Tonic Drinks & Waters
Red Date, Ginger and Apple Water
Traditionally used to warm the body, support the stomach and nourish the blood
Why people make this drink
Bro Niu likes this one because it is sweet, gentle and easy on everyone. Women with a blood-deficient constitution often feel it most around their period — pale complexion, cold hands and feet. In traditional thinking, red dates are a treasured tonic for qi and blood; pairing them with apple supports the spleen and stomach, while a few slices of ginger warm the body and chase off the cold.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Anyone wanting a warming, sweet drink — men, women, young and old; especially those who feel cold easily.
- Less suitable for people with a warmer constitution who flush easily or tend toward a dry, scratchy throat.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Red dates (hong zao): traditionally a fine tonic for qi and blood.
- Apple: traditionally supports the spleen and stomach and is associated with a bright complexion.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): traditionally warms the stomach and disperses cold.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red dates (hong zao) | 5–6 | Pitted |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 4 slices | |
| Apple | 1–2 | Wash, leave skin on, core and slice |
Method
- Pit the red dates.
- Wash the apples with the skin on, then core and slice.
- Combine all ingredients with 5 bowls of water and boil for 20 minutes down to about 3 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is sweet and tasty, good for the whole family. But if you run warm, flush easily, or get a dry throat, go easy on it.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Claris): I have been sleeping poorly and ate some heaty food, so I broke out with pimples and mouth sores, and my gums are swollen. I am a middle-aged woman whose body struggles with tonics. What food therapy would help? Bro Niu: Try about 300 g of soybean sprouts, ~11 g snow fungus, one block of soup tofu and ~75 g dried oysters simmered with lean pork for 2 hours. It is neither cooling nor heating, gently nourishes yin and tempers rising heat — good for swollen gums and a dry mouth. Eat a little of the soup ingredients too; the whole family can drink it.
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Q (Mandy): Does walking on a slope hurt the knees? Bro Niu: Walking a slope is a little kinder than stairs — at least your knee bones do not take an impact with every single step down.
Published November 9, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
