Nourilo

Herbal & Flower Teas

Fresh Dendrobium, Goji Berry and Ophiopogon Tea

Traditionally used to nourish yin, generate fluids, and ease dry mouth and restless sleep

In short: Fresh Dendrobium, Goji Berry and Ophiopogon Tea is a herbal & flower tea that Traditionally used to nourish yin, generate fluids, and ease dry mouth and restless sleep. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, sleep & calm, energy & vitality. Total time about 25 min. Key ingredients: goji berries.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
25 min
Makes
2 cups
Respiratory & Lung WellnessSleep & CalmEnergy & VitalityOral & Throat ComfortEveryday Balance
Fresh Dendrobium, Goji Berry and Ophiopogon Tea

Why people make this tea

When the weather turns dry — whether in autumn, winter, or in heated or air-conditioned environments — many people find themselves reaching for water constantly, feeling a persistent dry or scratchy throat, and struggling to sleep soundly. In Chinese food therapy this pattern is associated with “yin deficiency” — the body’s cooling and moistening reserves being depleted. Fresh dendrobium (shi hu) is one of the most prized herbs for replenishing these reserves: it has a juicy, grass-like freshness and is thought to revive fluids in the stomach and support digestion. Paired with goji berries (which support the eyes and liver) and ophiopogon root (which calms the heart and moistens the lungs), this tea is a simple, pleasant way to address that dry, slightly worn-out feeling that comes with a busy, late-night lifestyle.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Dendrobium · Randomized controlled trial · 2025
    Salivary flow rate and oral mucosal scores improved more in the Dendrobium group than in the control group using vitamin B12 rinse alone (P < .05). Serum IL-10 rose from baseline, and oral bacterial composition differed.Limitation: Small single-hospital sample; the Dendrobium group also used the B12 rinse, and the abstract does not say whether the control group received a placebo drink.PubMed 39811879 · 2 more dendrobium studies
  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

Members only

Unlock the full method & Nourilo's tips

One payment, lifetime access to every one of our 2,344 recipes — step-by-step methods, preparation tips and serving notes.

  • Full step-by-step method for this and all 2,344 recipes
  • Nourilo's Tips — sourcing, substitutions and serving notes
  • One-time payment · card, Apple Pay or Google Pay · no subscription, no renewals

Checking your access…

Spot an error? Report a correction

You might also like

Related recipes

More herbal & flower teas →

Comments

Loading comments…