Tonic Drinks & Waters
Fresh Lotus Leaf Winter Melon Job's Tears Sugar Cane Drink
Traditionally used to clear summer heat, relieve dampness, and refresh the body
Why people make this drink
In the height of summer — what the Chinese solar calendar calls “xiao shu” (minor heat) and “da shu” (major heat) — the combination of high temperatures and heavy humidity places considerable strain on the body. Traditional Chinese medicine identifies this dual assault of summer heat and dampness as a specific pattern that can drain the heart’s energy, trigger excessive sweating, and leave people feeling exhausted, heavy-headed, and nauseous. This cooling herbal drink was made precisely for these conditions. Fresh lotus leaf is the star ingredient: aromatic, light green, and powerfully heat-clearing. Combined with winter melon (cooked with the skin on, as the skin carries much of the cooling effect), mildly sweet sugar cane for natural hydration, and job’s tears for dampness-relieving support, the result is a pale, fragrant, gently sweet drink that is genuinely refreshing — not just as a concept, but in practice.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and children on hot summer days, especially when feeling fatigued, heavy-headed, or overheated.
- Pregnant women should substitute adzuki beans for the raw job’s tears — this version is equally effective for clearing summer heat.
- People with a cold or weak digestive constitution should drink in smaller amounts, as the cooling nature of this drink may not suit them over the long term.
- If fresh lotus leaf is unavailable, dried lotus leaf can be used — it is equally effective for clearing summer heat.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh lotus leaf (xian he ye): In Chinese food therapy, fresh lotus leaf is one of the primary herbs for clearing summer heat. It is associated with calming the mind, reducing restlessness, supporting the ascent of spleen-yang energy (which helps prevent heat-related diarrhoea), and helping to reduce blood lipids.
- Winter melon with skin (dong gua): The skin of winter melon carries strong cooling and diuretic properties in traditional practice; cooking it with the skin on maximises these effects. Associated with clearing heat, reducing swelling, and supporting the elimination of excess fluids.
- Sugar cane (zhu zhe): Provides natural sweetness and is traditionally associated with generating fluids, moistening dryness, and clearing heat. It also means this drink needs no added sugar.
- Raw job’s tears (sheng yi mi): Supports the elimination of dampness from the body; also associated with supporting spleen function and clearing heat.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh lotus leaf (xian he ye) | 1 whole leaf | Rinsed and cut into pieces; add in the last 10 minutes |
| Winter melon (dong gua) | ~600 g (1 jin) | Cut into chunks with skin on |
| Raw job’s tears (sheng yi mi) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Soaked 30 min before cooking |
| Sugar cane (zhu zhe) | 4–5 short sections | Split open lengthwise |
| Water | 8 bowls (~2 L) |
Method
- Rinse the fresh lotus leaf and cut into large pieces. Set aside — do not add yet.
- Cut the winter melon into chunks, keeping the skin on.
- Soak the job’s tears for at least 30 minutes; drain.
- Split the sugar cane sections open lengthwise.
- Place the winter melon, job’s tears and sugar cane into a pot with 8 bowls of water. Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour.
- Add the fresh lotus leaf pieces and simmer for a further 10 minutes. The drink is ready when it has reduced to about 4–5 bowls.
- Serve warm or at room temperature. The whole family can drink this.
Bro Niu’s tips
Fresh lotus leaf is the ideal choice here — its heat-clearing effect is stronger and the colour of the drink will be a lovely fresh green. If you can only find dried lotus leaf, it works well too. The full Chinese solar term period of “xiao shu” to “da shu” (roughly mid-July to mid-August) is when this drink is most beneficial. Do not forget: if you are pregnant, swap the job’s tears for adzuki beans (chi xiao dou) — same clearing effect, pregnancy-friendly.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (A-ma): My one-year-old is teething and not sleeping well at night. Can I use sugar cane, carrot and water chestnut water as a substitute milk drink? Bro Niu: Yes — sugar cane, carrot and water chestnut water is fine as a light hydrating drink for a teething baby. No need to add sugar, as it is naturally sweet.
-
Q (chanwengi): My 5-year-old eats some sweets and biscuits daily and gets easily “heated up” — I’ve been making cooling teas twice a week. Am I doing it too often? Bro Niu: If he is regularly overheated, try reducing the heating foods first (reduce grilled and fried snacks). Two cooling teas a week is fine alongside a generally balanced diet. For constipation, try naturally sweet fruits like dragon fruit, large bananas, papaya or prunes. A soup of night-blooming cereus flower (bawang hua), carrot and figs also clears heat and gently lubricates the bowel.
Published July 7, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
