Herbal & Flower Teas
Honeysuckle and Dried Daylily Flower Tea
Traditionally taken to clear heat and support the urinary tract
Why people make this tea
Bro Niu once spotted a glorious wild sprawl of honeysuckle in the countryside — but he wouldn’t pick it, since even rural areas may be sprayed with insecticide. In traditional kitchens honeysuckle is valued for clearing heat, resolving toxins and dispersing wind-heat, and is associated with easing fever, headache, sore throat and thirst. Because women have a shorter urethra and are more prone to urinary infections, he pairs honeysuckle with daylily flower as a gentle, fragrant tea.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Adults wanting a light, heat-clearing tea to support the urinary tract; mild and fragrant, fine for young and old.
- People with G6PD deficiency (favism) must not use honeysuckle. Do not leave this tea overnight before drinking. A urinary tract infection should be seen by a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Honeysuckle (jin yin hua): traditionally used to clear heat, resolve toxins and disperse wind-heat; associated with easing inflammation.
- Daylily flower (jin zhen hua): a gentle companion flower traditionally used to clear heat.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Honeysuckle flower | 1 tablespoon | |
| Dried daylily flower | 1 tablespoon |
Method
- Put the honeysuckle and daylily flowers in a pot and rinse once with boiling water.
- Pour in fresh boiling water and steep for 7–8 minutes.
- Drink; you can re-steep until the flavour fades.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is fragrant and fine for young and old, but it is not suitable for those with G6PD deficiency, and honeysuckle tea should not be kept and drunk overnight.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (En): My daughter has just developed a UTI and is on antibiotics. Can I brew honeysuckle and daylily for her? Her hands and feet are usually cold — I hope it won’t be too cooling. Bro Niu: Honeysuckle-daylily water is fairly cooling, but inflammation is usually treated with cooling herbs. Try raw and roasted Job’s tears (~38 g), 1 corn cob with silk, and 5 red dates in a pork soup instead — less cooling but supportive for a UTI; take 3–4 doses. Simmer in 5 bowls of water for 45 minutes down to 2 bowls, split over the day.
- Q (Ms Li): I forgot to ask how long to simmer that soup, and can I leave out the lean pork? Bro Niu: Simmer for about 1.5 hours; leaving out the lean pork is fine.
Published September 13, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
