Hawthorn Ginger Brown Sugar Tea

Why people make this tea

Having bought a large batch of fresh hawthorn berries that he needed to use up, Nourilo put together a pot of this warming tea with ginger and brown sugar. The result is a comforting, tangy-sweet drink that warms the stomach, dispels cold, and — in the tradition of Chinese food medicine — helps move stagnant blood. Hawthorn has long been considered one of the go-to ingredients for women’s health: it is especially valued for easing menstrual irregularity and supporting the body after childbirth in clearing lochia (postpartum discharge) and helping the uterus recover.

Method

1. Rinse the hawthorn berries well and crush them lightly with the flat of a knife.
2. Place hawthorn, ginger slices, and water in a pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes until the liquid reduces to approximately 600 ml.
3. Stir in brown sugar and dissolve over low heat.
4. Serve warm. Drink throughout the day.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is most effective for period pain of the cold-stagnation type — when the pain is relieved by warmth and comes with clotted, dark flow. It is also traditionally associated with supporting cardiovascular wellness and reducing high blood lipids. For cooking with acidic ingredients like hawthorn, avoid using stainless steel pots for long cooking times, as the acid may leach metals; a clay pot or glass pot is better. If you cannot find fresh hawthorn, use 11–15 g (about 11–15 g) of dried hawthorn slices instead. Pregnant women must not drink this tea.