Lotus Plumule & Green Tea (Lian Zi Qing Xin Cha)

Why people make this tea

Mouth ulcers are one of those irritating recurring problems that most people just put up with. In Chinese food therapy, ulcers that appear on the tip of the tongue or inner lips are often associated with “heart fire” — a pattern linked to late nights, stress, or a diet heavy in fried and spicy food. The lotus plumule (the tiny green embryo inside fresh lotus seeds) is considered one of the best natural “heat-clearing” foods for this pattern. Fresh lotus plumule has a pleasantly bitter edge and a clean fragrance; brewed into a tea with green tea leaves, it makes a light, slightly cooling drink that many people find helps reduce the frequency of outbreaks when taken regularly.

Method

1. Place the lotus plumule and green tea leaves together in a teapot or cup with an infuser.
2. Rinse once quickly with hot water and discard — this opens the leaves and removes any dust.
3. Pour freshly boiled water over the ingredients and steep for 5 minutes.
4. Pour and drink. The tea can be re-steeped with fresh hot water several times until the flavor fades.

Nourilo’s Tips

If fresh lotus seeds are in season, you can scoop out the plumule yourself — each seed has a small, bright green shoot at its center. If not, dried lotus plumule is available at Chinese herb shops and works just as well; use about 2 teaspoons. The tea has a light bitter taste with a pleasant fragrance — not harsh at all. Drinking it regularly can help prevent outbreaks rather than just treating them after the fact.