Quassia Chips 4 oz (Quassia Wood, Quassia Amara)

Organic or wildcrafted cut quassia wood chips for tea, 4 oz. The tree is Quassia amara, and the chips are cut from the heartwood. Grown and harvested in Mexico.

One of the most bitter plants on earth

Quassia is not exaggerating when it says bitter. Its bitter compounds, the quassinoids, are detectable by the human tongue at extraordinary dilution, and quassin is often described as one of the most bitter naturally occurring substances known. This is not a tea you sweeten your way out of. It is a tea you drink a small cup of, on purpose.

Named after a man, which is unusual

The genus is named for Graman Quassi, an enslaved man in eighteenth century Surinam who knew the tree's use and whose knowledge reached European botany through Carl Linnaeus. Very few plants carry the name of the person who taught the botanists about them. This one does.

How to make quassia tea

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of chips to 8 oz of boiling water. Cover and steep 3 to 7 minutes, then strain. Note the short steep. Most roots and barks want ten minutes or more. Quassia does not, and a long steep gives you something most people will not finish.

Also useful to know

Quassia chips are traditionally prepared as a tincture as well as a tea, and the wood is durable enough that many people brew the same chips more than once.

Learn more

We have a step by step guide: How to Make Tea with Quassia Chips.

Frequently asked questions

What are quassia chips?
Cut chips of heartwood from Quassia amara, a small tree of Central and South America. Also sold as quassia wood or quassia bark.

How bitter is it really?
Very. Quassin is among the most bitter naturally occurring compounds known. Start with one tablespoon and a short steep.

How long do I steep it?
3 to 7 minutes, covered. Shorter than most woods and barks.

Can I brew the chips twice?
Yes. The wood holds up well to a second brew.

Does it have caffeine?
No.

Where is it from?
Mexico, and it is printed on the bag.

How should I store it?
Tightly closed in a dry place at room temperature, 59 to 86°F.

PRECAUTIONS

• Intended for occasional use rather than daily long term use.
• Not for use during pregnancy or nursing.
• Individuals under 18 and individuals with known medical conditions should consult a physician before use.

DIRECTIONS:

To make quassia tea, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of quassia chips to 8 ounces of boiling water, cover and steep for 3 to 7 minutes, then strain and enjoy.

• Processing Time: Orders ship within 1 to 2 business days.
• Refunds: 100% satisfaction guarantee. Contact within 30 days of receipt, return unused portions at your expense, and receive a full refund upon receipt.
• Customs Duty Tax: Pre-paid and covered for most countries.