Ginkgo Leaf Tea: What It Is, How It Tastes, and Why I'm Cautious

Ginkgo leaf tea (yin xing ye cha) is an infusion of dried leaves of the ginkgo tree, Ginkgo biloba. It isn't real tea: it's caffeine-free and tastes grassy, hay-like and slightly bitter. It's sold widely as a "health tea", but the evidence for its supposed benefits is weak, and unlike most herbal teas it raises real safety questions: plain leaves contain ginkgolic acids that medicinal ginkgo extracts are processed to remove, ginkgo may interact with blood thinners, and the seeds are toxic raw. If you want to try it, buy from a regulated producer, drink it only occasionally, and never brew leaves picked from a tree.

I'll be honest: this is the one herbal "tea" on this site I don't keep at home. A friend who loves the ginkgo trees in Ljubljana's parks once brought me a bag of leaves she'd dried herself, sure I'd want to try them. Before I did, I read up, and I gently talked her out of drinking them. I have tried a commercial ginkgo leaf tea since: pleasant, grassy, forgettable. I'm writing this page because people search for it, and because I'd rather you read the caveats here than a sales page. More in the Chinese herbal tea guide.

What ginkgo is#

Ginkgo biloba is one of the oldest tree species on Earth, often called a living fossil: it's the only surviving species of an ancient plant group. Native to China, it's now planted in parks and streets worldwide for its fan-shaped leaves, which turn brilliant gold in autumn. Old ginkgo trees stand at many Chinese temples, and some are said to be more than a thousand years old.

In China, ginkgo seeds (bai guo) are used in cooking, always cooked and in small amounts. The leaves are used for extracts and, more recently, for leaf "tea".

What ginkgo leaf tea tastes like#

The cup is pale yellow-green. The aroma is of hay and dried grass; the taste is mildly grassy with a light bitterness and not much sweetness. It's not unpleasant, but it's not especially memorable either. Many commercial ginkgo teas are blended with green tea or other herbs to make them more interesting. If a blend includes real tea, it contains caffeine.

The safety questions#

This is why ginkgo gets its own careful page.

• Ginkgolic acids. Ginkgo leaves naturally contain ginkgolic acids, which can cause allergic reactions and are considered undesirable. Standardized ginkgo extracts sold as medicines are processed to keep these very low. Plain dried leaves in a tea bag aren't. When the central laboratory of German pharmacists analysed ginkgo leaf teas, every product tested contained more ginkgolic acid than the level considered tolerable for medicinal products, and Germany's Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) concluded in 2010 that the safety of these teas couldn't be assessed with the data available.
• Bleeding and medication. Ginkgo may increase the risk of bleeding, especially in people taking anticoagulants, and it can interact with other medicines.
• Seeds. Raw ginkgo seeds are toxic, and serious effects have been reported even with roasted seeds eaten in large amounts. Never eat seeds from street trees.
• Pregnancy. Ginkgo isn't considered safe close to childbirth.

If you take any regular medication, have a bleeding disorder, have surgery coming up, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, talk to a doctor before drinking ginkgo in any form.

Can you make ginkgo tea from leaves you pick?#

I wouldn't. Street and park trees can carry pollution, you can't know the ginkgolic acid content, and home drying is inconsistent. This is the main reason I talked my friend out of her homemade batch. If you're curious, buy a product sold as food by a producer who's subject to food safety rules, and keep it an occasional cup.

If you do try it#

What about the health claims?#

Ginkgo is marketed for memory, circulation and much more. On this site we don't write about health effects, but it's fair to say the claims run far ahead of the evidence: large reviews of ginkgo research haven't shown convincing benefits for any health condition, and those studies used standardized extracts, not leaf tea. Choose ginkgo tea for its taste or curiosity, not as medicine.

Better caffeine-free alternatives#

If you want a caffeine-free Chinese infusion to drink every day, I'd choose one of these:

• Barley tea: toasty and comforting, hot or cold.
• Chrysanthemum: floral and gentle.
• Osmanthus: a pinch of apricot and honey.

Myths#

"Ginkgo tea is just another herbal tea." Most herbal teas don't come with this many open safety questions.

"Natural means safe." Ginkgo seeds are natural and toxic raw.

"Ginkgo tea boosts memory." The research doesn't support that, and it was done on extracts, not tea.

"Homemade is purer." Homemade is less controlled.

My honest take#

Ginkgo trees are among my favourite trees in the city, especially in October. But I enjoy them on the street, not in my cup. If you want to try ginkgo tea, buy a regulated product and treat it as a curiosity. For everyday caffeine-free drinking, there are better, simpler choices.

The bottom line#

Ginkgo leaf tea is a caffeine-free infusion of dried Ginkgo biloba leaves with a grassy, slightly bitter taste. Its health claims are weak, and it carries real safety questions, so don't brew picked leaves, never eat raw seeds, and ask a doctor first if you take medication or are pregnant. For other caffeine-free options, see my Chinese herbal tea guide.