Three-Date Buckwheat Tea

Why people make this tea

Nourilo has featured a “three-date tea” before, and it became a firm favourite with his readers — appreciated for its beautiful warming sweetness and its association with improving complexion and managing allergic sensitivities. This version adds golden buckwheat (jin qiao mai), also called tartary or bitter buckwheat, and the result is even more satisfying: the natural sweetness of the dates mingles with buckwheat’s nutty, toasty aroma, and the combination sits warmly in the stomach. Buckwheat is a remarkable grain — it contains a high concentration of vitamins, minerals and trace elements compared with many grains commonly consumed, earning it the traditional title of ‘king of the five grains.’ Modern research has increasingly focused on buckwheat’s rutin content and its associations with blood sugar balance, blood pressure and blood lipid levels. The three types of dates each contribute their own nuance: red dates warm and nourish blood; southern (black) dates are cooler and less drying; honey dates moderate and sweeten without excess heat. Together they are balanced, drinkable year-round, and — crucially — buckwheat is said to counteract the drying quality that dates can sometimes cause.

Method

1. Pit and slice the red dates; rinse the southern dates and honey date.
2. Rinse the buckwheat.
3. Place all ingredients into a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium-low simmer and cook for 30 minutes, until 900 ml of tea remain.
5. Serve warm. You can eat the dates along with the tea.
6. Alternatively, this can be made in a thermal flask: steep all ingredients in boiling water for 20–30 minutes.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is genuinely for everyone — including children, for whom the buckwheat is thought to support healthy brain development and growth. If you cannot find tartary (bitter) buckwheat, regular sweet buckwheat works too — its nutritional profile is also excellent. Honey dates can be substituted with dried figs (wu hua guo), which are similarly sweet and add a gentle bowel-moving quality. Diabetics must avoid this tea due to the natural sugar content of the dates; instead, try a lotus leaf, cassia seed and chrysanthemum tea. Black dates can substitute for southern dates outside of Hong Kong. Store any pre-mixed batches in an airtight jar, away from moisture.