Herbal & Flower Teas
Lotus Leaf Tea
Traditionally associated with supporting fat metabolism, bowel movement, and reducing water retention
Why people make this tea
After Lunar New Year celebrations — with all the rich food and festive feasting — this simple one-ingredient tea is a classic Chinese household remedy for feeling lighter and more comfortable. The active alkaloids in lotus leaf are traditionally credited with helping the body break down and process fats, and the leaf also encourages bowel movement and mild diuresis, which helps ease the bloated, heavy feeling that follows days of indulgent eating. Bro Niu recommends seeking out a pan-roasted version of lotus leaf tea — stir-fried much like Dragon Well (Longjing) green tea — which significantly reduces its cooling properties and makes it far more aromatic and stomach-friendly. This style can be found at well-stocked Chinese herb shops and some specialty tea shops, or online. If you cannot find the roasted version, ordinary dried lotus leaf from a Chinese herb shop can be briefly dry-roasted at home in a frying pan for five minutes to achieve a similar effect.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Particularly well-suited to desk workers who sit for long hours with limited movement
- Also traditionally noted to support blood pressure management
- Those with a cold constitution or sensitivity to cold should limit intake or choose the pan-roasted variety
- Those with uterine cold or who are trying to conceive should avoid regular consumption; opt instead for warming ginger brown sugar tea
- Women who are pregnant should consult a practitioner before use
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lotus leaf (he ye): Contains nuciferine and other alkaloids; traditionally used to break down body fat, promote bowel movement, clear internal heat, expel toxins, and reduce water retention; also associated with mild blood pressure support
Ingredients (1–2 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried lotus leaf, shredded | 1 tablespoon | Pan-roasted variety preferred; if using plain dried leaf, dry-roast in a frying pan for 5 min first |
Method
- Place the lotus leaf tea into a cup or teapot.
- Pour in boiling water and steep for 5 minutes.
- Drink while warm and fragrant. The leaves can be re-steeped two to three times.
Bro Niu’s tips
The pan-roasted lotus leaf tea has noticeably less cooling nature and a pleasant aroma that lingers even after multiple infusions. If your local herb shop only carries plain dried lotus leaf, you can dry-roast it yourself in an ungreased frying pan (no oil) for about five minutes — do a batch and store it. Beyond weight support, this tea may also help with blood pressure, detoxification, and general digestive comfort.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Ada Lai): Is the shredded dried lotus leaf from a Chinese herb shop already roasted? If not, will it be too cooling to drink? Bro Niu: Herb shop lotus leaf is usually not roasted. You can dry-roast it yourself in an ungreased frying pan for five minutes — do a larger batch and store it. This reduces the cooling nature nicely.
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Q (Kelly): I have persistent water retention and feel very heavy. I sit in an air-conditioned office all day. Is lotus leaf tea suitable for me? I am also trying to conceive — will it affect that? I also have uterine cold. Bro Niu: Lotus leaf tea is on the cooling side, so if you feel cold easily, it is not the best choice for regular use. For those with uterine cold or trying to conceive, a warming ginger brown sugar tea taken daily — simmering old ginger with black sugar for about seven minutes — is better, as it warms the stomach and uterus.
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Q (May Wong): Is there any food therapy to help with hardening of the arteries? Bro Niu: Several foods can help soften blood vessels, including Chinese yam (huai shan), black wood ear mushroom, tangerine peel (chen pi), and hawthorn. A good everyday soup would be fresh yam with goji berries, black wood ear, carrot, tangerine peel, and red dates simmered with lean pork — drink the soup and eat the ingredients for best effect.
Published February 10, 2016 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
