method
Steeping with Boiling Water: Use boiling water to steep the tea. The tea-to-water ratio is 1:50, which can be adjusted according to personal preference.