A herb marketed as ‘Japanese tea’ and widely sold to tourists in Sapa has been found harmful to human health.
Doctor Hinh said, “For years, visitors have mistaken ‘Japanese tea’ for a sweet herb named Stevia, which is used by people with diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. This herb does not grow in Sapa.”
Similar, but different
‘Japanese tea’ has the scientific name of Hydrangea macrophylla Seginge var thunbergii Makino, and is part of the Hydrangeareae family. It has been grown in Sapa since 1992 to produce non-nicotine tobaccos under an order contract signed between the National Institute of Medicinal Materials and Japan’s Honso Company.
Initially, ‘Japanese tea’ was grown under a pilot project in Sapa and Bac Ha districts in Lao Cai and Tam Dao District in Vinh Phuc. The tea has grown well in Sapa and one tonne of its dry leaf was exported to Japan under a contract signed with the Japanese firm.
The Japanese later lowered purchasing prices and the Vietnamese institute terminated the contract in 2001.
However, ‘Japanese tea’ continues to be packaged and sold in Sapa for VND100,000 (USD4.85) per kilo, with packing describing the tea as being good for the liver and those suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. With an annual output of five tonnes of dry leaf, the tree has brought high returns to growers.
The People’s Committee of Sapa District in 2007 asked the National Institute for Medicinal Materials to sample ‘Japanese tea’ being sold in Sapa’s markets.
According to the institute’s research results, the tea’s lethal dosage stands at 37.5g/kg, showing its relatively high toxic content. Following the results the institute banned the sale of the tea.
Tanaka, Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan institute of Medical Science, had a meeting with Sapa District People’s Committee on the negative impact of the tea on human health. He said, “This tea tree did not originate from Japan, but China. Its extraction is used to protect walls from fungus and mould, not for people.”
Sapa District authorities have requested locals and travellers not to use ‘Japanese tea’ to avoid health risks.
Twenty eight local households which grow ‘Japanese tea’ have had to sell the product to a Hanoi-based firm for industrial processing.
The district will replace the plants with other medicinal herbs in the next few years.
‘Japanese tea’ originated from China, not Japan
People’s Committee Vice Chairman Doctor Nguyen Ngoc Hinh of Sapa District in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai revealed the information in an interview with DTiNews.Doctor Hinh said, “For years, visitors have mistaken ‘Japanese tea’ for a sweet herb named Stevia, which is used by people with diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. This herb does not grow in Sapa.”
Similar, but different
‘Japanese tea’ has the scientific name of Hydrangea macrophylla Seginge var thunbergii Makino, and is part of the Hydrangeareae family. It has been grown in Sapa since 1992 to produce non-nicotine tobaccos under an order contract signed between the National Institute of Medicinal Materials and Japan’s Honso Company.
Initially, ‘Japanese tea’ was grown under a pilot project in Sapa and Bac Ha districts in Lao Cai and Tam Dao District in Vinh Phuc. The tea has grown well in Sapa and one tonne of its dry leaf was exported to Japan under a contract signed with the Japanese firm.
The Japanese later lowered purchasing prices and the Vietnamese institute terminated the contract in 2001.
However, ‘Japanese tea’ continues to be packaged and sold in Sapa for VND100,000 (USD4.85) per kilo, with packing describing the tea as being good for the liver and those suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. With an annual output of five tonnes of dry leaf, the tree has brought high returns to growers.
The People’s Committee of Sapa District in 2007 asked the National Institute for Medicinal Materials to sample ‘Japanese tea’ being sold in Sapa’s markets.
According to the institute’s research results, the tea’s lethal dosage stands at 37.5g/kg, showing its relatively high toxic content. Following the results the institute banned the sale of the tea.
Tanaka, Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan institute of Medical Science, had a meeting with Sapa District People’s Committee on the negative impact of the tea on human health. He said, “This tea tree did not originate from Japan, but China. Its extraction is used to protect walls from fungus and mould, not for people.”
Sapa District authorities have requested locals and travellers not to use ‘Japanese tea’ to avoid health risks.
Twenty eight local households which grow ‘Japanese tea’ have had to sell the product to a Hanoi-based firm for industrial processing.
The district will replace the plants with other medicinal herbs in the next few years.
The Stevia herb (right) and ‘Japanese tea (left). Their leaves are relatively similar, but they have distinctly different characteristics
‘Japanese tea’ blossoming
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