Water Chestnut, Sugarcane and Carrot Water

Why people make this drink

Come spring, the body’s yang energy rises along with the warming weather — and in Cantonese food therapy, this is the season to drink gentle, heat-clearing broths as a daily wellness habit. This three-ingredient combination has been used for generations as a folk remedy for what traditional medicine calls “internal heat”: symptoms like red or irritated eyes, dry mouth and throat, scanty or dark-yellow urine, and difficulty passing stools. It is especially popular for children during the warmer months, and works equally well for adults. The beauty of this drink is its simplicity — the sweetness of the sugarcane and water chestnut means no added sugar is needed, and it tastes almost like a naturally sweet herbal tea.