American Ginseng, Longan and Sour Date Seed Tea

Why people make this tea

Studies suggest a striking proportion of Hong Kong residents experience some degree of nervous exhaustion — and the pattern is familiar well beyond that city. Persistent emotional strain, whether it shows up as inexplicable irritability, gnawing anxiety, difficulty switching off, or lying awake at 2 a.m. staring at the ceiling, has a way of wearing people down quietly over months or years.

Traditional Chinese food therapy has long recognised a pattern where overwork depletes the “heart-qi” and “blood,” leading to exactly these kinds of symptoms — a restless, under-nourished mind-body system. This tea is Bro Niu’s practical answer for everyday support: three gentle ingredients that can be steeped together in minutes, with a drizzle of honey to finish.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for both men and women experiencing mild stress, mental fatigue, poor sleep, dizziness, or low energy.
• For elderly individuals who wake in the early hours and cannot return to sleep, it can be taken in the evenings without the American ginseng (which is slightly more stimulating and better used during the day).
• Do not use if you currently have internal heat signs (such as a sore throat, dry mouth, or feeling overly warm), an active cold, or heavy phlegm.
• Pregnant women should not use this tea.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• American ginseng (xi yang shen): Cooler in nature than Asian ginseng, traditionally associated with supporting qi (vital energy), nourishing yin, and calming the nervous system. Well suited to people who are depleted but also feel warm or anxious.
• Longan flesh (yuan rou): Classically used to nourish the blood and calm the heart-mind. Its natural sweetness makes the tea pleasant to drink. Traditionally considered one of the key ingredients for sleep support and emotional stability.
• Dry-fried sour date seeds (chao suan zao ren): One of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine for supporting sleep and calming anxiety. The dry-fried (chao) form is preferred — pre-roasted sour date seeds are sold ready-prepared at Chinese herbal medicine shops.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness and gently moistens the throat.

Ingredients (1–2 cups, refillable)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
American ginseng slices (xi yang shen)	1 heaped tablespoon	Available at Chinese herbal stores and health food shops
Dried longan flesh (yuan rou)	15 pieces
Dry-fried sour date seeds (chao suan zao ren)	2 tablespoons	Ask for “炒枣仁 (chao zao ren)” at a Chinese herb shop — they sell it pre-roasted
Honey	A small drizzle	Add after steeping

Method

1. Place the American ginseng slices, longan flesh, and sour date seeds in a teapot or heatproof mug.
2. Pour boiling water over the ingredients.
3. Cover and steep for 15 minutes.
4. Stir in a drizzle of honey and sip slowly.
5. Refill with boiling water and steep again until the flavour fades.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea has a clear, pleasant fragrance and a gentle honeyed sweetness. It can be enjoyed by both men and women. For the elderly who wake in the early hours and cannot sleep again, try this tea in the evening, but omit the American ginseng in the evening dose. For those who have internal heat or an active cold with heavy phlegm, this tea is not suitable — try instead: simmering 5 qian each of night-blooming jasmine stem (ye jiao teng), dry-fried sour date seeds, and poria with pine root (fu shen) in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls, which provides similar calming support without the warming effect.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (keikei456): My mother is 90 years old and regularly wakes at 2–3 a.m. unable to go back to sleep. Is this tea suitable for her? Bro Niu: Yes, this tea can help. For evening use, omit the American ginseng slices — they are best used during the day. The longan and sour date seeds in the evening are gentle enough for elderly use.

• Q (Joey): Do I need to toast the sour date seeds myself, or can I buy them already roasted? Bro Niu: Chinese herbal medicine shops sell them pre-roasted — just ask for “chao zao ren” (炒枣仁). You don’t need to toast them yourself.

• Q (t43k59h): My wife has internal heat and a heavy cold with lots of phlegm — she cannot use this tea. What calming tea would suit her instead? Bro Niu: For someone with internal heat and heavy phlegm, try ye jiao teng (night-blooming jasmine stem), chao zao ren (roasted sour date seeds), and fu shen (poria with pine root) — 5 qian each — simmered in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls. This supports the heart-mind and promotes calm sleep without the warming effect.

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Published October 9, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.