American Ginseng and Longan Tea

Why people make this tea

A friend brought Bro Niu a packet of genuine American ginseng back from a trip to the United States — the kind with those fine chrysanthemum-like patterns in the cross-section and a clean, slightly bitter-sweet fragrance that fills the mouth with saliva long after you swallow. That experience is what inspired this simple tea. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is botanically related to Asian ginseng but has a distinctly different character in Chinese medicine: it is considered cooling and yin-nourishing rather than warm and stimulating, making it more suitable as an everyday tonic for people who run warm, work hard, and tend to feel depleted rather than sluggish.

Pairing it with longan flesh — a classic Cantonese tonic for the heart and mind — creates a tea that is both refreshing and settling. It is the kind of drink that a busy, tired person might reach for when they notice their face is pale, their mind feels scattered, and sleep has not been restful.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Well suited to adults who feel fatigued, pale, short of breath, forgetful, or who experience mild palpitations and difficulty falling asleep.
• Suitable for most seasons and most adults as a regular wellness tea; Bro Niu notes it is appropriate year-round.
• Not suitable during an active cold or fever — wait until recovered.
• Longan flesh is warm and stimulating — pregnant women should avoid it.
• Those with active inflammation, skin breakouts, or an excess heat pattern should pair American ginseng with chrysanthemum and goji rather than longan.
• Those with yin deficiency and fire rising (hot sensations, irritability, mouth sores) should use the tea in moderation and may prefer a version with goji berries and chrysanthemum instead.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• American ginseng (hua qi shen): Unlike Asian red ginseng which is warming, American ginseng is regarded as cooling and yin-nourishing in TCM. It is associated with replenishing qi, generating fluids, relieving fatigue, and cooling excess heat. Bro Niu notes that genuine American or Canadian ginseng has dense, closely-spaced horizontal markings and a distinctly bitter-sweet taste, whereas imitation products made from common white dried ginseng tend to be lighter in weight, with coarser, more widely spaced markings and a bland, slightly fishy taste.
• Dried longan flesh (yuan rou): Warm and sweet. Traditionally one of the most used Chinese tonic foods for the heart and nervous system — settling the spirit, nourishing the blood, and easing palpitations and poor sleep. It is mildly warming, so a modest amount is sufficient.

Ingredients (1–2 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
American ginseng (hua qi shen), thin-sliced	~7 g (2 qian)	Look for dense cross-markings and a bitter-sweet taste; buy from reputable suppliers
Dried longan flesh (yuan rou)	1 tablespoon	Rinse briefly

Method

1. Place the sliced American ginseng and the longan flesh into a small teapot or heatproof cup.
2. Pour boiling water over them.
3. Cover and steep for 7 minutes.
4. Pour and drink warm.
5. You can re-steep the same ginseng and longan several times, refilling with boiling water each time, until the liquid no longer has any taste or colour.

Bro Niu’s tips

The ginseng can be steeped multiple times throughout the day — keep refilling with boiling water until the tea is no longer fragrant. At the end of the day, eat the softened ginseng slices, as the residual root still contains beneficial compounds. When shopping for American ginseng, be wary of imitations: the real thing has tightly packed horizontal markings, a good weight, and a notably bitter-sweet flavour that produces a pleasant, lingering moistness in the mouth. For postpartum mothers who have low energy and are not producing enough milk, adding longan to ginseng-based soups or teas is a popular Cantonese practice — but consult a healthcare provider about postpartum supplement use.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Ling): I have a cold constitution, menstrual pain, and heavy periods. Is this tea suitable for me? Bro Niu: Genuine American and Canadian ginseng is not very cooling — it is beneficial for generating qi and fluids. For your constitution you might also try a tea of mulberries and stir-roasted black beans, which is helpful for insomnia, nervous exhaustion, and anaemia. Note that longan flesh is warming, so if you experience menstrual pain or heat sensitivity, it is better not to include longan. During pregnancy, longan should be avoided as it can be stimulating.

• Q (Dong): Can I add goji berries and red dates to make this tea together? Bro Niu: American ginseng with longan, goji berries, and red dates can all be steeped together — they have a combined effect of tonifying qi, generating fluids, nourishing blood, and settling the spirit. Regular consumption is fine. However, those with yin deficiency and excess heat or who are experiencing a cold should avoid it.

• Q (anonymous): I have insomnia. What should I eat? Bro Niu: You can simmer 10 pieces of longan flesh with 1 liang of lily bulb (bai he) in 3 bowls of water to 1 bowl. Drink 2 hours before bed. It helps nourish the blood and settle the mind for sleep — though it takes a few doses to see an effect.

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Published April 16, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.