Herbal & Flower Teas
Rock Sugar & Chinese Green Olive Tea
Traditionally clears heat, soothes the throat and generates fluids
Why people make this tea
Chinese green olives are traditionally valued to clear heat, soothe the throat, generate fluids and quench thirst. Simmered with a little rock sugar, this tea is wonderfully cooling for a parched throat. A nice fact: green olives are among the highest-calcium fruits there are, well ahead of even calcium-rich figs. They are available at Chinese or Asian grocers.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for those feeling overheated and thirsty, or with a dry, scratchy throat
- Gentle enough for both children and pregnant women
- A handy comfort after eating barbecued or grilled food that leaves the throat dry
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Chinese green olives (qing lan): traditionally clear heat, soothe the throat, generate fluids and quench thirst; notably high in calcium
- Rock sugar (bing tang): moistening, for gentle sweetness
Ingredients (3 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese green olives | 8–10 | Rinse, crack with the back of a knife |
| Rock sugar | to taste |
Method
- Rinse the olives and lightly crack each with the back of a knife.
- Simmer in 6 bowls of water for 40 minutes, down to 3 bowls.
- Stir in rock sugar until dissolved.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is lightly sweet with a touch of astringency, but leaves a pleasant lingering sweetness afterward. It suits children and pregnant women alike. After grilled or barbecued food leaves your throat feeling dry, a cup of this soon eases the discomfort.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): I have diabetes and see a doctor and take medicine — are there any foods that can help ease it? Thank you. Bro Niu: Dried guava and dried bitter melon, brewed as a tea, are associated with helping support healthy blood sugar — one cup every other day, amount to taste. A soup of huai shan (Chinese yam), goji berries and corn with its silk, cooked with lean pork, may also help.
Published May 11, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
