kuding kuding kuding or kuzding (chinese: 苦丁茶; pinyin: kǔdīng chá; lit. 'bitter nail tea'; pronounced ) is a particularly bitter-tasting chinese infusion, which due to their similarities in appearance is derived from several plant species. the two most common plants used to make kuding are the wax tree species ligustrum robustum and the holly species ilex kaushue (synonym: ilex kudingcha), the former being more commonly grown in sichuan and japan while the latter is most commonly grown and used in the rest of china. tea produced from ligustrum or many species of ilex is caffeine-free, although not ilex paraguariensis, the source of mate drank in south america. twisted kuding leaves ready for brewing (ilex kaushue) kuding ilex kaushue, "一葉茶" (一叶茶) kuding ligustrum robustum, "靑山綠水" (青山绿水) folk medicine