Osmanthus and Fig Tea

Why people make this tea

Osmanthus is one of Bro Niu’s favourite flower teas — on every trip to Guilin he would buy the local golden osmanthus, fragrant and unforgettable steeped with oolong. Here he pairs it with dried figs for a tea traditionally enjoyed to nourish the complexion and moisten the lungs, gentle enough to sip over the long term.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Adults and children who want a fragrant, soothing daily tea
• Helpful for people with a weaker stomach, a scratchy throat or a hoarse voice
• Often appreciated by women around menopause, as figs contain plant compounds traditionally associated with easing menopausal sleeplessness, hot flushes and mood swings

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Golden osmanthus (jin gui hua): prized for its fragrance, traditionally associated with lifting the mood, easing phlegm and a cough, and freshening the breath
• Dried figs (wu hua guo): rich in polyphenols traditionally linked with protecting the skin from free-radical damage, and containing estrogen-like plant compounds often valued by women around menopause

Ingredients (1 pot)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Golden osmanthus flowers	1 tbsp	—
Dried figs	4	Halved

Method

1. Cut the figs in half and place with the osmanthus in a pot.
2. Rinse once with boiling water, then refill with boiling water.
3. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. Drink, re-steeping until the flavour fades.

Bro Niu’s tips

Fine for the whole family, and helpful when the stomach is weak or the throat feels scratchy. For the best flavour, choose better-quality figs — slightly pricier ones make a far tastier tea.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Kathy): Should I use the small, whitish, hard “soup” figs, or the softer ready-to-eat dried ones? Bro Niu: Soft or hard, both work for soup or tea — the key is that they have no sour taste and no chemical smell.

---

Published June 28, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.