Oldenlandia and Lobelia Herbal Tea (Bai Hua She She Cao and Ban Bian Lian)

Why people make this tea

Both of these wild herbs grow abundantly in fields and hillsides across southern China and are available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online. Oldenlandia (bai hua she she cao, literally “white-flower snake-tongue herb”) and lobelia (ban bian lian, “half-side lotus”) share a similar mild, sweet flavour with no bitterness — unusual for herbs considered this cooling. Together they have a long folk history for relieving the heat-related discomforts that Cantonese tradition lumps under the term “sheung foh” (shanghuo): sore throats, urinary burning, sluggish digestion from heat, and general internal restlessness. The honey dates are added to smooth the flavour and make the tea pleasant to drink.