Herbal & Flower Teas
Bay Leaf Lemon Tea
Traditionally refreshes the spirit and supports digestion
Why people make this tea
Bro Niu loves cooking with aromatic herbs — bay leaf, star anise, Sichuan pepper and the like — to add fragrance, cut through gaminess and help things go down more easily. Here he steeps bay leaf with a couple of lemon slices into a bright little tea, traditionally used to refresh the mind, lift the spirits and gently support digestion. Sipped regularly, he finds it also helps soothe the mood.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A light everyday tea suitable for most people, including (per the source) children, who can drink it too.
- Use bay leaf sparingly — its flavour is strong, so don’t add too much at once.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Bay leaf (yue gui ye): Aromatic; traditionally used in cooking to add fragrance and support digestion and appetite.
- Lemon (ning meng): Bright and refreshing, adding a lift to the cup.
- Honey: Rounds out the flavour.
Ingredients (1 cup)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bay leaves (yue gui ye) | 3 | Don’t cut them up |
| Lemon slices (ning meng) | 2 | — |
| Honey | a little | Stir in at the end |
Method
- Rinse the bay leaves once with hot water and put them in a cup.
- Add the lemon slices and let steep about 3 minutes.
- Stir in a little honey and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Bay leaf is mostly used in soups, braised meats and seafood. Its flavour is strong, so don’t cut it up and don’t use too much at one time.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (jj): My 12-year-old son often has trouble passing stools — is bay-leaf-lemon-honey water suitable for children? Where can I buy bay leaves? Bro Niu: Children can drink bay-leaf-lemon-honey water. Bay leaves are sold at Southeast-Asian grocery and spice shops; in supermarkets they’re on the shelf with the pepper and spices. Also have him drink plenty of water, eat coarse, fibre-rich foods, and try sweet-potato congee in the morning to help with the bowels.
- Q (angel): I have to take antibiotics for 7 days but after 3 days my stomach hurts — is there a soup that helps? Bro Niu: Antibiotics do have some side effects on the stomach; take them after meals. You can make a soup of lion’s mane mushroom, Chinese yam, lotus seed and red dates with lean pork to soothe the digestion and ease stomach discomfort.
Published December 20, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
