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.