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Strobilanthes tonkinensis is a species of herbaceous plant native to Southeast Asia. It is used as a flavoring for tea and other food.
Dried S. tonkinensis leaves contains abundant minerals and trace elements, particularly high levels of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus. Additionally, it contains essential trace elements such as iron, copper, manganese, and zinc, which are necessary for human health. The plant is rich in nutrients such as crude protein, crude fiber, and amino acids, with a high content of essential amino acids that meets the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization's recommended ratio.
The volatile molecules the contribute to the aroma include α-ionone, trans-β-ionone, linalool oxide (pyranoid), isophorone, formic acid dodecyl ester, acetophenone, 6-methyl-pentadecane, 4-chloro-2-methyl-1-phenyl-3-buten-1-ol, 3-octanol, 3-hexenyl ester, 3-carene, 3,6,6-trimethyl-bicyclo(3.1.1)hept-2-ene, 2-hydroxy-benzoic acid ethyl ester, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 1-phenyl-1,2-propanediol, 1-octen-3-ol, 1-nonanol, 1-dodecanol, 1,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo(2.2.1)hept-2-ene, and (Z)-butanoic acid.
The plant can typically be found in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests at 200–1500 m in elevation in Vietnam, Thailand, China (Yunnan and Guangxi), Laos, Indonesia (Sumatra), and Myanmar (Chin State and Tanintharyi Region).
The aroma evokes sticky rice, but has also been compared to pandan. Dried leaves of S. tonkinensis are used to flavor black tea and pu'er tea to impart its fragrance and sticky rice flavor. The use of the leaves in tea has a long tradition among the Dai people. It can also be used as a flavoring for jiuqu, cookies, ice cream, and dim sum. The herb can also be mixed with slaked lime for betel nut chewing or added to tobacco to make those strong flavors more palatable.
Strobilanthes alternata · Strobilanthes sinuata · Strobilanthes callosa · Strobilanthes capitata · Strobilanthes crispa · Strobilanthes cusia · Strobilanthes cuspidata · Persian Shield · Strobilanthes flexicaulis · Strobilanthes formosana · Strobilanthes heteromalla · Strobilanthes integrifolia
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Strobilanthes tonkinensis by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
