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Herbal & Flower Teas

Three Jujube Tea (San Zao Cha)

Traditionally used to support respiratory comfort and nourish the blood in children with sensitive airways

In short: Three Jujube Tea (San Zao Cha) is a herbal & flower tea that Traditionally used to support respiratory comfort and nourish the blood in children with sensitive airways. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, children's wellness, blood nourishment. Total time about 35 min.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
5 min
Cook
30 min
Total
35 min
Makes
1–2 cups
Respiratory & Lung WellnessChildren's WellnessBlood NourishmentEveryday Balance
Three Jujube Tea (San Zao Cha)

Why people make this tea

Some children seem to catch every cold going around, and once they start coughing, it lingers for weeks. Parents know how frustrating it can be when a child refuses bitter herbal teas. This three-jujube tea solves that problem: it tastes naturally sweet and mild, making it far easier to get children to actually drink it. In traditional Cantonese food therapy, all three varieties of jujube are believed to have anti-allergic properties and a nourishing effect on the blood, which is why this combination has been used for generations to support children with sensitive airways and recurring coughs.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies
  • Honey · Meta-analysis, 14 studies · 2021
    Compared with usual care, honey was associated with lower combined symptom scores, cough frequency and cough severity. In two pooled placebo-controlled studies, the difference in combined symptoms was not statistically significant.Limitation: Only two studies compared honey with placebo, with high heterogeneity (I2=91%); the review calls for higher-quality placebo-controlled trials.PubMed 32817011 · 3 more honey studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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