But some plants remain, even after centuries.
Nanzhu is one of them.
What Survived Was More Than a Leaf
Many people first encounter Nanzhu through Wufan culture.
But what allowed this plant to survive was never just a type of food.
What truly remained was a way of living alongside nature.
In the past, people would:
- Harvest leaves seasonally
- Incorporate plants into food
- Prepare meals slowly
- Let nature become part of everyday life
This reflected a distinctly Eastern way of living.
From Mountain Plant to Daily Habit
Nanzhu has long grown in mountain environments.
Unlike industrial crops,
it cannot be easily mass-produced or rapidly cultivated.
It requires time, stability, and the right environment.
Because of this, many communities historically viewed it
as a plant deeply connected to nature.
And Wufan culture itself
was shaped from this mountain-rooted lifestyle.
Why Are Modern People Rediscovering These Plants?
Because modern life has become increasingly fast.
Fast work, fast food, fast consumption —
everything moves quickly.
And many people are beginning to feel
that while life became more convenient,
it also moved further away from nature.
As a result, more people are returning to:
- Plant-based living
- Herbal traditions
- Mountain culture
- Simpler daily habits
And plants like Nanzhu are slowly being rediscovered again.
Intangible Heritage Is More Than Preservation
Today, Wufan-related traditions
have become part of intangible cultural heritage.
But perhaps what matters most
is not simply being documented.
What matters is that people still choose to:
- Grow it
- Use it
- Bring it into modern life
Because traditions that continue being lived
are the ones that truly survive.
From the Past to the Present
In the past,
people turned Nanzhu leaves into Wufan rice.
Today,
they turn them into tea.
The form may have changed,
but what people seek remains similar:
a lifestyle that feels
more natural, more balanced,
and sustainable over time.
Some Plants Slowly Become a Way of Life
The plants that truly survive
often remain not because they are trendy,
but because they continue fitting naturally into life.
Nanzhu is one of those plants.
It is more than a botanical ingredient —
it is a lifestyle quietly preserved over time.
From the mountains, to food culture,
to a cup of Wufan Botanical Infusion Tea today.
Some things survive not because they are new,
but because people still need the sense of nature they represent.
