Apple and Fig Tea

Why people make this tea

Foreign researchers have found that people who eat apples regularly may have lower rates of respiratory inflammation — and the main action appears to come from the pectin and antioxidants concentrated in the skin. That finding fits neatly with what Chinese food therapy has long believed about apples: they moisten and protect the respiratory system. Bro Niu’s take is practical: cook the apple with the skin on, and let the tea do the work gently and deliciously.

Dried figs bring a natural sweetness and add their own antioxidant load — vitamins A, B, C, D, citric acid, malic acid, and especially selenium, a trace element associated with protecting cells and supporting immune activity. Together, apple and fig produce a tea that is mildly sweet, cooling without being cold, and suitable for everyone from children to elders.

During times when air quality is poor or when people around you are coughing, making a batch of this tea is a low-effort, pleasant way to support respiratory wellness. During holiday periods, when children eat too much junk food and develop throaty sounds or small skin breakouts from “stomach heat,” this is also a gentle remedy that most kids happily drink.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for the whole family, including children who are generally unwilling to drink medicinal-tasting things (this tea is sweet and mild)
• Particularly helpful when experiencing dry cough, dry throat, or constipation associated with internal dryness or heat
• People with diabetes: use with caution — figs are high in natural sugar; limit to 3 figs and 1 apple, and consult your doctor
• Best enjoyed with the cooked fruit pieces too, not just the liquid

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Apple, skin on (ping guo): Research suggests the polyphenols and pectin in apple skin have anti-inflammatory effects on lung tissue; in traditional food therapy, apple is associated with moistening the lungs, stomach, and intestines; leaving the skin on maximises the antioxidant benefit
• Dried figs (wu hua guo): Rich in antioxidants and selenium; in food therapy associated with moistening the lungs and intestines, clearing heat, and supporting the immune system; reduces the cooling nature of the brew compared to using fresh fruit alone

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Apples	2 medium	Skin on; remove core and seeds
Dried figs	6 pieces	Halved; choose ones with a mild, slightly golden colour and no sour smell
Water	5 bowls (~1 L)

Method

1. Prepare the apples: soak briefly in warm water to dissolve any surface wax, then rinse well (this removes both wax and surface pesticide residue). Cut into chunks, leaving the skin on; remove the core and all seeds.
2. Rinse the dried figs and cut each in half.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 5 bowls of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 30 minutes, until the liquid reduces to about 3 bowls.
4. Serve warm and eat the cooked apple and fig pieces for the full benefit.

Bro Niu’s tips

When choosing dried figs, look for pieces with a mild, slightly golden hue and a sweet, mellow smell — avoid any with a sour or fermented note. The cooked pieces are genuinely worth eating: squeeze and press the apple and fig in the cup to release more of their juices into the tea. This is the kind of tea that children don’t resist — mild, sweet, and not medicinal-tasting at all. Eat the apple cores? No — always remove the seeds before cooking as apple seeds contain trace amounts of cyanogenic compounds.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Vicky): My daughter is 2.5 years old. She had yellow phlegm and nasal mucus. Can she drink this apple and fig tea? Bro Niu: Yellow phlegm means a heat pattern — she should not drink onion-based water, but this apple and fig tea is perfectly suitable. When you serve it, press and squeeze the cooked apple and fig pieces so the juice becomes rich and concentrated. Dragon tongue leaf (long li ye) can also be added — it works for both cold and heat coughs.

• Q (Amy): Is this tea suitable for someone with diabetes? Bro Niu: Dried figs contain higher natural sugars, so diabetics should not use too many. With 3 figs and 1 apple the tea is generally fine for most people with diabetes — please monitor your response.

• Q (fanny): If I use 4 apples, how many figs should I use and how much water? Bro Niu: Use 10 figs (sliced), 8 bowls of water, and simmer to 5–6 bowls. That serves 5–6 people.

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Published February 5, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.