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.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suited for adults and teenagers who frequently develop mouth ulcers, especially those with a tendency toward stress-related heat symptoms, or who eat a lot of fried and processed food
• Elderly people may also benefit, as Bro Niu notes their ulcers are often from “deficiency fire” rather than excess — this tea is gentle enough for either pattern
• Green tea contains caffeine; those sensitive to caffeine may use a very light steep or switch to a low-caffeine tea
• People with a generally cold constitution (always feeling cold, easily tired, loose stools) should not drink this tea frequently

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Lotus plumule (lian zi xin): The tiny embryo inside the lotus seed; noticeably bitter in flavor; in Chinese food therapy it is associated with calming heart fire, relieving restlessness, quenching thirst, and supporting sleep. It is also traditionally said to have a vasodilating and mildly blood-pressure-lowering effect, making it a popular wellness tea for older adults
• Green tea (lu cha): Light, slightly cooling; associated in Chinese tradition with clearing heat, promoting alertness, and supporting digestion. Varieties such as Dragon Well (longjing), biluochun, or Iron Goddess all work well; oolong works too

Ingredients (1–2 cups, re-steepable)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Lotus plumule (lian zi xin)	1 tbsp fresh or 2 tsp dried	Dried form available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online
Green tea leaves	2 tsp	Any variety; adjust to taste

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.

Bro Niu’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.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (reader): What kind of green tea should I use? Can elderly people use oolong or Iron Goddess with lotus plumule? Bro Niu: Oolong or Iron Goddess work perfectly well. Longjing (Dragon Well), biluochun, and other green teas are all suitable — use whichever you enjoy.

• Q (Mon): My 16-year-old daughter has persistent redness at the gum line and small blisters at the corners of her mouth that keep coming back. Would this tea or mung bean porridge help? Bro Niu: Both lotus plumule tea and mung bean porridge can be taken in moderation. For her gum issue, she should also see a dentist. A good supportive soup to cook regularly is bean sprout, snow ear fungus, and tofu with a few dried oysters — good for clearing heart and stomach heat and improving oral health.

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Published January 19, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.