Fresh Perilla, Scallion White and Brown Sugar Ginger Tea

Why people make this tea

When the weather turns cool and the body catches a chill, blood vessels in the airways tighten, local defenses drop, and a virus can slip in — especially when you are run-down from overwork. For a plain wind-cold with a blocked nose, ginger, brown sugar, and scallion white in hot water is the old standby every household keeps on hand. This particular cup goes a step further for a “stomach-type cold,” the kind of wind-cold that arrives with nausea, queasiness, stomach ache, or a bloated, full feeling.

Method

1. Wash the perilla leaves and cut into coarse shreds.
2. Wash the scallion whites and cut into sections.
3. Put all ingredients in a pot with 900 ml of water and boil for 10 minutes, reducing to 600 ml.

Nourilo’s Tips

Drink it warm, then lie down to rest and let yourself break a light sweat — symptoms should ease. If you have no fresh perilla, use about 11 g (11 g) of dried perilla instead.