Cicada Shell Chrysanthemum Tea

Why people make this tea

When eyes feel perpetually itchy, gritty, or irritated — especially in windy or allergy-prone seasons — many Hong Kong families reach for this simple two-herb brew. Cicada slough (the shed shell of the cicada insect) has a long history in Chinese herbal medicine and is considered safe and gentle, even for young children. Paired with fragrant chrysanthemum flowers, it makes a refreshing tea that gently supports the eyes and throat when wind-heat symptoms appear.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for adults and children with wind-heat patterns: itchy or red eyes, mild throat discomfort, or skin itchiness from hives
• Children under 18 months should avoid honey if you choose to sweeten the tea
• If itchiness is caused by a diagnosed eye condition or infection, consult a doctor rather than relying on food therapy alone

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Cicada slough (chan tui): In traditional Chinese medicine, this ingredient is classified as sweet and cooling, and is associated with dispersing wind-heat, soothing the throat, calming skin irritation, and settling restlessness in children
• Chrysanthemum (ju hua): One of the most widely used cooling herbs in Chinese food therapy; traditionally associated with clearing the liver and brightening the eyes — a classic pairing for eye discomfort related to heat and wind

Ingredients (1–2 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Chrysanthemum flowers (ju hua)	2 qian (~6 g)	Dried; Hangzhou chrysanthemum preferred
Cicada slough (chan tui)	1 qian (~3 g)	Available at Chinese herbal medicine shops

Method

1. Rinse the cicada slough thoroughly under running water.
2. Add 2–3 cups of water to a small pot and bring to a boil with the cicada slough.
3. Reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 20 minutes.
4. Add the chrysanthemum flowers and continue to simmer for a further 5 minutes.
5. Strain and serve warm. A small amount of honey may be added for sweetness (not for infants under 18 months).

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is gentle enough for young children. Beyond itchy eyes, it has traditionally been used for children who are restless at night or prone to skin hives from wind-type irritation. If you cannot source cicada slough, a substitute tea of mulberry leaf (sang ye) and chrysanthemum flowers is a reasonable alternative — Bro Niu recommends 10 g each, simmered for 10 minutes.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Joyce): My daughter is 5 years old. Can she have this tea? She has suspected nasal allergies and often has itchy eyes in the morning. Bro Niu: Yes, young children can safely take this tea. For a prone-to-allergy constitution with frequent nasal symptoms, you might also look for “Yu Ping Feng San” (Jade Screen Formula) granules at a Chinese herbal pharmacy — it contains three herbs: huang qi (astragalus), fang feng (siler root), and bai zhu (white atractylodes), and is traditionally used to support the body’s defensive energy.

• Q (Ken Au): My daughter is 1 year and 10 months old. Can she use this recipe? Should I reduce the amounts? Bro Niu: Your daughter can use this recipe as written — no need to reduce the quantities. Just let her drink as much as she is comfortable with.

• Q (Connie): Can children with G6PD (favism) drink this chrysanthemum cicada slough tea? Bro Niu: Yes, this tea is safe for children with G6PD (favism).

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Published February 9, 2014 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.