Two-Seed Albizia Flower Longan Tea (Er Ren He Huan Hua Yuan Rou Cha)

Why people make this tea

Insomnia is one of the most common complaints in urban life — whether it is lying awake unable to switch off, waking in the early hours, or cycling through shallow, dream-filled sleep that leaves you exhausted the next morning. As we age, the brain naturally produces less melatonin, the hormone that regulates body temperature and signals the muscles to relax. Research suggests that adults over 60 to 65 may naturally need as little as six hours of sleep per night — but the quality of those hours matters enormously. Shallow sleep with constant dreams, or waking up feeling foggy and heavy-headed, signals that the quality is not there.

Traditional Chinese food therapy recommends eating foods naturally rich in melatonin-supporting nutrients: oats, millet, dates, longan, apples, banana, wheat grass, walnuts, sesame, and pumpkin seeds. This tea brings together six classic calming herbs — two seeds, a flower, two roots, and longan — in a formula that has been used for generations to settle an anxious mind, ease palpitations, and support the transition into deep sleep.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients briefly.
2. Place in a pot with 1.2 L of cold water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 30 minutes, until reduced to about 2 cups.
4. Divide into two portions (morning and evening), drink warm. Take daily for at least one week.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea has a gentle, not overpowering flavor — suitable for the elderly and most adults. For best results, take it daily: patience is key, as herbs work gradually. Those with constipation, anxiety, and forgetfulness will also benefit from this formula. Pregnant women must not take this tea. If you feel a dry or slightly rough sensation in the throat after drinking, try using less sour jujube seed. A ready-made product called “Old Person’s Sleep Tea” (老人睡好茶) sold at Chinese pharmacy supermarkets can serve as a convenient substitute if you prefer not to make the tea from scratch — despite the name, it is not only for older people.