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Vine Tea Benefits

Gain an in-depth understanding of vine tea benefits, covering dihydromyricetin, natural flavonoids, antioxidant and metabolic research, Enshi selenium-rich features, the truth about white frost, and key points for safe consumption. Understand existing scientific evidence and research limitations while mastering key tasting points.

10/13/20268 min read

References

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Rayman, M. P. (2012). Selenium and human health. The Lancet, 379(9822), 1256–1268. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61452-9

Sun, Y., Wang, Z., Gong, P., Yao, W., Ba, Q., & Wang, H. (2023). Review on the health-promoting effect of adequate selenium status. Frontiers in Nutrition, 10, 1136458. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1136458

Ventura, M., Melo, M., & Carrilho, F. (2017). Selenium and thyroid disease: From pathophysiology to treatment. International Journal of Endocrinology, 2017, 1297658. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/1297658

Wu, R.-R., Li, X., Cao, Y.-H., Peng, X., Liu, G.-F., Liu, Z.-K., Yang, Z., Liu, Z.-Y., & Wu, Y. (2023). China medicinal plants of the Ampelopsis grossedentata—A review of their botanical characteristics, use, phytochemistry, active pharmacological components, and toxicology. Molecules, 28(20), 7145. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28207145

Zhang, Q., Zhao, Y., Zhang, M., Zhang, Y., Ji, H., & Shen, L. (2021). Recent advances in research on vine tea, a potential and functional herbal tea with dihydromyricetin and myricetin as major bioactive compounds. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis, 11(5), 555–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpha.2020.10.002

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Scientific Understanding from Natural Flavonoids, Dihydromyricetin, to Selenium-Rich Nutrition

Sometimes, a cup of tea is more than just quenching thirst; it is a rare moment to slow down in a busy daily life.

Vine tea from the mountain wilderness of Enshi, Hubei, is one such distinctive plant-based tea. It is not the green tea, black tea, or oolong tea we are familiar with, but is mainly made from the tender stems and leaves of Ampelopsis grossedentata (a plant in the grapevine family). Vine tea has a long history of consumption in parts of China, and its abundant natural flavonoids—especially dihydromyricetin (DHM)—have gradually become a focus of modern scientific research (Zhang et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2023).

TeaVita carefully selects vine tea from Enshi, Hubei. These mountain forests possess unique geological and botanical resources, and Enshi's selenium-rich environment adds another special feature to local plant research. A 2026 study directly focused on selenium-enriched Ampelopsis grossedentata to explore the relationship between selenium and plant components like dihydromyricetin (Zhou et al., 2026).

When we talk about the health benefits of vine tea, we hope to go beyond traditional claims and place a cup of tea back into scientific evidence and daily life. We neither exaggerate a cup of tea nor underestimate a leaf.

What is Vine Tea?

Vine tea is not made from the traditional tea plant Camellia sinensis. What we usually call vine tea is mainly made from the tender stems and leaves of Ampelopsis grossedentata, a type of herbal tea with local consumption traditions. Modern phytochemical research has identified various chemical components in Ampelopsis grossedentata, among which flavonoids—including dihydromyricetin, myricetin, and other plant polyphenols—have received the most attention (Zhang et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2023).

Therefore, the characteristics of vine tea are not quite the same as those of regular tea leaves. It does not typically feature caffeine, theophylline, or traditional tea polyphenols as its primary characteristics; instead, it is known for its rich natural flavonoids. From its herbal aroma to the warm smoothness and sweet aftertaste that slowly unfold after drinking, vine tea has a character that belongs to mountain plants.

What is the "White Frost" on the Surface of Vine Tea?

When seeing vine tea for the first time, many people ask: Is the white substance on the leaves mold?

After fresh vine tea leaves undergo processing steps such as fixation, rolling, spreading, and drying, some soluble flavonoids may migrate to the leaf surface and form light-colored crystals. As a result, the finished tea often displays an appearance like a layer of "white frost". Normal crystals are usually distributed evenly, dry to the touch, and have no obvious moldy or rancid smell. However, it is particularly important to note that having white frost does not mean higher potency, and a thicker layer of white frost does not directly equate to higher quality. The amount of white frost is affected by factors such as plant variety, raw material maturity, processing method, temperature, and humidity. Reliable judgment still requires looking at raw material sources, processing quality, storage conditions, and product testing data.

However, if the tea leaves show localized fuzzy patches, abnormal discoloration, damp clumping, or smell sour or moldy, you should stop drinking it.


What Are the Health Benefits of Vine Tea? Understanding Vine Tea through Modern Research

Vine tea has a long history of folk consumption in China, and modern research is gradually focusing on its flavonoid components, especially dihydromyricetin. Research literature has explored areas including antioxidants, inflammatory responses, glucose and lipid metabolism, liver-related mechanisms, and other biological activities (Zhang et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2023). However, there is a key premise to understanding vine tea benefits: daily brewed vine tea, concentrated vine tea extract, and purified dihydromyricetin are not the same thing. Their actual dosage, concentration, and human absorption can vary significantly.

01 | Vine Tea and Antioxidant Research

Antioxidant activity is one of the most frequently explored areas in vine tea research. Ampelopsis grossedentata contains abundant flavonoids, among which dihydromyricetin possesses multiple phenolic hydroxyl groups, showing free radical scavenging and other antioxidant activities in experimental studies (Zhang et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2023). More notably, a 2026 study on selenium-enriched Ampelopsis grossedentata from Enshi found that hot water extracts enriched with selenium had higher levels of total selenium, dihydromyricetin, and myricetin, performing better in various in vitro antioxidant tests; total selenium content also showed a strong correlation with several antioxidant indicators (Zhou et al., 2026). However, research indicates that vine tea and its flavonoid components possess antioxidant activity worth studying.

02 | Vine Tea and Metabolism Research

Another area of interest in vine tea research is glucose and lipid metabolism. Existing experimental studies and limited human studies have explored the potential effects of Ampelopsis grossedentata, vine tea extract, or dihydromyricetin on certain indicators related to blood glucose and lipid metabolism (Zhang et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2023). Research in this field is still developing, and products, concentrations, dosages, and study subjects vary across different studies. Therefore, drinking vine tea daily can serve as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. (Note: If you are taking medication for blood sugar or lipid control, you should never reduce or discontinue your prescription drugs on your own because of drinking vine tea.)


03 | Vine Tea, Liver Health, Inflammation, and Microbial Research

Dihydromyricetin and Ampelopsis grossedentata extracts also frequently appear in liver-related research. Some animal and laboratory studies have explored their relationship with alcohol metabolism, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and liver cell protection mechanisms (Zhang et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2023). In cell and laboratory studies, Ampelopsis grossedentata and its flavonoid components have also shown anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities worth further investigation (Zhang et al., 2021; Wu et al., 2023).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1 | What components do the health benefits of vine tea mainly come from?

Currently, one of the main components of interest in vine tea research is natural flavonoids, represented by dihydromyricetin (DHM). Experimental and some human studies are exploring its relationship with antioxidants, glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, and other physiological mechanisms; Enshi selenium-rich vine tea also offers selenium as another research direction for trace elements (Zhang et al., 2021; Zhou et al., 2026). Therefore, a more accurate understanding is that vine tea possesses phytochemical and nutritional characteristics that deserve ongoing research.

Q2 | Are there side effects to drinking vine tea?

For general healthy adults, drinking moderate amounts of vine tea fits easily into daily routines, but special populations and individuals taking medication need extra caution. Long-term human safety and drug interaction data remain limited. Therefore, pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, patients with liver or kidney disease, or people taking prescription medications should consult a medical professional first (Wu et al., 2023).

Q3 | Where can I buy Enshi vine tea in Hong Kong?

To purchase TeaVita Enshi Vine Tea, the most direct way is through official TeaVita sales channels to confirm product origin, batch information, and product details.

Q4 | What is the role of selenium in Enshi vine tea?

Selenium is an essential trace element for the human body. It forms a key component of various selenoproteins, participating in antioxidant defense, thyroid hormone metabolism, and other normal physiological functions (Rayman, 2012; Ventura et al., 2017).

Q5 | Does vine tea need a preliminary rinse? What water temperature should be used?

Vine tea does not require a preliminary rinse. We recommend taking about 3–5 grass of tea leaves, brewing directly with 200–300 mL of hot water above 95°C, and re-steeping about 3–4 times.

Q6 | Does more white frost mean greater health benefits?

No. The white crystals on the surface of vine tea are usually related to the migration and precipitation of soluble flavonoids during processing, but the amount of frost is affected by raw materials, maturity, processing methods, temperature, and humidity. Therefore, white frost alone does not prove the highest flavonoid content, best quality, or stronger health benefits. If the white substance appears fuzzy in spots, the tea leaves clump due to moisture, or there is a moldy or sour smell, stop drinking it immediately.

Q7 | Can vine tea replace medicine?

No. Vine tea is an herbal tea and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, nor can it replace prescription medications. Even if studies on vine tea, vine tea extract, or dihydromyricetin show noteworthy biological activity, these findings cannot be directly extrapolated to mean daily brewed tea provides the same clinical efficacy.

Disclaimer: This article is for general tea, nutrition, and educational reference only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or disease prevention claims. Research results on vine tea, vine tea extracts, and single active plant ingredients cannot be directly interchanged. If you are receiving medical treatment, taking medication, pregnant, breastfeeding, or have special health needs, please consult a qualified healthcare professional first.