Perilla Leaf, Ginger and Brown Sugar Tea

Why people make this tea

Hong Kong summers are hot, but the air-conditioning on transit, in malls and offices runs very cold — so many people end up with a stuffy or runny nose and cough. In traditional thinking “the nose is the window of the lungs,” and when lung-qi can’t spread, you get sneezing and a clear runny nose — signs of lung-cold. This simple tea is traditionally used to warm the lungs and ease that clear, watery runny nose.