Tonic Drinks & Waters
Cogongrass Root, Sugarcane, Carrot, Water Chestnut & Coix Seed Drink
Traditionally used to clear internal heat, reduce dampness, support urinary health, and calm inflammation
Why people make this drink
This is one of Hong Kong’s best-loved cooling herbal drinks — a staple of home cooking when the weather is warm and sticky, when the body feels flushed and restless, or when someone in the family is coming down with a urinary complaint. In traditional Chinese food therapy, cogongrass root (mao gen / bai mao gen) is used to cool the blood and support urinary flow; sugar cane strengthens the spleen and generates body fluids; carrot helps transform food accumulation and supports measle-rash resolution; water chestnut clears heat and phlegm; and coix seed (Job’s tears) strengthens the spleen while clearing heat and dampness. Simmered together, the result is a clear, lightly sweet drink that tastes pleasant enough for children to drink willingly. Bro Niu notes that this drink is also useful to make before or after vaccination, to help the body respond more calmly. It can also be used as a supportive measure during exposure to chickenpox or measles season.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family, including young children
- Particularly useful when the body feels “hot” — flushed, restless, thirsty, with concentrated or dark urine
- A good drink around vaccination time (either before or after) to support the body’s response
- Traditionally used to help prevent or support recovery from chickenpox and measles
- Those with a very cold constitution or who run cold easily should moderate the amount; this drink is cooling
- Diabetics can drink this without adding extra sugar — it is naturally sweet from the sugarcane
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Cogongrass root (mao gen, Imperata cylindrica): Traditionally associated with cooling the blood, stopping bleeding, clearing heat, promoting urination, and possessing mild antibacterial properties; one of the most commonly used cooling herbs in Cantonese cooking
- Sugar cane (zhu zhe): Strengthens the spleen, generates fluids, clears heat, and acts as a diuretic; provides natural sweetness to the drink
- Carrot (hong luo bo): Traditionally used to support digestion, strengthen the spleen, and help the body express rashes (measles); nutritious and mild
- Water chestnut (ma ti, Eleocharis dulcis): Clears heat, dissolves phlegm, promotes urination, and supports blood pressure; adds a light, crisp sweetness
- Coix seed / Job’s tears (sheng yi mi): Strengthens the spleen and lungs, clears heat, removes dampness; also traditionally associated with mild antiviral properties
Ingredients (about 4 bowls / 3–4 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cogongrass root | 1 bundle (~30–40 g) | Cut into sections |
| Sugar cane | 2 sections | Split lengthwise and cut into shorter pieces |
| Carrot | 1 medium | Peeled, cut into chunks |
| Water chestnuts | 8 pieces | Peeled |
| Raw coix seed | 38 g (1 liang) | Rinsed and soaked briefly |
Method
- Cut the cogongrass root bundle into sections (about 4–5 cm). Split the sugarcane sections lengthwise, then cut into shorter pieces.
- Peel and cut the carrot into chunks. Peel the water chestnuts.
- Rinse and briefly soak the coix seed.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 7–8 bowls (about 1.75–2 litres) of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour until reduced to approximately 4 bowls.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. The water chestnuts, carrot, and coix seed can be eaten.
Bro Niu’s tips
Both cogongrass root and coix seed have mild antibacterial properties in traditional food-therapy theory, which is why this drink is also associated with supporting the body’s resilience against chickenpox and measles. For babies and toddlers, this drink is safe — one reader confirmed that it is suitable for infants. No sugar needs to be added; the sugarcane provides all the natural sweetness you need. Diabetics can drink it as-is.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (anonymous reader): Can a 22-month-old baby drink this? Bro Niu: Yes, this drink is fine for young children.
-
Q (Apple): Can a diabetic person drink this? Bro Niu: Diabetics can drink this drink — just do not add any extra sugar.
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Q (Anthea): My daughter had antibiotics twice, is still coughing with phlegm, and refuses Chinese herbal medicine. What can I make her? Bro Niu: You can cook perilla seeds (su zi) and radish seeds (lai fu zi) — about 3 qian each — wrapped in a herb bag, into a thin pork congee; this helps dissolve phlegm and ease the cough. If there is no fever, you can also make a soup with tiger milk mushroom (hu ru ling zhi, 3 qian), snow fungus (2 qian), north and south almonds (1 liang), and dried figs (3 pieces) with lean pork — the whole family can drink it to support and moisten the lungs.
Published September 7, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
