Monthly Rose and Rosebud Flower Tea

Why people make this tea

Both monthly rose and rosebud belong to the same botanical family (Rosaceae) and have been used in Chinese herbal food therapy for centuries to support women’s wellbeing. What makes monthly rose (yue ji hua) particularly interesting is how it got its name: unlike most roses that bloom once a season, this species flowers every single month — hence “monthly rose” or “month-after-month red” (yue yue hong). In traditional Chinese medicine thinking, menstrual irregularity and period pain are often attributed to liver qi stagnation — a pattern characterized by emotional tension, sighing, breast tenderness, bloating, and pain that responds to warmth. Monthly rose is traditionally used to move blood and regulate the menstrual cycle, while rosebud moves qi, dissolves tension, and gently warms the middle. Brown sugar adds warmth and enhances the blood-nourishing quality. Together, this tea is particularly favored as a preparation to begin drinking about a week before menstruation arrives.

Method

1. Place the monthly rose and rosebud flowers into a teapot.
2. Pour in a small amount of boiling water, swirl briefly, and discard — this rinse cleans and opens the flowers.
3. Pour in freshly boiled water and add brown sugar to taste.
4. Cover and steep for 5 minutes.
5. Pour into a cup and drink warm. The flowers can be re-steeped 2–3 times by adding more boiling water.

Nourilo’s Tips

• For menstrual pain: start drinking this tea one week before your expected period, and continue for 5 days. Consistency matters — a single cup has limited effect; the traditional approach involves regular use over the lead-up to menstruation.
• This tea is also traditionally associated with relieving stomach and abdominal pain caused by emotional stress (liver-stomach disharmony) and supporting digestion in general — so it is not exclusively a menstrual tea.
• Women who have already gone through menopause can still enjoy rose and rosebud tea for its calming, qi-regulating properties. Combine with jasmine flowers and chrysanthemum for a gentle everyday blend.
• Monthly rose (yue ji hua) can be harder to find than standard rosebuds — look in traditional Chinese herb shops or Chinese medicine pharmacies. It is larger than a standard rosebud and has a more subdued fragrance.