**Background:** Herbal tea drinks, distinct from classical Camellia beverages, are widely consumed in Guangxi, China, for therapeutic purposes and health promotion. Despite their popularity, comprehensive documentation of the plants used and their associated health benefits has been limited. This study aimed to systematically document the herbal tea species used in Guangxi, understand how and why local people use them, and evaluate their cultural significance.
**Methods:** An ethnobotanical survey was conducted across 52 villages and 21 traditional markets in Guangxi from October 2016 to May 2021. Semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 463 informants aged 21–70 years. Snowball sampling was employed for participant selection. Voucher specimens were collected and deposited at the herbarium of Guangxi Institute of Traditional Medical Sciences. Three quantitative indices were applied: Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) to quantify use frequency, Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI) to evaluate cultural significance, and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) to assess agreement among informants on health-promoting effects.
**Key Results:** A total of 155 herbal tea species belonging to 49 families were recorded. The most represented families were Lamiaceae (11 species), Orchidaceae (10 species), Theaceae (9 species), and Fabaceae (9 species). Herbs (49 species) were the most common life form, followed by shrubs (46 species), trees (36 species), and lianas (24 species). Most species (124, 80%) were obtained from wild habitats. The most commonly used plant part was leaf (27.61%), followed by whole plant (22.09%), branch and leaf (19.02%), and flower (13.50%). Decoction was the predominant preparation method (115 species), with soak used for 36 species. Forty-one health benefits were classified into eight categories. Clearing heat away was the most common effect (101 species, 65.16%). ICF values ranged from 0.42 to 1.00, with the highest agreement for aiding digestion (1.00), followed by tonic (0.73), eliminating dampness and diuresis (0.71), and removing cold and cough (0.68). RFC values ranged from 0.002 to 0.773, with the highest for Siraitia grosvenorii (0.773), Zingiber officinale (0.745), and Chrysanthemum indicum (0.704). CFSI values varied from 0.7 to 5370.0, with the most culturally significant species being Siraitia grosvenorii (5370.0), Plantago asiatica (4664.4), Gynostemma pentaphyllum (3244.8), Zingiber officinale (3105.0), Pholidota chinensis (2885.6), and Morus alba (2466.0). Comparison with neighboring regions (Chaoshan, Fujian, Taiwan) revealed that 122 species (78.71%) were unique to Guangxi. Six species (Centella asiatica, Houttuynia cordata, Imperata cylindrica, Morus alba, Plantago asiatica, Prunella vulgaris) were common across all four regions.
**Clinical Implications:** The study underscores the rich traditional knowledge of herbal tea in Guangxi, which plays a vital role in local healthcare, particularly for clearing heat, detoxification, and improving blood circulation. The high cultural significance of species like Siraitia grosvenorii and Gynostemma pentaphyllum suggests potential for further pharmacological research and product development. The authors caution that while herbal tea is generally consumed safely, quality control and safety monitoring are needed, as some phytochemicals may pose risks with overconsumption. The findings support the potential of these herbal tea species for local economic development and the need for conservation of wild resources.