Hydrangea Leaf (Gamro)

I wouldn’t try to treat an illness with this leaf, but the sweet, spicy, delicious brew made from it is certainly cheerful and heartening on a chilly day in winter when your head is stuffy. I tried this on my first trip to Hankook’s store, and I bought several other items so was offered a sample cup of any of their teas. I picked this one because I remembered a reference to a hydrangea tea somewhere in my tea wanderings online, and I was delighted from the first sip. It is very very sweet, but I don’t find it cloying.

I use one or two leaves per 6-8 oz cup of tea, boiling water, and infuse grandpa style, directly in the cup, waiting at least 5 minutes for the first sips. My first sample cup was nearly 16 oz from 2 leaves, and I got another full infusion out of it at home.

It is very very expensive, but a little goes a LONG way. Highly recommended as a treat.

I also once brewed it up with a cinnamon stick too, and that was an exceptionally delicious cup.

I have a pretty big sweet tooth but the abundance of sweetness found in this infusion is not the same sweetness you get with sugar. It reminds me of artificial sweetners (like equal or stevia).

Very light and uplifting. It feels like a cloud lifting up in your mouth – this effect comes a few seconds after I swallow.

I’m not too fond of drinking it by itself. But it’s a perfect herb to blend with other teas to add a bit of sweetness and to mask acidity (great with persimmon leaf or lotus leaf).