Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty called it “Wujia” in “Compendium of Materia Medica”, also known as “Wuhua”. Li Shizhen said that the herb with “five leaves” is the best. “Wujia” actually means “five best”.
Acanthopanax has been a precious tea drink since ancient times.From its many names, such as: five ginseng, Russian ginseng, Soviet ginseng, Siberian ginseng, and tiger ginseng. It can be seen that people’s impression of it is as famous as ginseng.
The Taste of Acanthopanax Tea
The young leaves of Acanthopanax senticosus are prepared by the method of making tea, which can be made into tea for drinking.
The brewed tea has a faint grassy aroma and a brownish yellowish color.
Take a sip of soursop tea, and you will immediately feel the rich natural flavor in your mouth. It does not have a bright floral fragrance but is accompanied by a hint of bitterness. But after drinking it, the bitterness gradually disappears, and the sweetness is smooth to the mouth.
“Osmanthus Room Miscellaneous Notes” mentioned: The white-haired old man has a rosy complexion like a child, and he is riding a horse in front of the mountain in a strong body. When asked how the elderly can maintain a healthy body, the elderly replied that they often drink Wujia tea*.
*Original text: “The white-haired boy-faced old man, chasing Liuhua in front of the mountain, asked Weng what he got, and often took Wujia tea.”
There are rich connotations under the barbed appearance
In “Shen Nong’s Materia Medica”, it is listed as top grade. It means non-toxic, drinking more is good for your health.
The main ingredients of Acanthopanax include: a variety of sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins A, B1, B2 and a large amount of carotene; it also contains sesamin, sterols, coumarin, flavonoids, suberin, non-aromatic Unsaturated organic acids, and trace minerals such as manganese, copper, magnesium, cobalt, nickel, zinc, iron, sodium, potassium, calcium, etc.
This can explain why eleuthero is highly valued and loved for its high nutritional value in the Chinese society that pays attention to health care.
In addition, the young shoots of Acanthopanax are also edible, and they are high-quality wild vegetables. It can be stir-fried, cold dressed, and soup. There are many more recipes waiting for you to discover. The seeds of Acanthopanax can be squeezed for oil and made into soap.
Acanthopanax has endless stories, all of which praise its efficacy. Such a good plant cannot only be known to us. Share it with you today. One day, you will also experience a story about eleuthero.
