Uncaria vine

Uncaria homomalla

infusion

Infusion of the stem, drunk as a depurative in Indochina; in Vietnam its leaves used to replace tea.

Origin

From northeastern India to Sumatra

Season (United States)

all year round

Preparation

Pieces of dried stem are simmered for a quarter of an hour in water, which is strained and drunk; the stem is not eaten.

Did you know?

Its bark yields a gum close to gambier.