Herbal & Flower Teas
Apple Blossom Tea
Traditionally used to ease tension and gently lift the mood
Why people make this tea
Bro Niu picked up a packet of apple blossom at the flower-tea shop, plus some imported dried apple, and brewed them together — clean, fragrant, and his mood lifted on the spot. As he puts it, just about any fragrant flower or herb tea can ease stress and soften a tense mood; the scent of apple does the same. So when you have a quiet moment, it’s a lovely thing to steep.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A gentle, everyday tea for anyone wanting to unwind; it’s mild and not cold-natured, so even people of weak, cool or damp-heat constitution can enjoy it.
- Pregnant women should be cautious with floral teas — many have blood-moving (circulation-promoting) effects, so they are not suitable in large amounts during pregnancy.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Apple blossom (ping guo hua): a fragrant flower tea, traditionally associated with relaxing the mood and easing tension.
- Dried apple (ping guo rou gan): lends a sweet, fruity aroma; its scent supports the same calming, mood-lifting feel.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried apple blossom | 1 tablespoon | |
| Dried apple pieces | 1 tablespoon | fresh apple cubes work too |
Method
- Put the apple pieces and apple blossom into a teapot.
- Pour in boiling water and steep about 5 minutes.
- Serve; you can keep re-steeping until the flavour fades.
Bro Niu’s tips
Apple blossom tea is also associated with a brightening, complexion-caring quality and is helpful for people with sluggish digestion. If you can’t find dried apple, just substitute diced fresh apple.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Yuki Yip): Are flower teas unsuitable for people of weak-cool or damp-heat constitution? Bro Niu: Flower teas can be matched to different constitutions. Weak-cool and damp-heat folks can still enjoy teas like rose, apple blossom, osmanthus, ginseng flower or sanqi flower — they aren’t cold-natured. Osmanthus suits a cold stomach well. But pregnant women should be cautious with floral teas, as many move the blood and, taken improperly in large amounts, could risk miscarriage.
- Q (elaine): Can rose-and-longan tea be drunk every day? I heard too much rose tea could cause cancer. Bro Niu: Rose-and-longan tea can be drunk regularly; it won’t cause cancer — unless the roses you bought carry pesticide residue.
Published September 22, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
