Herbal & Flower Teas
Stevia Leaf and Cassia Seed Tea
Traditionally used to support healthy blood sugar and blood pressure
Why people make this tea
Stevia is a marvel — a few grams of leaf are 200–300 times sweeter than sugar, so a handful of leaves makes a cup taste sweet. It’s a natural, no-sugar sweetener, and traditionally it’s favoured by people watching their blood sugar. Bro Niu pairs it with toasted cassia seed for a tea that’s especially suited to those with heat-and-yin-deficiency signs — dizziness, headache, eye strain, thirst and constipation.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suited to people watching blood sugar or blood pressure with signs like dizziness, headache, dry eyes, thirst or constipation.
- Stevia leaf is cooling, so those with a cold stomach or cold constitution should not over-drink it, and pregnant women should avoid it.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Stevia leaf (tian ju ye): a natural sweetener traditionally favoured by those watching blood sugar; associated with supporting blood pressure and digestion.
- Cassia seed (jue ming zi): traditionally used to clear the liver, brighten the eyes and ease the bowels.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stevia leaf | 1 tbsp | |
| Toasted cassia seed | 1 tbsp | Dry-toasted until fragrant |
Method
- Put the stevia leaf and toasted cassia seed into a pot.
- Rinse once with boiling water, then refill with water at about 80°C and steep, covered, for 10 minutes. Serve. Re-steep until the flavour fades.
Bro Niu’s tips
Stevia leaf is a semi-fermented leaf, so to preserve its goodness brew it with water around 80°C rather than fully boiling water. But because stevia is cooling in nature, those with a cold stomach or cold constitution should not over-drink it, and pregnant women should avoid it.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (A): My fasting blood sugar has been a touch over normal (5.8–5.9) though after meals it’s fine. What tea can help bring it back, and how can I improve insulin sensitivity? Bro Niu: An occasional borderline fasting reading isn’t cause for alarm. Try a guava-leaf tea to help. Chinese yam, corn silk and long pumpkin all help with insulin balance — use them in soups or cook pumpkin cubes into rice. For insulin sensitivity, simmer apple with goji as a tea; I sometimes add black mulberries.
- Q (A): Can I add bitter melon to the dried-guava tea, and drink it daily? Bro Niu: Guava can be brewed with dried bitter melon for good blood-sugar support, but it’s quite cooling — try 3 doses a week first, and if there’s no bland-mouth discomfort, continue; don’t drink it every day, to avoid dependence.
Published March 11, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
