Coriander Root and Goji Berry Tea

Why people make this tea

Bro Niu has mentioned before that overseas universities have studied parsley for its role in supporting the kidneys, and coriander (cilantro) is traditionally credited with a similar cleansing reputation. The roots in particular are associated with activating the blood. Most of us slice off and toss the coriander roots when cooking — but Bro Niu says those roots are worth keeping. Paired with goji berries, which are traditionally nourishing to the kidney, they make a simple, fragrant tea.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits most people, warm or cold constitution, wanting a light supportive tea — pairing the coriander with goji balances it.
• Caution: people with serious kidney disease, especially those advised to limit potassium, should be careful — coriander is relatively high in potassium. Please follow your doctor’s guidance.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Coriander root (yan sui gen): Traditionally associated with supporting kidney function and activating the blood, and with helping the body clear accumulated waste.
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): Traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidney, and they lend natural sweetness.

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Coriander roots	8–10 roots	Or use 4–5 whole plants
Goji berries	1 tablespoon	Soaked, rinsed

Method

1. Wash the coriander roots clean. Soak and rinse the goji berries.
2. Bring 3 bowls of water to a boil, add the coriander roots and goji.
3. Boil for 7–8 minutes until reduced to 2 bowls. Serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is light and fragrant and suits young and old. If you don’t want to use the roots alone, you can use whole coriander plants instead — about 4–5 plants will do.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (An): Is coriander water suitable for people with a cold constitution? Bro Niu: Coriander water paired with goji suits both cold and hot constitutions.

• Q (Leez, Singapore): My father-in-law has kidney disease and is told to avoid high-potassium foods, but coriander is high in potassium — what else can you recommend? Bro Niu: Use one tangerine peel, poria (fu ling) 5 qian and 1 apple (keep the skin but core it), simmered from 4 bowls of water down to 2, for one day. This supports those with weak liver and kidney. There’s also a folk remedy: 8 crushed lychee seeds simmered in 3 bowls of rice-rinse water down to 1, taken for those with declining kidney function — but elderly people shouldn’t over-eat lychee fruit itself.

• Q (Wing): A herb-shop staffer said people with high blood pressure shouldn’t take astragalus (bei qi); my husband is 60 with high blood pressure on Western medicine — what’s your view? Bro Niu: Astragalus is “two-directional”: 5 qian or more tends to lower blood pressure, while under 3 qian tends to raise it. For someone without blood-pressure issues it simply supports qi. Codonopsis (dang shen) supports the middle and can counter adrenaline’s pressure-raising effect — both herbs can in fact be used.

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Published February 12, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.