Lotus Leaf, Hawthorn and Tangerine Peel Tea

Why people make this tea

After a holiday season of rich eating — or frankly, after any period of indulgence — many people look for a gentle dietary reset. This tea is a classic approach in Cantonese food therapy: lotus leaf, hawthorn berries, coix seed, and tangerine peel work together to help the body process accumulated fats and ease digestive stagnation. It is not a dramatic “detox” in the marketing sense, but it is genuinely useful — each ingredient has a well-understood traditional role and a growing body of modern nutritional research behind it. The tea is pleasant to drink, mild enough for everyday use, and can be prepared as a brew or as ready-to-use tea bags for convenience.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients briefly.
2. Place all ingredients in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 1 hour until reduced to about 600 ml (2 cups).
4. Strain and drink. Can be taken warm or at room temperature.

Alternative tea-bag method (for daily use):

1. Dry-toast all ingredients in a clean wok (no oil) over medium-low heat for 5–6 minutes, stirring constantly, until lightly aromatic. Allow to cool.
2. Grind or crush into a coarse powder, or simply crumble the toasted ingredients.
3. Pack into tea bag sachets (available at supermarkets) — about 1 tablespoon per sachet.
4. To serve: steep 1 sachet in hot water for 5–7 minutes. Can be re-steeped until pale. Drink daily.

Nourilo’s Tips

• For people with fatty liver, this is a particularly suitable daily tea. Regular use (at least 3 months) is recommended to see meaningful benefit.
• To add liver-enzyme-lowering support, include 1 tablespoon of wu wei zi (schisandra berries, Schisandra chinensis) — toast and add to the tea bag mix. Note that some people find schisandra causes a burning sensation in the stomach; if so, take it after meals.
• The dry-toast method allows you to prepare a larger batch and use it as tea bags every day without cooking.
• Hawthorn stimulates appetite somewhat — this is intentional for digestive support, but if you are primarily trying to lose weight, avoid snacking on fatty foods after the tea.