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Herbal & Flower Teas

Shek Wong Pei, Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) & Apricot Kernel Tea

traditionally associated with clearing phlegm, soothing coughs, clearing lung heat, and supporting the respiratory tract in damp, humid weather

In short: Shek Wong Pei, Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) & Apricot Kernel Tea is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally associated with clearing phlegm, soothing coughs, clearing lung heat, and supporting the respiratory tract in damp, humid weather. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, cooling & summer heat. Total time about 70 min. Key ingredients: sweet and bitter apricot kernels.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
10 min
Cook
60 min
Total
70 min
Makes
600–900 ml
Respiratory & Lung WellnessCooling & Summer Heat
Shek Wong Pei, Monk Fruit (Luo Han Guo) & Apricot Kernel Tea

Why people make this tea

When Hong Kong’s weather turns humid and muggy in spring — the kind of weather where the air feels thick and you can almost see the moisture — coughs tend to follow. The Cantonese approach to this environment is to use herbs that are specifically suited to clearing heat and damp from the lungs without being so cold that they damage the body’s core energy. Shek wong pei (the fern rhizome sold at mountain herb stalls in Hong Kong) is exactly this kind of ingredient: mildly cooling but not harsh, with a reputation for clearing lung and intestinal heat while also having a diuretic, damp-clearing quality. Paired with the soothing sweetness of monk fruit and the lung-supporting apricot kernels, this makes an agreeable tea that the whole family can drink when a heat-type cough has set in after a cold.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Golden monk fruit · Systematic review, 5 studies · 2025
    Across five randomized trials, monk fruit extract was associated with 10-18% lower postprandial glucose and 12-22% lower insulin responses. No severe adverse effects were observed.Limitation: Only five trials were included, and the authors state that long-term clinical trials are needed to confirm safety and efficacy.PubMed 40362742 · 2 more golden monk fruit studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Apricot kernels: Raw apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide after eating. EFSA estimates that half of one small raw kernel can exceed the safe level for a toddler. Use no more than the recipe states, never eat them raw, and do not serve them to young children. Source: European Food Safety Authority

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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