Roasted Black Bean and Ginger Tea

Why people make this tea

Black beans have a special place in Chinese food medicine, rooted in a very old framework: “black foods enter the kidneys” and “green (inside the bean) enters the liver.” The green-cored black bean — the variety most valued in Chinese herbalism — is considered to nourish both organs at once. Nourilo has long recommended this tea as one of the most economical, accessible and genuinely useful everyday food-therapy habits: roast a batch of black beans once a week, store them in a glass jar, and just spoon a tablespoon into a teapot each morning with a couple of ginger slices. The result is a warm, nutty, slightly earthy drink that supports circulation, eases mild puffiness, and is particularly favoured by people who spend long hours at a desk or struggle with cold limbs or postpartum recovery.

To prepare the roasted black beans (batch):

Pan-roast raw black beans in a dry wok over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the skins begin to crack and split. Remove from heat, allow to cool completely, then store in a clean glass jar. Keeps for weeks.

Method

1. Lightly crush 1 tablespoon of roasted black beans (you can use the back of a spoon or a mortar).
2. Place the beans and ginger slices in a teapot or heatproof mug.
3. Pour in boiling water and steep for 15 minutes before drinking.
4. The beans can be re-steeped two to three times throughout the day.
5. After steeping, chew and eat the softened beans — Nourilo says this is where many of the benefits are concentrated.

Nourilo’s Tips

The real nourishment lies in eating the steeped beans, not just drinking the liquid — so chew them slowly and mindfully after your tea. For people with hair loss concerns, making this a daily habit is worth trying; allow a few weeks to notice any difference. If your blood pressure runs low, Nourilo suggests adding a few longan pieces to the pot to add a little warmth and lift. For those who prefer not to roast the beans, soaking for an hour then simmering in water for 20–30 minutes and drinking the liquid achieves a similar effect — though roasted beans have a more appealing flavour.