Sweet-Cherry Hawthorn and Rose Tea

Why people make this tea

Hawthorn usually means sour — so much so that hawthorn treats almost always need sugar. But Nourilo found a sweet, non-sour kind at a farm-direct shop: tiny “sweet-cherry hawthorn” from the northeast, rarely seen, and a real bargain at twelve yuan a box. Brewed with rosebuds, it makes a tea traditionally associated with soothing the liver, lifting a low mood, and calming the mind. This variety tastes a bit like apple — not sour at all — so it’s gentle even for people with excess stomach acid. It’s also traditionally regarded as beneficial for those with high blood lipids or high blood pressure.