Bitter infusion used in traditional Chinese medicine
Kuding (Chinese: 苦丁茶; pinyin: kǔdīng chá; lit. 'bitter nail tea'; pronounced [kʰù.tíŋ ʈʂʰǎ]) is a particularly bitter-tasting Chinese infusion, which due to their similarities in appearance is derived from several plant species.[1] The two most common plants used to make kuding are the wax tree species Ligustrum robustum and the holly species Ilex kaushue (synonym: Ilex kudingcha), the former being more commonly grown in Sichuan and Japan while the latter is most commonly grown and used in the rest of China.[2] Tea produced from Ligustrum or many species of Ilex is caffeine-free, although not Ilex paraguariensis, the source of mate drank in South America.[3][4][5]