Schisandra, Codonopsis, Longan and Lotus Seed Tea

Why people make this tea

City life brings a particular kind of exhaustion: not just physical tiredness, but the mental wear of constant pressure, packed schedules, and too little sleep. When this accumulates over time, you may start to notice low mood, forgetfulness, unease, or a racing heart at night — what traditional Chinese medicine broadly describes as “neurasthenia” or weakness of the nervous system rooted in deficiency of the heart and spleen.

This four-ingredient tea has been gaining attention in recent years as a supportive daily brew. Schisandra berries are its centrepiece — small, five-flavoured fruits that are one of the most studied adaptogens in Chinese herbal practice. Paired with the gentle qi-tonifying power of codonopsis, the calming quality of lotus seeds, and the blood-nourishing sweetness of longan, this tea is designed for people who look pale, feel drained, lose concentration easily, or find themselves lying awake with a restless mind. It can be drunk regularly as a wellness tea, not just during a crisis.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients briefly.
2. Combine in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1 hour until reduced to 600 ml.
4. Drink warm. The lotus seeds and longan can be eaten.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is beneficial for people with depressive tendencies, but do not reach for it while you have a cold or any active external illness — it is strictly for when you are otherwise well.

No matter how beneficial a tea is, Nourilo recommends drinking it 3–4 times a week rather than every single day. Let your body have some days to work on its own. Continue until your symptoms improve.

If you tend to get hot or irritated easily, swap the longan flesh for dried lily bulb (bai he, 38 g). Longan is warm and nourishing, but quite drying — lily bulb is cooling and calming and will suit your constitution better.