Herbal & Flower Teas
American Ginseng, Ophiopogon & Longan Tea (Hua Qi Shen Mai Dong Yuan Rou Cha)
traditionally used to nourish yin, clear inner heat, ease anxiety, and promote restful sleep
Why people make this tea
Hong Kong and other busy cities breed a very specific kind of exhaustion: overworked, under-slept, mentally wired yet physically drained. Traditional Chinese medicine calls this a pattern of yin deficiency with rising fire — the body’s cooling, restorative resources are depleted, so inner heat rises, causing dry mouth, bitter taste, restlessness, and difficulty falling asleep even when tired. American ginseng (unlike regular Asian ginseng) is cooling and moistening rather than warming and stimulating, making it the herb of choice for this pattern. Paired with the soothing ophiopogon root and the calming, slightly sweet longan, it makes a tea that is both nourishing and genuinely pleasant to drink in the evening.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Best suited to those who feel tired but wired, with dry or bitter mouth, difficulty sleeping, or mental restlessness from stress and overwork
- Suitable year-round for most constitutions
- People with low blood pressure or general weakness (rather than yin deficiency) may find this tea less ideal — try substituting codonopsis root (dang shen) for the American ginseng, and replace longan with goji berries
- Children over 4 years old can use the child-friendly version with codonopsis root (tai zi shen) instead of American ginseng
- Do not combine with white daikon or strong caffeinated tea on the same day
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- American ginseng (hua qi shen, Panax quinquefolius): Tonifies qi and yin simultaneously; unlike Asian ginseng, it is cooling rather than warming — traditionally used to relieve fatigue, moisten dryness, clear excess inner heat, and calm the mind. Valued by those who cannot tolerate the warming properties of Asian red ginseng.
- Ophiopogon root (mai dong, Ophiopogon japonicus): Nourishes the lungs and stomach yin; traditionally clears heat, moistens the throat and airways, and has a calming effect on the heart-mind. A key ingredient in many classical formulas for insomnia and anxiety.
- Dried longan flesh (yuan rou): Nourishes both the heart and spleen; traditionally used to calm the spirit, support blood production, and ease palpitations and restless sleep. Sweet and naturally gentle.
Ingredients (1 pot, 2–3 refills)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| American ginseng slices (hua qi shen) | 1 tablespoon | Use genuine US or Canadian product for best effect |
| Ophiopogon root (mai dong) | 1 tablespoon | Available at Chinese herbal medicine shops |
| Dried longan flesh (yuan rou) | 1 tablespoon | |
| Boiling water | Enough to fill a teapot |
Method
- Place the American ginseng, ophiopogon root, and longan flesh in a teapot.
- Pour in freshly boiled water.
- Steep for 10 minutes, then drink.
- Refill with boiling water 2–3 times until the flavour fades.
- Eat the longan flesh and ginseng pieces along with the tea for the full benefit.
Bro Niu’s tips
Drink this tea after dinner, and ideally again about an hour before bed — that is when it works best for improving sleep. On the day you drink this tea, skip white daikon radish (it can counteract the ginseng) and avoid strong black or green tea. You can refill the pot two to three times. Do make sure your American ginseng is the genuine article from the United States or Canada — there is a lot of imitation product sold cheaply, and it does not have the same cooling, yin-nourishing quality. A good quality ginseng slice should be slightly bitter, slightly sweet, and have a characteristic earthy-fresh fragrance.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Sally): I have a yin-deficiency with inner heat constitution and low blood pressure. I tried this tea for a while and kept getting dizzy. Am I unsuitable for it? Bro Niu: Check whether your American ginseng is genuinely authentic US or Canadian — substandard product can cause problems. For low blood pressure and general weakness, it is better to switch to codonopsis root (dang shen) with ophiopogon and longan. You can replace the longan with goji berries to avoid the tea being too warming.
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Q (Twinnie): Can this tea be adapted for a 4-year-old child? Bro Niu: Yes — replace the American ginseng with codonopsis root (tai zi shen), which is gentler and suited to children.
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Q (CAT): How many cups can be brewed from one pot, and how many refills are possible? Bro Niu: Generally you can refill the pot 2–3 times before the flavour becomes too dilute.
Published November 23, 2015 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
