Lotus Heart, Ophiopogon & Lophatherum Tea

Why people make this tea

Bad breath or an unpleasant taste in the mouth is not just a social inconvenience — in traditional Chinese medicine, it is regarded as a signal worth paying attention to. Different flavours (bitter, sour, sweet, metallic) point to different patterns of imbalance. The most common type — a bitter, dry mouth, particularly in the morning or after a night of poor sleep — is associated with excess heat in the heart and stomach channels. People who habitually stay up late, eat spicy or fried food frequently, or feel chronically stressed are particularly prone to this. This tea addresses that pattern by combining three cooling, moistening, and heat-clearing ingredients. The key ingredient — the lotus heart (lian xin), the tiny bitter green embryo inside the lotus seed — is specifically valued for its ability to clear heart fire and calm an agitated mind.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suited for people who wake with a bitter or dry mouth, feel easily irritable or heated, or who eat late and sleep poorly
• Also beneficial for those feeling short-tempered, restless, or prone to mouth ulcers from internal heat
• Generally mild and suitable for regular use
• Those with a cold constitution or loose stools should limit frequency

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Lotus seeds with heart (lian zi lian xin): The bitter green embryo (lian xin) inside the lotus seed is specifically used to clear heart fire; without the heart, lotus seeds have a more neutral, calming effect — but for mouth bitterness and mental restlessness, the heart is essential
• Ophiopogon root (mai dong): Nourishes stomach and lung yin; moistens dryness and supports fluid production — addressing the dry, parched sensation that accompanies excess heat
• Lophatherum herb (dan zhu ye): A cooling herb associated with clearing heat from the heart and stomach channels; also mildly diuretic, supporting the downward movement of excess heat

Ingredients (2 bowls / 1 pot)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh lotus seeds (with heart)	75 g (2 liang)	Use the seeds WITH their tiny green bitter heart
OR dried lotus seeds (with heart)	38 g (1 liang)	If fresh unavailable, use dried with heart intact
Ophiopogon root (mai dong)	19 g (5 qian)	Soak and rinse
Lophatherum herb (dan zhu ye)	1 small bunch	Rinse well
Water	5 bowls (~1.2 L)

Method

1. Rinse fresh lotus seeds. If using dried, soak briefly in cold water.
2. Soak and rinse the ophiopogon root. Rinse the lophatherum herb.
3. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 5 bowls of water. Bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes until liquid reduces to about 2 bowls.
5. Drink as a tea throughout the day.

Bro Niu’s tips

Fresh lotus seeds are sometimes available during summer; if you cannot find them, look for dried lotus seeds WITH their heart intact at a Chinese herb shop — regular dried lotus seeds (which have the heart removed) will not give the same effect for mouth bitterness and heat-clearing. Dried lotus seeds with heart: use 1 liang (38 g). This tea is also excellent for people who feel irritable, short-tempered, and easily frustrated — the lotus heart has a traditional reputation for calming agitated emotions as well as clearing physical heat.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Lisa lam): My daughter has had recurring heat sensations and inflammation cycling through her ears, nose, and throat for two or three weeks. Antibiotics and cooling teas have not helped. What soup can she drink? Bro Niu: Try a tea of dandelion (pu gong ying), honeysuckle (jin yin hua), and boat-fruited sterculia (pang da hai) — 3 qian each — with 1 qian of liquorice root, simmered in 4 bowls of water for 20 minutes into 2 bowls. Drink for 3 consecutive days. This combination supports clearing heat and reducing inflammation.

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Published July 5, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.