Golden Monk Fruit, Sweet Almonds & Tangerine Peel Drink

Why people make this drink

Parents in Cantonese-speaking communities have a saying: “Monk fruit clears phlegm heat.” The issue Nourilo addresses here — “tan huo he” (phlegm-fire nodules) — refers to what Western medicine would call cervical lymphadenopathy, small firm lumps in the neck that are commonly felt in children who run hot and prone to respiratory inflammation. These are generally benign, and traditional food therapy has long used monk fruit (luo han guo) as a gentle, soothing remedy. The golden monk fruit used here is processed at low temperatures rather than conventional high-heat smoking, which gives it a much cleaner, pleasantly sweet flavour that children tend to accept more readily. Paired with mixed almonds (which soothe the lungs) and tangerine peel (which transforms phlegm), this drink is a useful addition to the family medicine cabinet during the colder months.