Spatholobus Stem (Ji Xue Teng) & Red Date Tea

Why people make this tea

Spatholobus suberectus — ji xue teng in Chinese — is a climbing vine whose dried stem, when sliced and boiled, releases a rich, dark reddish-brown liquid that looks remarkably like blood. That vivid colour, along with the plant’s long history in traditional medicine, is why it became associated with blood-nourishing therapy. It is warm in nature, nourishing and activating at the same time — meaning it both builds blood and helps move it, making it useful for conditions where blood is deficient and sluggish. Combined with a substantial quantity of red dates — 20 pieces rather than the usual 6–8 — the blood-nourishing effect is considerably strengthened. This tea must be cooked for at least 90 minutes, not merely steeped, for the active components to be fully released.