Immortalitea Gynostemma Tea USDA Organic Jiaogulan Loose Leaf Tea | Naturally Sweet Adaptogen | AMPK Metabolic Activator | Caffeine-Free Herbal Tea 3.52 ozUSDA Organic

This is a very enjoyable tea; I like the initial tangy taste. I also feel terrific after drinking this tea - energetic and more focused. Good value!

I've sampled this organic jiaogulan over the past half decade, and I have to say that this has been by far my favorite brand. You used to be able to buy regeneration usa's organic jiaogulan here, but it's not longer on amazon. I wouldn't be surprised if this company squashed the competition. I've tried other brands besides those two from chinese companies, but they've had twigs in them and the flavor and effect of them makes me think it's not even jiaogulan. So if you do buy jiag, stick to this one or regeneration's brand.So why is this brand better? Regeneration's jiaogulan tends to be a little speedier. This jiaogulan has a much smoother flavor, and it's more relaxing. In addition, from my (completely unscientific) observation, it seems as though this jiaogulan has more saponins. Why do I think that? because it tends to be foamier/more bubbles when I brew it with the same amount than with regeneration's brand. I know a lot of people aren't familiar with jiaogulan's effects, and I'm quite familiar with it, so I'll explain how it has affected me.So what can you expect when you take jiaogulan?From having taken this herb for the past half decade, I can tell you how it affects me. It's anecdotal and by no means is scientific, but I still think it's useful to mention. For me, when I initially drink jiag, it has an immediate calming effect. It's slightly stronger than chamomile. If I put my hand inside a cup of warm, brewed jiag, I notice that it relaxes my hand muscles. I also notice that it has a mood stabilizing effect on me. And more interestingly, it seems like it's a mild nootropic--it makes me think better overall, somewhat like inhaling mint except, again, stronger. If I take it regularly (3 cups/day, 1 tsp jiag per cup 10 mins brewed), for about 3 days, I notice that it makes me sleep ealier in the day, and I wake up feeling more refreshed.If I do this for maybe about 2-4 weeks, I notice that I still go to sleep early, but I wake up super early (like at sunrise), again refreshed, like my sleep cycle has been used to waking up early morning for a long time. When I wake up early, I'm also extremely energetic for about the first 4-5 hours of the morning, and there's no crash later but it just tapers off slowly. I also wake up with a massive erection. In general it seems to stimulate sexual desire and strong erections throughout the day, but especially first thing in the morning. I've never had such profound effects from it's semi-cousin, ginseng (which contains ginsenosides, similar saponins to jiaogulans gypenosides). Regeneration's brand tends to have these same effects, except the morning rush tends to feel speedier and jittery, sometimes anxiety-provoking. It feels smooth with this brand, which is why I like it better.Don't be afraid of this tea, definitely give it a try. Just keep in mind that it's a blood thinner, so if you're on any blood thinning or clotting medications (including aspirin), it's probably contraindicated.

Very good quality tea

Great benefits from drinking this tea! I have some digestive problems from gluten sensitivity. Coffee is out! Sometimes even regular tea will bother me. This tea never gives me problems! I do not feel the caffeine loss when I drink it in the morning, and I can drink it as late as I want, and not stay awake. I can reuse the leaves at least three times during the day, and it just seems to taste better every time. The only things to remember...not to use water that is actually a rolling boil, and don't brew for too long the first time. Then, brew longer each time you use the leaves. If it tastes bitter, either your water was too hot, you used too much tea, or you brewed it for too long. I distract easily, and sometimes let it brew too long. I have found that simply adding more water in the brewed tea will mellow the flavor. The taste is different. If you are used to sweet tea, with milk and sugar, this is very different. It has an herbal taste that you will actually prefer, once you get used to it. There are so many benefits to drinking this tea regularly, that it's worth taking the time to appreciate it! I can honestly say it wasn't my favorite tea the first time I drank it. I stuck with it, and now I enjoy it! I also no longer get up every two hours (or less) all night long. Yes, I still get up, but only a couple of times now. It works for me!

This tea is calming. It gives me a feeling of peace (about half an hour after drinking it). I had my first cup while going through a very difficult situation. I had no expectations and couldn't remember precisely what had led me to purchasing it. The relaxation lasts for a few hours, I think, and there is no letdown phase. Also, there are no side effects or anything. It's not like medication.I have also found that it makes me more alert when I need to be alert but doesn't prevent me sleeping when I have it close to bed (probably because I'm more relaxed). This is very strange, but I've tested it out many times. Once, I felt too tired to work out with my husband, but after I had a cup of tea and sat around for a bit, I felt better, and our workout went well. Then, we were both anxious before bed (a different day, I think), and this helped us feel calmer.I really like the taste of the tea. There is a subtle sweetness to it.The first time I made some for my husband before work on a morning after he'd slept terribly, I didn't tell him it had calmed me (because then he stubbornly insists it won't work for him). I emailed him at his office and asked how he was feeling, if he had liked the tea. He responded, "I feel peaceful when I have no reason to" (meaning everything was insane in the office).The packaging has been changed, and there are no longer instructions on the back. The company sends an email message with instructions, but if you are using super fast shipping (like I did) and receive the tea first, you might be a bit disconcerted. I figured out how to brew the tea, of course--a kind purchaser sent me the instructions, and they are also photographed at the top of the order page. However, I wrote the company because I wanted to send the tea to others as a gift. They said they changed their packaging to save money, meaning all their teas are now the same on the back, without instructions or information.(I later remembered what led me to purchasing the tea: I've been trying out adaptogens with great success. It's interesting figuring out which ones work for me and adjusting how I take them. This is the first one in a tea form I've tried.)