Congee & Porridge

Hawthorn and Tangerine Peel Congee

traditionally used to support digestion and uric acid balance

In short: Hawthorn and Tangerine Peel Congee is a congee & porridge that traditionally used to support digestion and uric acid balance. It is most often made for digestive wellness, bone & joint wellness, everyday balance. Total time about 65 min. Key ingredients: hawthorn, tangerine peel, white rice, rock sugar.

Prep
5 min
Cook
60 min
Total
65 min
Makes
600–900 ml
Hawthorn and Tangerine Peel Congee

Why people make this congee

Anyone dealing with gout knows the drill: watch the purines, cut back on organ meats, shellfish, sardines, and beer. But strict no-purine diets can also strip away needed protein. Nourilo’s preferred approach is to keep daily purine intake within a sensible range — roughly 75 mg — while maintaining a healthy weight, rather than eliminating entire food groups. This humble congee with hawthorn and tangerine peel has a long tradition of being served to gout-prone individuals to help support digestion and encourage smoother elimination of metabolic waste.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Hawthorn · Randomized controlled trial, 41 participants · 2025
    Skin hydration scores improved more with hawthorn fruit than with placebo (p<0.05). Changes in other skin phenotypes and leukocyte telomere length were similar between groups. Genotype-specific effects were reported.Limitation: Small trial in which 36 completed follow-up; the genotype subgroup analyses are based on very few participants and are exploratory.PubMed 40573097 · 2 more hawthorn studies
  • Tangerine peel · Randomized controlled trial, 72 participants · 2025
    The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Hawthorn: Can cause dizziness, nausea or digestive upset, and may interact with heart medicines. Little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Hawthorn

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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