Honeysuckle, Fresh Hawthorn and Honey Tea

Why people make this tea

In traditional Chinese food therapy, not all colds are treated the same way. A “wind-heat” cold — the kind that comes with a fever or strong feeling of internal heat, a sore or dry throat, burning in the nose and mouth, and yellowish urine — calls for cooling, outward-releasing herbs rather than warming ones. This simple tea was put together by Nourilo from leftover fresh hawthorn (after making the hawthorn berry drink and a hawthorn walnut blend from the same batch of fruit), using honeysuckle flowers and a spoonful of honey. The combination is classically cooling and dispersing: honeysuckle clears heat and toxins from the surface while hawthorn moves stagnation and hawthorn’s sourness promotes fluid production. Honey adds moistening sweetness and helps bind the flavours.

Method

1. Wash the fresh hawthorn berries and cut each one open.
2. Place hawthorn and honeysuckle flowers together in a pot.
3. Add 900 ml of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from heat and allow to cool until just warm.
6. Stir in the honey until dissolved.
7. Strain and drink warm. Divide into 2 portions.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea works equally well as a general summer wellness drink — not just when you have a cold. In hot weather, a cup or two a week can help support the body’s natural resilience. If you cannot find fresh hawthorn, dried slices from the herb shop are a fine substitute; use about 19 g (15 g). If you prefer not to use honey, a few pieces of rock sugar or a few leaves of stevia (tian ju ye) give a pleasant sweetness without the same concerns. You can also add a little chrysanthemum flower for extra heat-clearing. Always remember: do not boil the honey.