Jewel Vine is the common English name for Derris scandens, a woody climbing plant of the pea family (Fabaceae) that grows wild across tropical Asia, including Thailand. It is the main botanical in TeaTapee’s blend, where it makes up roughly 65% of the recipe and gives the cup its earthy, woody base.
This profile covers the plant itself: what it is called, where it grows, what it tastes like in the cup, and why the rest of the blend is built around it.
What is Jewel Vine?
Jewel Vine is a climbing shrub. The name of the species, scandens, is Latin for “climbing”, which describes how the plant grows: long, woody stems that climb over other plants. It belongs to Fabaceae, the same large family as peas and beans.
In Thai it is called thao wan priang (เถาวัลย์เปรียง). In English it is usually sold and written about as Jewel Vine or by its botanical name, Derris scandens.
Is Jewel Vine the same as Brachypterum scandens?
Yes. Botanists have reclassified the plant, and the major plant-name databases now list Derris scandens as a synonym of the accepted name Brachypterum scandens. It is the same plant under a newer name. TeaTapee’s pages, like most English sources, still use the older and better-known Derris scandens.
Where does Jewel Vine grow?
Jewel Vine is native to tropical and subtropical Asia and reaches as far as eastern Australia. Its range covers much of South and Southeast Asia, from India and Sri Lanka through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to the Malay Peninsula, the Philippines and the islands of Indonesia. It grows mainly in the wet tropics.
TeaTapee’s blend is put together and packed in Thailand, one of the countries where the plant grows naturally.
What does Jewel Vine taste like?
In the cup, Jewel Vine reads as earthy, faintly sweet and a little tannic. It is closer to a dark bark tea than to a green or black tea, with a woody depth rather than a bright or floral top note.
Its value in a blend is as a foundation: a steady, woody base that holds the lighter and more aromatic botanicals together, so the finished cup tastes rounded rather than thin.
Why is Jewel Vine the base of TeaTapee’s blend?
TeaTapee’s blend combines 15 botanicals, and Jewel Vine makes up roughly 65% of it. Every other ingredient is layered on top of that base:
- Warm spices: Siamese cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and nutmeg
- Two aromatic rhizomes: Thai Black Ginger and sand ginger
- Woody and herbal notes: sandalwood, vetiver, Cat’s Whiskers, sea holly, Saul Waeng and lovage
- Fruit and floral accents: goji berry and orange blossom
Because Jewel Vine carries most of the weight, the tea keeps a consistent woody undertone even as the spice and floral notes shift from sip to sip. The full ingredient list is printed on every pack. For a closer look at each of the other botanicals, see all 15 herbs in the blend.
How do you brew a tea built on Jewel Vine?
In TeaTapee’s blend, Jewel Vine is finely ground together with the other 14 botanicals and sealed into tea bags, so there is nothing to measure or strain. Open one golden teabag, tip the powder into about 200 ml of hot water, stir and give it 2 to 5 minutes. A little less water brings the woody Jewel Vine base forward; a little more keeps the cup lighter. Our guide to brewing the perfect cup has more detail, and the guide to Thai herbal tea explains the wider style.
If you would like to taste it, TeaTapee’s 15-herb tea bags are built on Jewel Vine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the scientific name of Jewel Vine?
Jewel Vine is known botanically as Derris scandens. Plant-name databases now list that name as a synonym of the accepted name Brachypterum scandens, in the pea family, Fabaceae.
What does Jewel Vine taste like in tea?
Jewel Vine tastes earthy, faintly sweet and a little tannic in the cup, closer to a dark bark tea than to a green or black tea. It gives a blend a woody base rather than a bright top note.
How much of TeaTapee’s blend is Jewel Vine?
Jewel Vine makes up roughly 65% of TeaTapee’s 15-botanical blend. The other 14 botanicals, including cardamom, cinnamon, star anise and Thai Black Ginger, are layered on top of it.
Where is Jewel Vine native to?
Jewel Vine is native to tropical and subtropical Asia, from India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia including Thailand, and it reaches as far as eastern Australia.
What is Jewel Vine called in Thai?
Jewel Vine is called thao wan priang (เถาวัลย์เปรียง) in Thai. In English it is usually sold as Jewel Vine or by its botanical name, Derris scandens.