Cogon Grass and Corn Silk Tea

Why people make this tea

When the body accumulates excess heat — from rich food, stress, or simply the summer season — many people reach for cooling, diuretic teas to restore balance. Fresh cogon grass root (mao gen) is one of the most widely trusted cooling herbs in Chinese food medicine: it is traditionally associated with cooling the blood, stopping bleeding, supporting healthy urination, and working against viral infections — including liver conditions. Corn silk (su mi xu, the silky threads attached to fresh corn cobs) is used across many culinary wellness traditions worldwide and is particularly associated in Chinese food therapy with benefiting the liver and gallbladder, clearing jaundice, and supporting kidney health. Together, these two simple ingredients make a tea that is clean, mild, and suitable for regular use by the whole family during warmer months or whenever the body feels overheated.