Herbal & Flower Teas

Perilla-Ginger-Brown Sugar Tea (cold type) and Mint-Mulberry-Chrysanthemum-Honeysuckle Drink (heat type)

traditionally supports the body during flu and cold season according to individual constitution

In short: Perilla-Ginger-Brown Sugar Tea (cold type) and Mint-Mulberry-Chrysanthemum-Honeysuckle Drink (heat type) is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally supports the body during flu and cold season according to individual constitution. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness. Total time about 15 min. Key ingredients: ginger, mulberry leaf, chrysanthemum flower, honeysuckle.

Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Makes
1 serving; multiply proportionally for a family of 3–4
Perilla-Ginger-Brown Sugar Tea (cold type) and Mint-Mulberry-Chrysanthemum-Honeysuckle Drink (heat type)

Why people make these teas

During flu season, Nourilo points out that not all bodies respond the same way. Traditional Cantonese food therapy distinguishes between two tendencies: a “cold constitution” (people who easily feel cold, have pale complexions, dislike wind, and tend toward clear nasal discharge) and a “heat constitution” (people who feel warm easily, prefer cold drinks, have a tendency toward yellow phlegm, sore throat and red face). Each needs a different approach. These two simple herbal teas are designed accordingly — one warming, one cooling — and both are inexpensive, quick to make, and easy to find at any Chinese herb shop.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Ginger · Meta-analysis, 23 studies · 2022
    Overall, acute and delayed nausea and vomiting did not differ significantly between ginger and control groups. A subgroup taking 1 g/day or less for over four days had less acute vomiting (OR 0.30).Limitation: Clinical heterogeneity between trials required subgroup analyses, and the authors state that sufficiently large, high-quality RCTs are still needed.PubMed 36501010 · 3 more ginger studies
  • Mulberries · Randomized controlled trial, 24 participants · 2017
    Post-prandial self-monitored glucose was lower than placebo (18.2%), but A1C did not differ between mulberry leaf extract and placebo. Serum creatinine rose about 15% in the extract group.Limitation: Small pilot: only 17 of 24 enrolled participants completed the study, limiting statistical power.PubMed 28619294 · 3 more mulberries studies
  • Chrysanthemum · Randomized controlled trial, 37 participants · 2023
    Compared with the high-fat meal alone, the extract group had lower postprandial glucose at 1 hour and higher antioxidant markers (T-AOC, SOD, GSH), with lower MDA. Incremental area under the curve did not differ significantly between groups.Limitation: Small sample of healthy young adults given a single high-fat meal, so longer-term effects and effects in people with metabolic conditions are unknown.PubMed 36677639 · 1 more chrysanthemum study

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Licorice root: Contains glycyrrhizin. Large amounts or long-term use have been linked to raised blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, and even smaller amounts have caused problems in people with high blood pressure, heart or kidney conditions, or a high-salt diet. Large amounts are unsafe in pregnancy, and it can interact with corticosteroids. Source: NIH NCCIH — Licorice Root

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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