jiaogulan; Gynostemma pentaphyllum
A herbaceous vine used in traditional medicine and sometimes consumed as tea; the Japanese name is usually written in katakana.
Jiaogulan is known as a health tea.
Katakana spelling is common for this plant name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and mainly used in botanical contexts; learners will most often encounter the katakana form.
Written 甘茶蔓, from 甘茶 “sweet tea” and 蔓 “vine.” The name refers to the sweet-tasting leaves, which are used to make an herbal tea.