Gymnema tea is a herbal tea made from an infusion of Gymnema sylvestre leaves. The tea contains gymnemic acids, a type of saponin (soap-like chemical) that binds to sweet receptors (hT1R3), suppressing the taste of sweetness for tens of minutes (hours, if you're 'unlucky').
Gymnema is used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine, and the herb exhibits a wide range of therapeutic properties (especially for diabetes), which is why it is consumed.
Here are a couple interesting papers (especially if you have a biochemistry background):
Gymnema tea is a herbal tea made from an infusion of Gymnema sylvestre leaves. The tea contains gymnemic acids, a type of saponin (soap-like chemical) that binds to sweet receptors (hT1R3), suppressing the taste of sweetness for tens of minutes (hours, if you're 'unlucky').
Gymnema is used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine, and the herb exhibits a wide range of therapeutic properties (especially for diabetes), which is why it is consumed.
Here are a couple interesting papers (especially if you have a biochemistry background):
