Rose Jasmine Bergamot Tea

Why people make this tea

When stress builds up and digestion starts feeling sluggish — that tight, bloated feeling after meals, or a faint bitter taste in the mouth — traditional Chinese food therapy often turns to aromatic flowers that are thought to help the liver “release” held tension. This simple three-ingredient tea combines rosebuds, jasmine, and dried bergamot strips, all of which have long been used to calm the stomach and ease that wound-up feeling. It is a pleasant everyday brew rather than a strong medicinal formula.

Bergamot (fo shou gan) can be a little hard to find, but most Asian herb shops stock it dried and pre-shredded. The slightly bitter edge it brings is balanced nicely by the sweetness of rose and jasmine.

Method

1. Place all three ingredients in a teapot or heatproof cup.
2. Pour a little boiling water over the herbs, swirl briefly, and discard the rinse water.
3. Add fresh boiling water to fill the pot, then cover and steep for 10 minutes.
4. Pour into cups. Stir in a little raw honey if desired.
5. The same herbs can be re-steeped with fresh hot water until the flavour fades.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea has a mild bitter note from the bergamot — a touch of honey rounds it out nicely. If you cannot find bergamot strips at a grocery store, look in any traditional Chinese herb shop where it can be sold whole; simply cut it into smaller pieces before steeping. The tea is suitable for the whole family, but pregnant women should skip floral teas altogether.