Luo Han Guo Chrysanthemum Pu-erh Tea

In Chinese food therapy, the three ingredients — monk fruit (luo han guo), pu-erh tea, and chrysanthemum — have traditionally been associated with supporting healthy blood lipids, easing a heavy or congested feeling in the liver area, and helping the body manage weight over time. The file describes them as "three ingredients traditionally associated in Chinese food therapy with supporting liver function, reducing blood fat, and helping the body manage excess weight."

The tea takes 5 minutes to prepare and 7 minutes to steep, for a total of 12 minutes. One pot yields multiple infusions — you can re-infuse the same ingredients by adding fresh boiling water each time, until the flavour becomes faint.

The recipe uses just one quarter of a fruit (30 g) per session because a whole fruit would be too much sweetness and too strong a dose, according to the tips in the file.

Look for a fruit with a bright, clear colour. Hold it up and shake it — a good-quality fruit should make no sound inside, which indicates the flesh has not shrunk away from the shell. A fruit that rattles when shaken is considered a lesser grade. The entire fruit, including the shell pieces, should be used.

The file describes this as "suitable for daily drinking as a wellness tea" and notes that for people with liver enzyme elevation it may be worth trying as a daily wellness beverage. However, the file is clear that for serious liver conditions, a qualified doctor should be consulted.