Nourilo

Herbal & Flower Teas

American Ginseng and Longan Tea

Traditionally used to nourish heart blood, settle the spirit, and ease fatigue, palpitations, and poor sleep

By · Registered Nutritionist & TCM Practitioner

Prep
5 min
Cook
7 min
Total
12 min
Makes
1–2 cups
Heart & CirculationSleep & CalmEnergy & VitalityBlood NourishmentEveryday Balance
American Ginseng and Longan Tea

Why people make this tea

A friend brought Nourilo 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.

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,303 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,303 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment via PayPal · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Frequently asked questions

What is this tea traditionally used for?

This two-ingredient tea is traditionally used to nourish heart blood and settle the spirit, and is commonly associated with easing tiredness and supporting restful sleep, as part of a balanced diet. In the Cantonese tradition it is often turned to by those who feel pale, scattered, or sleep poorly.

Why is American ginseng used here rather than Asian ginseng?

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is considered cooling and yin-nourishing in Chinese medicine, 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. This cooling quality makes the pairing with longan flesh refreshing as well as settling.

Can I re-steep the same ginseng and longan more than once?

Yes. You can refill the teapot with boiling water and re-steep the same ginseng and longan several times throughout the day, until the liquid no longer has any taste or colour. At the end of the day, you can also eat the softened ginseng slices, as the residual root still contains beneficial compounds.

How long does this tea take to prepare, and how much does it make?

The tea takes about 12 minutes in total — 5 minutes to prepare and 7 minutes to steep. A single batch yields 1 to 2 cups.

Is this tea suitable for postpartum mothers?

Adding longan to ginseng-based teas is noted as a popular Cantonese practice for postpartum mothers with low energy, as part of a traditional dietary approach. However, the recipe specifically advises consulting a healthcare provider about postpartum supplement use before trying it.

You might also like

Related recipes

More herbal & flower teas →

Comments

Loading comments…