Kudzu Flower, Tangerine Peel and Honey Date Tea

Why people make this tea

Most people who drink for social or work reasons know all too well that the next morning can be rough — headache, nausea, fatigue, that stale feeling in the stomach. Long-term heavy drinking carries more serious consequences: fatty liver, digestive ulcers, esophageal bleeding, pancreatic inflammation, accelerated brain aging, and increased risk of gout from any type of alcohol. The kudzu plant (ge) has a long history in Chinese medicine, and its unopened flower buds (ge hua) specifically are valued as one of the most effective natural ingredients for counteracting alcohol. The flower buds are sweet and neutral in nature, and traditionally associated with settling the stomach and clearing alcohol from the system. Tangerine peel (chen pi) adds its stomach-comforting, qi-moving properties, and honey dates sweeten the whole thing into a tea that is genuinely pleasant to drink. It is simple to make, takes only ten minutes, and can be sipped warm after a night out or taken preventively before.

Method

1. Rinse kudzu flower buds and honey dates briefly.
2. Chop or shred the tangerine peel finely.
3. Combine all ingredients in a small pot with about 900 ml of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 10 minutes until liquid reduces to approximately 600 ml.
5. Drink warm; consume the full 2 bowls within the day.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea has a naturally sweet, fragrant flavor that makes it easy to drink even when you are feeling rough. Besides its role as a hangover remedy, the isoflavone compounds in kudzu flower are reported to help inhibit the liver’s production of neutral fats, which gives this tea a mild secondary association with weight management.

The tea can be taken every other day without concern. People with thyroid conditions can also drink it safely.