Ume Plum, Licorice and Chrysanthemum Tea

Why people make this tea

Nourilo has personal experience with this one. Years of teaching long classes meant overusing his voice, and an overworked, dry throat almost always leads to an irritable cough — the kind that does not come from infection but from the throat simply being dry, raw, or reactive. During allergy season, or after a period of stress and overwork, this kind of cough can linger for weeks. The three ingredients in this tea each address a different part of the problem: ume plum has an astringent, gathering quality that helps settle a persistent cough and moisten dry lung tissue; licorice is anti-inflammatory and soothing; and chrysanthemum disperses the kind of wind-heat that tends to trigger an irritable, itchy-throat cough in the first place. Together they make a pleasantly tart, easy-to-drink tea that can be sipped throughout the day.