Stevia Leaf & Kunlun Snow Chrysanthemum Tea

Why people make this tea

One of the most common challenges for people managing blood sugar is the desire for something sweet without the consequences. Stevia leaf solves that elegantly: just two or three leaves in a cup makes the tea taste like sweetened water, yet stevia contributes negligible calories and appears well-tolerated with long-term use — making it a practical daily option for people with diabetes, obesity, or high blood pressure. Kunlun snow chrysanthemum, grown at altitude in the mountains of Xinjiang, is known colloquially as a “three-highs tea” in Chinese herbal traditions. Its chrysanthemum-family properties also support liver health and eye clarity, and for those who drink alcohol regularly, it is said to assist the liver in eliminating metabolic waste. Together, these two ingredients make a naturally sweet, pleasant daily brew with multiple wellness associations.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for adults looking to support healthy blood glucose, blood pressure, and blood lipids; also beneficial for sore or inflamed throat
• Healthy individuals can drink regularly for general metabolic support and as a pleasant daily tea
• Pregnant women and infants/young children should not use this tea
• Those with low blood pressure should avoid

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Stevia leaf (tian ju ye): Contains steviol glycosides — natural compounds 150–300 times sweeter than sucrose; very low-calorie; long-term use associated with minimal side effects; traditionally used as a safe sweetener for diabetics and those managing weight
• Kunlun snow chrysanthemum (kun lun xue ju): Grown at high altitude in Xinjiang; contains flavonoids and antioxidants; traditionally associated with supporting healthy blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol; shares liver-clearing and eye-brightening properties with other chrysanthemum varieties; also said to support kidney function

Ingredients (1 cup, re-steepable)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Stevia leaves	3–4 leaves	A few leaves are sufficient — very sweet
Kunlun snow chrysanthemum	1 tablespoon (~3 g)
Boiling water	~300 ml

Method

1. Place the stevia leaves and snow chrysanthemum into a teapot or large cup.
2. Pour in a small amount of boiling water as a rinse, then discard.
3. Add fresh boiling water, cover, and steep for 5 minutes.
4. Drink and re-steep until the flavour fades.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is naturally sweet and pleasant, and also beneficial for sore throat. There is no need to add any sweetener. Stevia leaves can be used as a sugar substitute in other herbal teas — simply add a few leaves whenever you want a touch of sweetness without calories. However, pregnant women and infants should avoid this tea entirely, and those with low blood pressure should not use it.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Joey): Can stevia leaves be used every day, and can they be added to any herbal tea? Bro Niu: Stevia leaves can be used as a sugar substitute and added to most herbal teas. However, pregnant women should not use stevia leaves or most herbal floral teas.

• Q (Cass Tan): I do not have the three highs — can I still drink this tea regularly? Bro Niu: You can drink this regularly as a preventive tea, but there is no need to have it every day. Pregnant women should not use this tea.

• Q (Winwin): I have two of the three highs (high blood pressure and high blood lipids) but my doctor has not put me on medication yet. Can I drink snow chrysanthemum on its own daily? Bro Niu: Rather than relying on a single ingredient, a better blend is hawthorn berry (shan zha), cassia seeds (jue ming zi, dry-roasted for 7 minutes), chrysanthemum flowers, and lotus leaf — mix a small amount of each into a tea bag and steep every day or every other day. This combination supports blood lipids and blood pressure safely without being too cooling or warming.

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Published May 3, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.