Herbal & Flower Teas
Cinnamon Longan Red Date Tea
Traditionally warms the stomach and dispels cold
Why people make this tea
When the weather turns cold, Bro Niu likes to brew a little ground cinnamon into a tea — it is warming and fragrant, and traditionally used to support circulation and ease chilliness. Adding longan and red dates makes it sweet and comforting, especially for people with a cold stomach who feel the cold easily.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people who feel cold easily, with a cold stomach, and who like warm drinks in winter.
- Not for those with a hot constitution or “stomach heat” — the source names puffy gums, mouth ulcers and bad breath as signs to avoid it. Use only a small pinch of cinnamon at a time, as it is quite warming.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cinnamon (rou gui): Warming and aromatic; traditionally associated with warming the body and supporting circulation and digestion.
- Longan (yuan rou): A warming, sweet fruit traditionally used to nourish the blood and calm the mind.
- Red dates (hong zao): Traditionally used to nourish the blood and warm the middle.
Ingredients (1 pot, 1–2 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ground cinnamon (rou gui fen) | 1/2 tsp | Add last; don’t overdo it |
| Dried longan (yuan rou) | 15 pieces | — |
| Red dates (hong zao) | 6–8 | Pitted, sliced |
| Honey | to taste | — |
Method
- Pit the red dates and slice them.
- Put the longan and red dates in a teapot and pour over boiling water; stir.
- Cover and steep about 5 minutes.
- Stir in honey, dust over the ground cinnamon, mix well and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Ground cinnamon is sold in supermarkets and Southeast-Asian grocery shops. It is strongly aromatic and supports digestion, but don’t add too much at once. This tea is warm and sweet, so it is not for those with stomach heat or a hot constitution.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Rosita): Is this a daytime tea? Can I swap the honey for brown sugar? Bro Niu: You can drink it morning or evening, and yes, you may use brown sugar instead of honey.
- Q (Leelee): For long-term insomnia plus a cold stomach, how often a week should I drink this cinnamon tea? Bro Niu: Up to 3 times a week.
- Q (Apple): I run hot — can I just take cinnamon powder with honey, for the bowels? Bro Niu: Cinnamon powder is actually very warming, so use little if you run hot. For the bowels, better to eat sweet-potato congee, papaya-with-snow-fungus dessert, or some prunes.
Published December 16, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
