Gynostemma & Roasted Brown Rice Tea

Why people make this tea

Fatty liver comes in two main forms: alcohol-related, and the more common non-alcoholic type linked to obesity, blood sugar issues, or metabolic factors. Many people with fatty liver have no obvious symptoms; some feel unusually fatigued or notice a dull ache in the right side below the ribs where the liver sits. During pregnancy, a rare and serious form can develop in the third trimester, which requires prompt medical evaluation.

This simple two-ingredient tea was designed by Bro Niu as an everyday support drink — particularly for those who are pregnant and managing elevated blood fats or blood pressure, or anyone wanting a calming, liver-supportive herbal brew. Gynostemma is cooling by nature, so roasting the brown rice first introduces warmth that balances the formula, making it gentler on the stomach.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for adults looking to support healthy liver function, blood pressure, or fat metabolism
• Gynostemma is cooling in nature; the roasted rice is essential to moderate this — do not omit it, especially if your constitution runs cold
• For pregnant women with diagnosed fatty liver: drink this as a complementary wellness beverage only — please work with your doctor and do not delay medical evaluation
• If you experience jaundice, abdominal pain, or yellowing of the eyes during pregnancy, see a doctor immediately

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Gynostemma (jiao gu lan): Sometimes called “southern ginseng,” this herb is rich in saponins traditionally associated with supporting the body’s detoxification, fat metabolism, and immune response; also associated with blood pressure and cholesterol management
• Roasted brown rice (chao zao mi): Toasting the rice develops a warm, nutty quality that helps offset gynostemma’s cold nature; brown rice is traditionally considered to support blood circulation, help break down cholesterol, and promote smooth blood flow through the vessels

Ingredients (1 pot / 2–3 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Gynostemma dried herb (jiao gu lan)	1 tablespoon	Any quality brand from a Chinese herb shop
Roasted brown rice (any colour)	2 tablespoons	Dry-toast in a pan for about 7 minutes until golden and fragrant, then store; use as needed

Method

1. Place the gynostemma and roasted brown rice into a tea bag or infuser, then put it in a teapot or heatproof container.
2. Pour a little boiling water over the herbs, swirl briefly, and discard — this is the rinse step.
3. Pour in fresh boiling water to fill the pot. Cover and steep for 10–15 minutes.
4. Pour and drink. The same tea bag can be re-steeped with fresh boiling water until the flavour fades.

Bro Niu’s tips

You can prepare a batch of roasted brown rice in advance — dry-toast it in a clean, oil-free pan for about 7 minutes until fragrant, then store it in a jar. Red and black varieties work just as well as regular brown rice, and each adds a slightly different flavour. Beyond fatty liver support, this tea is well-suited to those recovering from illness, managing chronic bronchitis, or experiencing fatigue and reduced white blood cell counts. Gynostemma is also known by the name “jin sang zi” (golden throat herb).

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Polly yue): My husband works night shifts and has had persistently high liver enzymes. Is there a tea he can brew easily at home? Bro Niu: For elevated liver enzymes, try putting 1 tablespoon of schisandra berries (wu wei zi) and 4–5 slices of licorice root (gan cao) into a tea bag and brewing as you would this tea — one serving per day, re-steeped until flavourless. This combination is traditionally associated with supporting liver enzyme normalisation. Korean schisandra tends to be particularly good quality and is sometimes sold as a ready-made juice at Korean supermarkets.

• Q (meimei): I am a 40-year-old woman with blood pressure readings of 107/66 and a resting heart rate of 63. Is this normal? I am always tired and wake early at 3–4 am unable to go back to sleep. Bro Niu: Your upper reading is fine but the lower is on the low side, and the fatigue suggests your heart qi may be a little weak — possibly from insufficient exercise, poor absorption, or inadequate nutrition. For general support, try simmering astragalus (bei qi, 3 qian), codonopsis (dang shen, 3 qian), goji berries (qi zi, 3 qian), and red dates (hong zao, 5 pieces) with silkie chicken or lean pork in 8 bowls of water down to 4 bowls — 2 servings per week. That said, your daughter’s readings are more concerning; I’d encourage her to see a doctor.

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Published July 31, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.