Golden Monk Fruit and Malva Nut Tea

Why people make this tea

Whether it is from dry weather, overuse of the voice, or the onset of a minor seasonal illness, a scratchy or hoarse throat is one of the most common complaints Nourilo hears from readers. This two-ingredient tea is one of his simplest go-to remedies: monk fruit has been used in traditional Chinese herbalism for centuries to clear heat, moisten the lungs, and calm a sore, irritated throat. Malva nut (pang da hai) is a distinctive spindle-shaped seed that swells dramatically when dropped into boiling water — that expansion is reflected in its Chinese name, which loosely translates as “the big sea.” It is traditionally associated with soothing the throat and supporting bowel regularity, which makes this tea doubly useful when seasonal dryness affects both the throat and digestion.