Herbal & Flower Teas

Lotus Leaf, Hawthorn and Tangerine Peel Tea

traditionally supports fat digestion, weight management, and cholesterol balance

In short: Lotus Leaf, Hawthorn and Tangerine Peel Tea is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally supports fat digestion, weight management, and cholesterol balance. It is most often made for digestive wellness, weight & metabolism, heart & circulation. Total time about 65 min. Key ingredients: lotus leaf, hawthorn, tangerine peel.

Prep
5 min
Cook
60 min
Total
65 min
Makes
2 cups
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.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Job's tears (coix) · Randomized controlled trial · 2024
    Myeloperoxidase activity rose significantly in the placebo group after 8 weeks but showed no significant change in the adlay tea group. Vascular endothelial function improved in the adlay group, especially in those over 40.Limitation: Participants were healthy adults and the outcomes were surrogate markers, so the results say little about clinical disease outcomes. Tea is a polyphenol-rich extract, not whole grain.PubMed 38945894 · 2 more job's tears (coix) studies
  • Hawthorn · Randomized controlled trial, 41 participants · 2025
    Skin hydration scores improved more with hawthorn fruit than with placebo (p<0.05). Changes in other skin phenotypes and leukocyte telomere length were similar between groups. Genotype-specific effects were reported.Limitation: Small trial in which 36 completed follow-up; the genotype subgroup analyses are based on very few participants and are exploratory.PubMed 40573097 · 2 more hawthorn studies
  • Tangerine peel · Randomized controlled trial, 72 participants · 2025
    The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Hawthorn: Can cause dizziness, nausea or digestive upset, and may interact with heart medicines. Little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Hawthorn

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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