Apple and Golden Raisin Tea

Why people make this tea

This is one of Nourilo’s simplest and most approachable recipes — two everyday ingredients turned into a refreshing, naturally sweet tea with real food-therapy intent behind it. Apples have long been prized in Cantonese cooking for their skin-nourishing and lung-moistening qualities. Golden raisins add a concentrated sweetness and, in traditional thinking, help nourish the blood and support circulation to the face. The result is a pleasant, tangy-sweet drink that Nourilo says can gradually brighten a pale or sallow complexion if you make it part of your routine. It is especially helpful for people with dry skin, a lack of radiance, or a tendency toward facial spots.

Method

1. Scrub the apples with a small amount of salt to remove residual surface residues, then rinse well with water.
2. Slice the apples (keep the skin on; remove the core and seeds).
3. Rinse the raisins.
4. Place the raisins in a pot with 1.2 L of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add the apple slices and simmer for a further 3 minutes.
6. Serve warm or at room temperature. Drink the tea and eat the softened fruit.

Nourilo’s Tips

• Scrubbing the apple skin with salt before rinsing is an effective way to remove surface residues from the skin
• This tea is naturally tangy-sweet and makes a pleasant everyday drink; regular use over time is associated with a more radiant complexion
• If you have leftovers, strain out the fruit first before storing the liquid in the refrigerator — cooked fruit left soaking in liquid can undergo changes that are not ideal over time
• Can be reheated; the tea can also be made daily as a fresh batch given how quick it is to prepare