Dried Lychee Tea with Ginger and Aged Tangerine Peel

Why people make this tea

When lychees come into season, there is always a lively debate about which variety is best — Nourilo is partial to the “Gui Wei” (cassia-fragrant) lychee for its clean, sweet freshness that does not overwhelm. But beyond enjoying the fresh fruit, traditional Chinese food therapy has long made use of the dried lychee — flesh and core together — as a warming, qi-moving remedy for those who suffer from stomach aches aggravated by cold, or menstrual cramps rooted in cold accumulation in the lower abdomen. Paired with the qi-regulating properties of aged tangerine peel and the warming punch of fresh ginger, this simple tea is a practical home remedy with centuries of folk use behind it.

A note of honesty: Nourilo has also heard online claims that a mixture of crushed lychee cores, rice-washing water, and pork kidney can “cure kidney failure.” A senior physician Nourilo consulted was quite clear: there is absolutely no basis for that. Lychee cores do have genuine traditional applications — warming the stomach, easing hernia-type pain, and alleviating cold-type menstrual discomfort — but they cannot treat organ failure. If you or someone you know has a serious kidney condition, please see a doctor immediately.

Method

1. Remove the shells from the dried lychees. Keep both the flesh and the cores — use the flat side of a knife or a pestle to crack the cores open slightly.
2. Place the cracked lychee pieces, aged tangerine peel, and fresh ginger into a pot.
3. Add 1.2 L of water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a medium-low simmer and cook for about 30 minutes.
4. Strain and serve warm. The tea has a naturally sweet, slightly aromatic flavour.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is especially effective for those with spleen weakness and prolonged loose stools, and for cold-type stomach pain. You can take it for up to 5 consecutive doses. Anyone with stomach heat or a bitter taste in the mouth should avoid this tea. While fresh lychees nourish qi and blood, do not overeat them at one sitting — they can cause internal heat to flare.