Made from the leaves of the Japanese Mulberry plant, Kuwanoha (桑の葉茶) tea is native to the Shishiori area of Kesennuma in the coastal Miyagi prefecture of Japan. Similar to a fine Japanese green tea, it melds oceanic elements with a smooth, mouth-watering umami flavour.
It has been traditionally drunk in Japan for centuries because of its health benefits.
Mulberry leaves are first mentioned in Shennong’s Materia Medica (神农本草经), a Chinese medicinal plant book, whose origin is believed to be the first century BC. In that book, mulberry leaves were described as useful for relieving cough, high blood pressure and palsy. When dried in the sun, the resulting tea was called 神仙茶, which loosely translated means “immortal mountain wizard tea”.
Silk making reached Japan by the fourth century AD. Since the mulberry plant is fundamental for silk production, Japan has a long history of cultivating the mulberry plant as well.
Once highly revered as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the health benefits of Kuwanoha tea now enjoy the support of modern science. According to countless studies, this beverage can lower cholesterol, support the immune system, promote weight loss 
and even reduce the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
Every sip of Kuwanoha tea comes with numerous health benefits. For starters, it contains an abundance of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This includes Vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA), Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), Phytosterol, Quercetin, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron and Zinc.
Of these constituents, Kuwanoha tea contains six times more calcium than Green Tea, 25 times more than milk and 40 times more than cabbage. It also has 2.5 times more iron than Green Tea and 10 times more than spinach.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF KUWANOHA HERBAL TEA
Additionally, drinking Kuwanoha tee can lower “bad” LDL cholesterol. According to a 2013 study published in BioMed Research International patients were given 280 grams of Kuwanoha powder, three times a day, over three months. By the end of the study, serum triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly reduced which would aid a healthy heart when drinking this herbal tea. A study presented in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition further supported these findings.
carbohydrates from being absorbed by the body (and sugars from entering your bloodstream). A research group in Japan found that Kuwanoha contain compounds that inhibit intestinal enzymes from passing sugars into the bloodstream. This inhibitor compound known as 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), can only be extracted from the mulberry leaf. This ability makes the herb of use to two distinct populations. Firstly, for diabetics who need to keep their blood sugar levels down. Secondly, with its ability to block sugar absorption, Kuwanoha is a perfect herb for those looking to lose weight. This activity has a number of interesting possibilities for people on weight loss regimes and for diabetics trying to keep blood sugar levels down.
Beta carotene is a precursor to Vitamin A and is generally found in red/orange pigmented vegetables such as carrots and onions. It is nourishing for the skin and improves eye health.
- Controls appetite
- Reduces sugar cravings
- Regulates carbohydrate absorption
- Lowers blood sugar levels
- Lowers cholesterol
- Improves vision
- Source of Calcium, Iron & Vitamin C
Kuwanoha tea produces a dark green liquid when brewed and has a stronger vegetable taste than tea, but little bitterness and a faint sweetness. The freshly picked leaves are prepared by being cut into strips in the traditional tanzaku-giri (短冊きり) style for optimal brewing.