Specimens reported from China as the Indian species Lithocarpus polystachyus (Wallich ex A. de Candolle) Rehder are referable to Lithocarpus litseifolius[].

Common Name: Baise Tiancha

General Information

Lithocarpus litseifolius is an evergreen tree growing up to 20 metres tall
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. This is one of several species that are used to make Chinese sweet tea, a beverage that is drunk for refreshment and also for its various health-promoting properties
Lithocarpus litseifolius has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - northeast India, Myanmar, southern China, Vietnam, Laos

Habitat

Broad-leaved evergreen forests, dense forests; at elevations from 500 - 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Insects, Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Lithocarpus litseifolius is a plant of the moist tropics, where it is usually found at elevations up to 2,500 metres[]. The varous species in this genus usually grow in regions where there can be year-round rainfall, generally disliking dry seasons.
In the wild, Lithocarpus species are mainly found in well-drained soils, often growing on slopes. In cultivation they tend to be tolerant of a range of soil textures and to prefer an acid to neutral pH. Young plants usually grow sucessfully in the shade of woodland, but older trees like a more sunny position. Established plants are drought resistant[].
This species is harvested on a large scale for its tender leaves that are used to make a tea and also healthy food additives. The young leaves can be harvested two or three times per year in areas along the Yangtze River[]..

Edible Uses

The tender leaves and young flowering spikes are used to make a refreshing beverage known as tiancha (sweet tea), which also has beneficial medicinal properties[].

We have no specific information for this species, but the seed (or acorn) is a rich source of carbohydrates and would almost certainly have been eaten by traditional peoples, especially in times of shortage. The main disadvantage is that the seed is also likely to contain bitter-tasting, astringent tannins. Traditionally, these tannins would have been largely removed either by leaching the seeds in water or by baking them. The seeds can be eaten raw but would usually be cooked whole or be dried and ground into a powder that can then be used to make a gruel, or as a thickener in soups and stews, or as an additive to flour for making bread, cakes etc[].
The broadly conical, subglobose acorn is 8 - 15mm long and 12 - 20mm wide with a thin, bony shell[].

Medicinal

This is one of four species that are used in Guangxi, China to make the ethnomedicine tiancha (sweet tea). This species is known as Baise-tiancha. The other three species are Rubus suavissimus S.K.Lee (Yaoshan-tiancha); Engelhardia roxburghiana Wall. (Guiping-tiancha); and Mycetia sinensis (Hemsl.) Craib (Longzhou-tiancha)[].
Tiancha is used chiefly in the treatment of hypertension and diabetes[].

The tender leaves and young flower spikes of this species have been used to make Chinese sweet tea since ancient times. They contain compounds that yield a sweet flavour and have been used to make sweeteners and healthy sweet tea beverages[].
The flavonoid dihydrochalcone has been found to be abundant in this tree. This compound is known to have anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and bacteriostatic effects, as well having the ability to improve memory, prevent diabetes, and lower blood pressure and blood lipid levels[].
Triterpenoids, also detected in this tree, have been used to relieve coughing[].

Other Uses

The bark of most species is rich in tannins and can be used as a dye and preservative for ropes etc[].

Propagation

Seed - it quickly loses viability if it is allowed to dry out. It can be stored moist and cool, but is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a nursery seed bed, though it must be protected from mice, squirrels etc. Small quantities of seed can be sown in deep pots in a cold frame. Plants produce a deep taproot and need to be planted out into their permanent positions as soon as possible, in fact seed sown in situ will produce the best trees[]. Trees should not be left in a nursery bed for more than 2 growing seasons without being moved or they will transplant very badly.

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