Hawthorn, Ginger & Brown Sugar Tea

Why people make this tea

Hawthorn berries are among the most affordable and versatile ingredients in Chinese food therapy. Fresh ones appear in markets every autumn, but dried slices are available year-round from herb shops. The sourness of the berry, balanced by warming ginger and sweet brown sugar, creates a drink that has been relied on for generations to get things moving — digestion, energy, and blood flow alike. It is particularly popular among women recovering after childbirth, when the goal is to help the body clear and restore itself.

Method

1. If using fresh hawthorn berries, rinse them, halve, and remove the seeds.
2. Combine hawthorn and ginger slices with 3 cups of water in a small pot.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
5. Strain into a cup and drink warm.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea may also benefit people with high blood pressure, elevated blood lipids, sluggish digestion, or a tendency toward weight gain. Fresh hawthorn is available in autumn at Asian grocers and Chinese herb shops; dried hawthorn slices are available year-round and work perfectly well the rest of the year.