Rose Flower, Tangerine Cake and Black Date Tea

Why people make this tea

This is a tea for the kind of stomach that tightens when you are stressed — the bloated, slightly nauseated feeling that Chinese medicine describes as “liver invading the stomach” or liver qi not flowing freely into the digestive system. Nourilo made this particular batch with black dates rather than the more common south dates (nan zao), noting that black dates are similar in therapeutic value to red dates but are less warming and drying, which suits people who are prone to heat symptoms. The addition of rose flowers soothes the liver and moves stagnant qi, while tangerine cake provides a pleasant citrus warmth that settles the stomach. Together they make a tea that is quick to prepare, mildly sweet, and noticeably calming on digestive tension.

Method

1. Rinse the black dates and tangerine cake.
2. Place black dates and tangerine cake in a pot with 1.2 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 20 minutes.
4. Add the rose flowers, stir, and continue to simmer for 5 more minutes.
5. Strain and serve warm; about 2 bowls.

Nourilo’s Tips

• When buying south dates (nan zao) or black dates in the market, be aware of a looser-textured date called horse tooth date (ma ya zao) that is sometimes sold in their place. Horse tooth dates have a smoky smell and a sour flavour; true south dates are sweet and far more effective therapeutically. For this recipe, black dates are used specifically because they are less warming than red dates.
• If you have been diagnosed with H. pylori (the bacteria commonly linked to stomach ulcers), you can add a small amount of dried dandelion (pu gong ying) to this tea — it is associated with antibacterial activity in traditional use.
• This tea can also ease menstrual irregularity linked to emotional stress and liver qi stagnation.