Heartleaf Dokudami Japanese Traditional Tea

A pleasant Japanese herbal tea with an earthy, crisp flavor and a subtle herbal-mint aroma.

Dokudami has long been enjoyed in Japan as a traditional detox, valued in folk practice for supporting regularity and the body's water balance.

• Promote the Body's Natural Detoxification
• Regulate Excess Water Balance
• Support Regularity
• Aid Weight Management

Easy to prepare. See how below.

Serve hot, cold, or over ice.

Wild-Harvested • All-Natural • Pesticide-free

Freshly picked in Miyazaki Prefecture and sun-dried.

About Dokudami

Dokudami is widely found throughout Japan and is easily recognized by its heart-shaped leaves and delicate white blossoms. Its scientific name is Houttuynia cordata, which is why it is also known in English as Heartleaf.

In Japanese herbal practice it is also known as Jūyaku (十薬), literally “ten medicines,” a traditional name associated with its reputation as a versatile wellness herb.

Dokudami is officially listed in the Japanese Pharmacopoeia as Houttuynia Herb (Jūyaku), which establishes identity and quality standards for the dried aerial parts of the plant harvested during flowering.

How to Brew Dokudami Cha

Quick Brew Method

The following instructions are for making 4 cups (800 ml total).

1. Add 5 g (2 heaping tablespoons) of dokudami leaves to a pot.
2. Add 4 cups of near-boiling water.
3. Brew for about 3 minutes.
4. Strain and serve hot, cold, or over ice.

Traditional Japanese Brew Method (Senjiru)

This traditional Japanese brewing method yields a deeper infusion.

1. Pour a little more than 4 cups of cold water into a pot.
2. Add 2 heaping tablespoons of dokudami leaves.
3. Heat to a full, rolling boil.
4. Turn the heat down and simmer for 15 minutes.
5. Turn the heat off and wait for 10 minutes.
6. Strain and serve.

References

• Houttuynia Herba (Jūyaku) - Japanese Pharmacopoeia, JP XVIII, 2021.
• Antioxidative Effects of Polyphenols in Leaves of Houttuynia cordata on Protein Fragmentation by Copper-Hydrogen Peroxide in Vitro - Journal of Medicinal Food. 2005;8(2):266-268. DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2005.8.266.
• Biological and Antibacterial Activities of the Natural Herb Houttuynia cordata Water Extract against the Intracellular Bacterial Pathogen Salmonella within the RAW 264.7 Macrophage - Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2008;31(11):2012-2017.
• Water Extract of Houttuynia cordata Thunb. Leaves Exerts Anti-Obesity Effects by Inhibiting Fatty Acid and Glycerol Absorption - Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology. 2010;56(2):150-156. DOI: 10.3177/jnsv.56.150.
• Chemical Composition and Hepatoprotective Effects of Polyphenol-Rich Extract from Houttuynia cordata Tea - Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2012;60(18):4641-4648. DOI: 10.1021/jf3008376.