What is Achyranthes tea?

Achyranthes tea is a disposable tea bag made from dried Achyranthes root. You can fully enjoy the unique taste and aroma of Achyranthes by steeping the tea bag in hot water for just 1–2 minutes. A characteristic feature is a slightly astringent taste. Here, we introduce Achyranthes, the raw material for Achyranthes tea.

Achyranthes

The name "Achyranthes" (known as 'Useul' in Korean) was given because the nodes on the plant's stem resemble an ox's knee. In folk traditions, it is also referred to by various names such as 'Soemureup' (Ox Knee), 'Soemureup-pak', 'Soemul-pak', and 'Achyranthes herb'. As you can see in the photo below, the large nodes on the Achyranthes stem are swollen, resembling an ox's knee joint.

In plant taxonomy, Achyranthes belongs to the genus Achyranthes. There are over 10 species in the Achyranthes genus, including Achyranthes bidentata and Achyranthes japonica, and both species grow naturally in Korea. The names listed previously are Chinese names, not Korean.

Plants of the genus Achyranthes are native to East and Southeast Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. They are also distributed in tropical and subtropical regions in other parts of the world, such as India, the Mediterranean, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and the United States.

Soemureup (Ox Knee)

The Hanja term 'Useul' (牛膝: '牛' for ox, '膝' for knee) literally translates to 'ox's knee' in native Korean. Because 'Useul' is recorded as 'Soemureup' in the Dongui Bogam, one might assume they are the same plant, but in terms of plant taxonomy, they are actually different species.

Difference between Achyranthes and Soemureup

The Korean Pharmacopoeia, our country's pharmaceutical code, defines 'Useul' as the 'root of Achyranthes bidentata or Achyranthes japonica'. Although they are different species taxonomically, their uses are the same, so there is no need for consumers to distinguish between them. Achyranthes bidentata is sometimes called 'Hoe-useul', and Achyranthes japonica is called 'Cheomyeop-useul'. Both grow in warm regions south of central Korea.

In Korea, China, Japan, and Nepal, both are used, while in India, Kenya, and the Pacific Islands, other varieties like Achyranthes aspera are primarily used for health. Given that 'Useul' appears in the Chinese medical text Shennong Ben Cao Jing, which dates back an estimated 2,000 years, it is clear that humanity has a very long history of recognizing and utilizing this plant.

Components of Achyranthes

Below is the nutritional analysis table for the root of Achyranthes japonica, which is used in the same way as Achyranthes root. "Dry weight basis" means the content ratio calculated excluding moisture.

General composition analysis table of Achyranthes japonica root (Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition, 1997, dry weight basis)

The roots of Achyranthes japonica are quite rich in carbohydrates and protein. In terms of minerals, they are high in potassium and calcium. There are slight component differences between Achyranthes from different regions. Below are some of the special, trace, and important components found in Korean Achyranthes.

Traditional Folk Uses of Achyranthes

Here is a brief introduction to how Achyranthes is used in folk medicine domestically and abroad.

The product supplier is Onyudam (CEOs: Yoon Sung-hyun, Jo Su-in) and the manufacturer is Hapcheon Herbal Processing Farming Association Corp. (CEO: Baek Mun-gi). CEO Baek, after managing a medicinal herb farm for over 20 years with his parents, established the Hapcheon Herbal Processing Farming Association Corp. in 1996, set up a processing plant the following year, was first awarded the $500,000 Export Tower in 2003, and previously served as the 17th and 18th chairman of the Korea Herbal Medicine Association.

The Hapcheon Herbal Processing Farming Association Corp. cultivates about 60 types of health plants in Hapcheon-eup, Hapcheon-gun, where the association is located, including chrysanthemum, hydrangea, mulberry, persimmon, peony, Achyranthes, safflower, motherwort, Schisandra berry, boxthorn, cornelian cherry, milk vetch root, green tea, silver vine, and bellflower, using them as raw materials for health teas. The association sells its products through domestic and international sales channels and also supplies products to other companies via OEM manufacturing.

The Hapcheon Herbal Processing Farming Association Corp. received the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Award in 2002, registered the trademark 'Sangerime' in 2007, received the ISO22000 international food safety management certification in 2015, registered as a venture company in the same year, patented a manufacturing method for bellflower tea in 2017, received HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2018 (No. 2018-2-9156), and received organic certification for chrysanthemum crops in 2019 (No. 17100199), establishing itself as a small but strong enterprise. A brief introduction to the Hapcheon Herbal Processing Farming Association Corp. is provided below.

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