Cogongrass Root, Sugarcane, Carrot, Water Chestnut & Coix Seed Drink

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. Nourilo 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.

Method

1. Cut the cogongrass root bundle into sections (about 4–5 cm). Split the sugarcane sections lengthwise, then cut into shorter pieces.
2. Peel and cut the carrot into chunks. Peel the water chestnuts.
3. Rinse and briefly soak the coix seed.
4. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.1–2.4 L of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour until reduced to approximately 1.2 L.
6. Serve warm or at room temperature. The water chestnuts, carrot, and coix seed can be eaten.

Nourilo’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.