Herbal & Flower Teas
Golden Monk Fruit, Snow Pear and Mai Dong Tea
Traditionally moistens and soothes dry skin and throat
Why people make this tea
Many people brew monk fruit water when their throat feels uncomfortable — it is sweet and easy to drink, so it is popular. The dark-brown monk fruit is high-temperature roasted and common in herb shops. The golden monk fruit looks prettier and costs a bit more because it is made by low-temperature vacuum dehydration, giving it a cleaner, sweeter taste. When you have dry skin, feel restless and irritable, or have a scratchy throat, Bro Niu likes to brew golden monk fruit with snow pear, mai dong, poria and tangerine peel as a tea.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for those with dry skin, an irritable feeling, or an uncomfortable throat
- A clear, moistening tea gentle enough for all ages
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Golden monk fruit (luo han guo): Naturally sweet, traditionally taken to moisten the throat and ease dryness.
- Snow pear (xue li): Traditionally associated with moistening and generating fluids.
- Mai dong (ophiopogon): Traditionally regarded as nourishing yin and moistening dryness.
- Poria (fu ling) and tangerine peel (chen pi): Traditionally regarded as supporting the spleen and stomach and balancing the tea.
Ingredients (3 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Golden monk fruit | 1/2 | Crushed |
| Snow pear | 1 (or 2 fragrant pears) | Cored, cut into chunks |
| Mai dong | ~19 g | Soaked and rinsed |
| Poria | ~19 g | Soaked and rinsed |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1 piece | Soaked and rinsed |
Method
- Crush the golden monk fruit.
- Core the pear and cut into chunks. Separately soak and rinse the mai dong, poria and tangerine peel.
- Boil all ingredients in 7 bowls of water for 40 minutes, reducing to 3 bowls. Serve as a tea.
Bro Niu’s tips
When choosing golden monk fruit, pick ones that are golden in color, large, well-shaped and silent when shaken — those are better quality. This tea is clear and moistening, suitable for young and old.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Ada): Is millet good for the stomach? My stomach lining is inflamed, and I am not sure how long to soak it or what to add. Bro Niu: Millet is very good for the spleen and stomach. You can make a red-date and lean-pork congee with millet thickened with lotus-root starch — it is good for stomach function.
- Q (anonymous reader): My 8-year-old recovered from a cold a while ago, but sometimes has a runny nose or coughs before sleep, especially if she kicks off the covers or her feet get cold; she has allergic rhinitis. What tea or soup can I make to help? Bro Niu: Try 3 qian perilla leaf, 3–4 slices ginger and 5 sliced red dates in 4 bowls of water boiled 10 minutes down to 2 bowls, taken over a day for 3 days, and see if it helps. I’d also suggest seeing a TCM practitioner, since children with weaker constitutions are sensitive to weather changes.
Published March 5, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
