Ethnobotanical Study on Native Tea Plants of Bjena, Wangdue Phodrang

“Shing ja” is herbal tea prepared from a range of native tea species other than Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. The study was conducted in Bjena village, Wangdue Phodrang district in western part of Bhutan. Ethnobotanical and socioeconomic data were collected through questionnaire surveys and semi structured interview with respondents from December 2019 to February 2020. For plant diversity, abundance and its habitats, field survey was carried out from 13th December, 2019 to 12th May, 2020.Traditional tea leaf processing was also recorded through direct observation method. A total of 18 native tea species were recorded from the study area. 16 species were identified and belonged to 10 families and 15 genera. 2 specimens could not be identified and are presented with their local name, habitat, and geo-coordinates. Twigs, leaves, fruits, buds were parts collected for making tea leaf. In this study 99.1% of the respondents consumed tea as it was part of their customary tradition in the society. Traditional tea processing was prominent tea processing technique and infusion were rarely used technique. Tea production was not a significant income source in Bjena. Only 15.7 % of the respondents sold tea leaves in the local market. Similarly, health benefits of individual species were not known, except for Viscum sp. Bjena is relatively rich in diversity of native tea plants. Native people utilize numerous wild edible plants for food, nutrients and also provide additional income to the households. Native people are rich in traditional knowledge on native tea plants and its processing techniques. Tea is integral part of culture and life style in Bjena and Bhutan. So, preserving it as identity become significant.