Baby tea, Yunnan holly
Ilex yunnanensis
Family: Aquifoliaceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows 1-3 m high. The branches have rusty iron coloured hairs. The leaves are alternate and broadly sword shaped. They are 2-4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The tip tapers an the base is round. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are small and white. Male and female flowers are on separate plants. The fruit are fleshy and red, They occur singly. They are 5-6 mm across. There is one seed.
Where it is found
A subtropical plant. In southern China it grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests between 1,100-3,500 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Myanmar, SE Asia, Taiwan, Tibet
How it is used for food
The young shoots are used as a substitute for tea.
Edible parts
Shoots, leaves - tea