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.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most adults as a daily wellness tea; especially helpful for those with throat dryness, inflammation, or who use their voice a lot
• Honey moderates the cooling effect of burdock, making the tea gentler; pure honey of any variety works well (lychee honey is not overly heating)
• People with cold constitutions or loose stools should use with caution — if the body feels too cool after drinking, reduce frequency or add a little ginger
• Cold-type asthma: not suitable. Heat-type asthma or airway sensitivity: can try with honey added
• Suitable to drink daily; Bro Niu also notes burdock can be cooked in soups (with carrots, corn, and apricot kernels) if the tea feels too cooling

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Dried burdock root (niu bang): A member of the daisy family (Asteraceae); cultivated for its thick, starchy root which is widely eaten as a vegetable in Japan and Taiwan. The seeds (niu bang zi) are also a classical Chinese herbal ingredient used for wind-heat patterns. As a food, burdock is rich in fiber, traditionally associated with clearing heat, easing throat inflammation, supporting bowel regularity, lowering cholesterol, and removing accumulated toxins and waste from the body. Dried burdock root slices are available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online.
• Honey (feng mi): Naturally sweet and moistening; moderates the cooling nature of burdock; traditionally associated with nourishing the lungs, moistening dryness, and soothing the throat

Ingredients (1 cup, re-steepable)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried burdock root slices	approx. 4 g (3 qian)	Rinse once with boiling water first
Pure honey	to taste	Any variety of pure honey works
Water	approx. 200–300 ml	Near-boiling (about 90°C / 194°F)

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.

Bro Niu’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 / 1 liang), and simmer in 3 bowls of water until it reduces to 2 bowls; 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.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (B): I’m 20 years old and I’ve been teaching and tutoring since July. My voice has become hoarse and I’m losing some high notes when I sing. I’ve already started drinking burdock honey tea with monk fruit water and plantain-bark water. Are these suitable? Is there anything else I can do? Bro Niu: All of those teas are suitable — keep drinking them. More importantly, learn to speak from your diaphragm (dan tian qi) rather than from your throat; Cantonese opera singers do this and it protects the voice over many years. Using a microphone when teaching can also reduce strain. Avoid fried and spicy foods.

• Q (Mag): Can I steep dried burdock with black goji berries together? What amounts? Bro Niu: Yes, that works well. Use about 2 tablespoons of dried burdock and 1 tablespoon of black goji berries.

• Q (will): Does adding honey make the burdock tea less cooling? And what about steeping burdock with red dates and longan? Bro Niu: Yes, honey does reduce the cooling effect. Red date and longan burdock tea has a warming, blood-nourishing effect on hormone balance and is not overly cooling.

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Published December 10, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.