Reed Root Ophiopogon Dendrobium Tea

Why people make this tea

Bro Niu remembers brewing gentle teas like this for his grandchildren when they were small. After a child’s cold or fever has broken but they still feel a bit “heaty” — dry mouth, sweating, thirst, poor appetite — reed root with ophiopogon and dendrobium is a soothing way to settle that lingering heat and bring back some comfort. It’s light, naturally a little sweet, and easy for children to drink.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Children whose fever or cold has passed but who still have a dry mouth, are sweating, thirsty, or have a weak appetite.
• Also nice for anyone in very hot weather who is sweating heavily and feels parched and tired. If the child still has a fever, please see a doctor first.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Reed root (lu gen): Traditionally used to clear heat from the lung and stomach and encourage saliva.
• Ophiopogon (mai dong): Traditionally used to cool the lungs, encourage saliva and ease dryness.
• Dendrobium (shi hu): Traditionally regarded as nourishing yin and blood and supporting the body’s defences, with anti-fatigue associations.

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Reed root (lu gen)	5 qian (~19 g)	Rinsed
Ophiopogon (mai dong)	5 qian (~19 g)	Rinsed
Fresh dendrobium (xian shi hu)	about 6 stems	Cut into segments; or 3 qian dried

Method

1. Wash the ingredients. Cut the fresh dendrobium into segments.
2. Place everything into a pot with 5 bowls of water.
3. Simmer for about 30 minutes until reduced to 2 bowls. Serve over the day in divided portions.

Bro Niu’s tips

If you can’t find fresh dendrobium, use 3 qian of the dried form. This tea is traditionally said to cool the lungs and encourage saliva, and is also helpful for those sweating heavily in the great heat, with a dry mouth, thirst and tiredness.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Cat): Hello Bro Niu, thank you for your earlier soup advice — my child has fully recovered. Now I’d like to help him build himself back up; his recent illness made him lose over ten pounds and his energy is poor. (Heartfelt thanks.) Bro Niu: Clear steamed beef essence is most beneficial for children, gentlest on the spleen and stomach for absorption. Buy beef from the butcher and mince it yourself (not the pre-minced kind); use 4 liang each time, mince it, soak overnight in a big bowl with a little over half a bowl of water, then steam the beef and its soaking water over water for half an hour, press out the juice with a spoon and serve. You can season the finished essence with a little salt. One batch every other day until the child regains weight.

• Q (mui): Hello Bro Niu, my 12-year-old is thin and frail. He’s had an on-and-off low fever for three days, a little runny nose, a cough with pinkish-yellow phlegm, a slightly uncomfortable tummy, frequent burping, an average appetite, and dislikes vegetables and meat. What simple soup can I make to help his cough? Bro Niu: If the low fever doesn’t go, see a doctor, because the illness hasn’t fully cleared. You can use 1–2 apples, skin on, cored and sliced, with one tangerine peel (chen pi) chopped and a little rock sugar, simmered 20 minutes — helpful for a heavy “stomach-qi” feeling and to loosen phlegm. Cooking a red date and millet congee also supports the spleen and stomach; about 3 batches a week.

• Q (Karen): Bro Niu, hello! My 5-year-old started school and soon began running fevers, then a cough; the doctor said it’s a touch of pneumonia. What soup can I make for him? Bro Niu: You can use fresh fish mint (yu xing cao) 4 liang and 4 figs in a lean pork soup — beneficial for those with pneumonia — boiled just 20 minutes, not too long. Once he’s better you can give clear steamed lean pork, beef or chicken essence to build strength, but keep it non-greasy.

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Published June 12, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.