Herbal & Flower Teas
Rose Petal & Astragalus Tea
traditionally used to tonify qi, soothe liver qi stagnation, and support emotional wellbeing
Why people make this tea
Spring is the season of growth and movement — Chinese medicine associates it with the liver, which governs the smooth flow of qi and emotion. When the liver’s qi stagnates (often through stress, frustration, or emotional suppression), the result is that all-too-familiar combination: fatigue, irritability, tightness in the chest, and a low or flat mood. Modern research increasingly confirms that chronic negative emotions disrupt the neuro-endocrine system and suppress immune function — which is precisely what traditional food therapy has been addressing for centuries. This tea is Bro Niu’s simple daily prescription for spring: astragalus root to firm up and replenish qi, rose petals to gently move and soothe liver qi, and a tea bag to anchor the blend. It takes five minutes to prepare and works well as an office desk companion throughout the day.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people who feel chronically drained, emotionally tense, or mildly low in mood; particularly useful in spring
- Those with a warm constitution: use a green tea bag. Those with a cold constitution: use a black tea bag. Those sensitive to caffeine: omit the tea bag entirely
- Pregnant women should not drink herbal flower teas
- If you have ongoing qi deficiency combined with heat: swap astragalus for codonopsis (dang shen) or American ginseng (hua qi shen) to avoid over-warming
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Astragalus root (bei qi / huang qi): One of the premier qi-tonifying herbs in Chinese medicine; the sliced form brews more efficiently. The best quality pieces have a yellow-brown centre. Strengthens wei qi (protective energy) and boosts overall vitality.
- Dried rose petals (mei gui hua): Gently moves liver qi, eases emotional stagnation, brightens complexion, and is associated with mild mood-lifting effects; not strongly warming or cooling.
- Tea bag: Provides a mild stimulant base and flavour; choice of green or black adjusts the overall temperature profile of the drink.
Ingredients (1–2 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Astragalus root slices (bei qi) | 4 qian (~15 g) | Pre-sliced form brews better for tea |
| Dried rose petals (mei gui hua) | 2 qian (~7 g) | Available at herbal shops and tea shops |
| Tea bag | 1 bag | Green tea (warm constitution) or black tea (cold constitution); optional |
| Boiling water | 1–2 cups | ~300–400 ml |
Method
- Place astragalus slices and rose petals in a teapot or heatproof mug.
- Pour boiling water over to rinse once; discard this first rinse.
- Add the tea bag and pour in fresh boiling water.
- Steep for 5–10 minutes.
- Remove tea bag and drink warm. You can re-steep with fresh boiling water until the flavour is exhausted.
Bro Niu’s tips
- Sliced astragalus (yuan qie pian) brews much more efficiently than whole sticks for tea; whole sticks are better for soups.
- If you are sensitive to caffeine or prefer not to use tea bags, simply omit — the tea works well without it.
- For those with qi-blood deficiency who want to enhance the effect: add 2–3 small slices of astragalus plus 4 pitted red dates to the brew. This provides both qi and blood nourishment.
- For liver qi stagnation causing stomach upset when stressed: combine rose petals with albizzia flowers (he huan hua) — the combination is excellent for smoothing liver qi and settling the stomach.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Wing, 2024): I heard qi-deficient people should not drink rose tea because roses move qi — but if there is not enough qi, there is nothing to move. With astragalus added, does this solve the problem? Bro Niu: Rose petals soothe liver qi stagnation and brighten the complexion. Paired with astragalus which tonifies qi, qi-deficient people can absolutely drink this tea.
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Q (Elaine): I have liver qi stagnation and already drink rose and albizzia flower tea. I also have qi-blood deficiency. Can I add red dates and astragalus to my tea? Bro Niu: Yes — add 2–3 small slices of astragalus and 4 pitted, sliced red dates. This helps tonify qi and blood together.
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Q (Qchan): I get stomach discomfort whenever I get upset. Is this tea suitable? Bro Niu: Yes, this is liver qi attacking the stomach. Drink this tea, or combine rose petals with albizzia flowers for liver-qi soothing. But the most important thing is to learn to let go — if you cannot change your circumstances, try to change how you respond to them.
Published March 4, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
