Burdock Honey Tea

Why people make this tea

Burdock root makes a wonderfully clean, fragrant tea — a single steep with a little honey is genuinely delicious. Beyond its pleasant flavor, burdock has a long history in Chinese and Japanese herbal traditions — it clears heat from the throat, supports healthy bowel movements, helps lower cholesterol, and may play a role in reducing the risk of stomach cancer and stroke. For anyone who regularly strains their voice — teachers, singers, receptionists — this is a simple daily habit worth keeping.

Method

1. Place the dried burdock slices in a teapot or thermos.
2. Rinse once with a small amount of boiling water, then pour out (this cleans the herb).
3. Pour in near-boiling water (about 90°C — not a rolling boil).
4. Steep for about 5 minutes.
5. Add honey to taste and drink. The burdock can be re-steeped 2–3 times until the flavor fades.

Nourilo’s Tips

Pure honey from any reliable source works well — there is no need for a specific variety. Lychee honey is not overly heating and works fine. If your burdock is fresh rather than dried: rinse unpeeled, slice thinly (about 38 g / 38 g), and simmer in 900 ml of water until it reduces to 600 ml; add honey and drink. This tea is best drunk regularly as a daily or every-other-day ritual. If you use it alongside other cooler teas such as monk fruit (luo han guo) or plantain-bark water (qian ceng zhi), it remains fine to combine them.