Herbal & Flower Teas
Hawthorn, Poria, Tangerine Peel and Apple Tea
Traditionally used to support the spleen and ease food stagnation
Why people make this tea
With Lunar New Year about a month away, family gatherings mean a lot of rich food — and that heavy, stuffed feeling that follows. Bro Niu wanted to share an easy tea for it. Apples are around all year, big and cheap, and pairing them with spleen-supporting, damp-draining poria, digestion-easing hawthorn and qi-moving tangerine peel makes a brew that’s just right after eating and drinking too much.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for that bloated, over-full feeling after big meals; also enjoyed by those carrying extra weight or minding the “three highs” (blood pressure, blood sugar, blood fats).
- Pregnant women should not use hawthorn.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hawthorn (shan zha): traditionally helps break down food stagnation and supports the stomach.
- Poria (fu ling): traditionally supports the spleen and drains damp.
- Tangerine peel (chen pi): supports the spleen and moves qi.
- Apple (ping guo): adds natural sweetness and pectin; left whole with skin on, cored and sliced.
Ingredients (2 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn | 3 qian (~11 g) | Soaked, washed |
| Poria | 3 qian (~11 g) | Soaked, washed |
| Tangerine peel | 1 piece | Soaked, washed |
| Apple | 1 | Skin on, cored, sliced |
Method
- Soak and wash the hawthorn, poria and tangerine peel.
- Wash the apple (keep the skin), core and slice it.
- Put everything into a pot with 4 bowls of water.
- Boil 20 minutes until reduced to 2 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is sweet-and-tart and really cuts through grease; suitable for young and old. It’s also good for those carrying extra weight or watching the “three highs” — but pregnant women should not use hawthorn.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (xiao qing): What’s the difference between poria sold as pellets and poria sold in rolled sheets? How does the effect differ? Bro Niu: Rolled sheets and pellets are the same thing. Poria is a fungus with a dark purple skin and white flesh inside; the flesh can be cut into cubes or shaved into curls — the effect is the same. The central core cut into a large slice is called fu shen, which is used mainly to calm the mind.
- Q (qing): My son’s kidney readings have been slightly high since catching flu. What tea or soup can I make as everyday care? Bro Niu: You can use fox nut, green-kernel black bean and walnut (1 liang each) simmered with tangerine peel and lean pork for a full 2 hours; the whole family can drink it.
Published January 14, 2026 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
