Houttuynia, Tangerine Peel & Honey Date Drink

Why people make this drink

When respiratory illnesses start spreading through schools and communities, this is one of the drinks Nourilo turns to. Houttuynia (yu xing cao) has a long history in Chinese herbal medicine as a lung-clearing herb, and modern research has identified antibacterial compounds in the plant — particularly against the pneumococcal bacteria associated with bacterial pneumonia. The herb has a distinctive, slightly fishy aroma when raw (hence its Chinese name — “fishy-smell herb”), but when cooked with sweet honey dates and fragrant tangerine peel, the flavour becomes quite mild and approachable. This is a supportive drink for the prevention and early stages of respiratory illness, not a treatment for established pneumonia.

Method

1. Rinse the houttuynia thoroughly and cut into sections.
2. Soak the tangerine peel briefly and rinse.
3. Place the tangerine peel, honey dates, and water in a pot and bring to a boil.
4. Add the houttuynia, then continue cooking for about 20 minutes until reduced to 600–900 ml.
5. Drink warm. Suitable for the whole family.

Nourilo’s Tips

This drink has a clean, lightly sweet taste — the fishy aroma of raw houttuynia largely disappears with cooking. For people with weak immunity, elderly people, and young children under 5, Nourilo also recommends getting a pneumococcal vaccine for longer-term protection — food therapy is a supportive tool, not a replacement for vaccination. If a cold or flu seems to be progressing towards difficulty breathing, high sustained fever, or general collapse of energy, seek medical attention immediately.