Fresh Lily Bulb and Longan Tea

Why people make this tea

Nourilo here. When I teach postnatal-care classes, students often ask about new mothers who struggle with sleep because of all the worry and anxiety that comes with a new baby, and whether there is a simple food-therapy fix. After childbirth, dried longan is a lovely choice — traditionally associated with nourishing the blood, supporting the spleen, easing stress and tension, and calming the heart. Because longan is on the warming side, if a new mother tends toward yin deficiency and internal heat, pairing it with fresh lily bulb keeps things balanced: fresh lily bulb is traditionally used to nourish yin, cool the stomach and calm the heart, so the two together are gentle rather than over-warming.

Method

1. Separate the lily bulb scales and rinse clean. Rinse the longan.
2. Cook both in 1.1 L of water for 20 minutes. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is also traditionally enjoyed by people with blood deficiency or trouble sleeping. But pregnant women tend toward internal heat, and for them longan not only fails to help but may add to that heat and carry risk — so it should be avoided in pregnancy.