Fresh Dendrobium Orchid and American Ginseng Tea (Xian Shi Hu Hua Qi Shen Cha)

Why people make this tea

Dendrobium (shi hu) is one of the nine “immortal herbs” listed in a Tang dynasty Taoist text — a list that also includes ginseng, reishi, and caterpillar fungus. This gives you a sense of how highly it has been regarded in Chinese herbal tradition. Its reputation rests primarily on its ability to nourish yin: to replenish the body’s fluids when dryness, heat, or prolonged illness has depleted them.

Fresh dendrobium is available at Chinese herb shops and Asian grocers, or online. It looks like a small succulent plant or a cluster of smooth green-grey stems. The best quality has purple or iron-green colouring; yellowish-green stems are of lower quality but still useful. Combined with American ginseng (which cools and generates fluids without overheating the system the way Asian red ginseng might), this tea is gentle, refreshing, and particularly suited to anyone whose throat, voice, or overall yin has been taxed.

Method

1. Rinse the fresh dendrobium stems and chop roughly into small pieces to help release their properties.
2. Place the chopped dendrobium in a small pot with 900 ml of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add the American ginseng slices and simmer for a further 2–3 minutes, or simply turn off the heat, add the ginseng, and steep for 5 minutes. (American ginseng loses some of its volatile compounds if boiled too vigorously — gentle heating or final-stage steeping is preferable.)
5. Strain and serve warm. Can also be cooled and served chilled — keeps in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Nourilo’s Tips

When choosing fresh dendrobium, look for sturdy, thick stems with iron-green or purple colouring — these are of the highest quality. Thin, yellowish-green stems are weaker but still usable. As for dried dendrobium: if you cannot find the fresh variety, use about 11 g (12 g) of dried dendrobium. Dried pieces should be crushed or broken before using, as this helps them release their properties. If left whole, you’ll need to simmer them for at least 45 minutes.

This tea is especially good for singers and anyone who taxes their voice regularly. It is also associated with supporting vision clarity and eye health.

If you have a preference for powder: reputable dendrobium powder (particularly Huoshan iron-skin dendrobium) can be stirred into warm water. Genuine high-quality dendrobium powder has a slightly sticky texture — it will cling to the spoon. If it is completely non-sticky, it may not be genuine.