Herbal & Flower Teas
Black Bean and Licorice Root Tea
traditionally associated with clearing accumulated toxins, supporting healthy skin, and calming restlessness in children
Why people make this tea
In traditional Cantonese households, this humble two-ingredient tea holds a quietly important role: it is the “reset” after a course of medication. When a child has been through a week of cold medicine, or when an adult has been taking multiple prescriptions for a long period, this tea is brewed to help the body “clear out” what has accumulated.
Black beans and licorice root make a natural pairing. Black beans are cooling in nature yet not overly cold — considered neutral enough for most constitutions — and are traditionally associated with clearing heat and supporting detoxification. Licorice root is famous in Chinese herbal medicine as an ingredient that “harmonises” other herbs and is said to counteract plant-derived toxins broadly. Together, they make a gentle, accessible everyday tea.
For infants who are restless, feverish, or crying at night, the recipe can be adapted: use black beans with rush pith grass (deng xin cao) instead of licorice, to serve as a soothing warming milk tea.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and children, including pregnant women (confirmed safe by Bro Niu in Q&A) and G6PD babies (using the black bean and rush pith variant).
- Those with gout: avoid, as most beans except adzuki beans are high in purines.
- Anyone who has experienced dryness, heat, or sensitivity after taking licorice: substitute with golden monk fruit (luo han guo).
- Not intended for daily long-term use as a tonifying drink — use periodically (2 times per week for about a month) after medication courses, or when feeling like a “cleanse” is needed.
- Do not use if currently running a fever.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green-kernel black beans (qing ren hei dou): Distinguished by the green (not yellow) interior when split open. Traditionally associated with clearing heat, supporting detoxification, nourishing the kidneys, and supporting eye health. Neither heating nor overly cooling — considered quite balanced for most people.
- Raw licorice root (sheng gan cao): One of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine. Traditionally said to “detoxify all plant-derived toxins” and to harmonise the effects of other ingredients. The raw (sheng) form is preferred here for its clearing effect; the honey-prepared (zhi) form is more tonifying and less suited for detoxification.
Ingredients (2 bowls — 1–2 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green-kernel black beans (qing ren hei dou) | 1 liang (~38 g) | Rinse and soak 30 min before cooking |
| Raw licorice root (sheng gan cao) | 1 qian (~3–4 g) | Use raw, not honey-prepared |
| Water | 5 bowls |
For infants / baby warming tea variant: replace licorice with 5–6 bundles of rush pith grass (deng xin cao), and add lily bulb (bai he) 1 liang if the child has restlessness or poor sleep.
For larger households (3–4 people): use 100 g black beans, 3 qian licorice, 7 bowls of water, simmered to 4–5 bowls.
Method
- Rinse and soak the black beans for 30 minutes.
- Place the black beans, licorice root, and water in a pot. Start with cold water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer.
- Cook for 45–60 minutes (45 min if simmering; 1 hour to make a stronger brew). The tea is ready when the liquid has reduced to about 2 bowls.
- Drink the liquid; the cooked beans can also be eaten.
Note: if you prefer a lighter, steeping method rather than simmering, dry-toast the black beans in a dry pan over medium heat for about 7 minutes first, then steep in hot water. This method is quicker but produces a slightly different flavour. If it feels too warming, add a slice of dried fig.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is a natural detox remedy, particularly helpful for children or adults who have been taking a lot of medication — it is associated with helping clear accumulated drug residues from the body. For infants with fetal heat, night restlessness, or crying, adapt the recipe by using black beans with rush pith grass (deng xin cao) 5–6 bundles, brewed as a warming tea — effective and safe. Do not use this tea during an active fever. Use 2 times per week for about a month to clear residual drug accumulation; for general wellness, once or twice a week is fine. Store dry-toasted black beans in an airtight container — they will keep for several months.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Bobby): Can you share the simmered soup version of this recipe? Bro Niu: Use green-kernel black beans 1 liang, licorice root 1 qian. If there is heart-fire with poor sleep, add lily bulb 1 liang. For small children, replace the licorice with rush pith grass 6 bundles. Simmer in 5 bowls of water down to 2 bowls.
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Q (YC): Can pregnant women drink this black bean and licorice tea? Bro Niu: Yes, pregnant women can drink it.
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Q (kitty): I have been taking both Western and Chinese medicine for a while. How often should I drink this tea, and for how long? Bro Niu: Drink it 2 times per week and continue for about a month. You can also support the process by regularly making a soup with pumpkin, tomato, and carrot — these are also associated with clearing internal toxins.
Published October 21, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
