Herbal & Flower Teas
Perilla Leaf, Ginger, and Brown Sugar Tea
traditionally used to ease wind-cold chills, support sweating, and warm the body
Why people make this tea
If you have ever stepped out of an over-chilled office or shopping mall and felt that familiar creeping chill — a bit of sneezing, a drippy nose, and a sudden desire for something hot — this is the tea Bro Niu reaches for first. Perilla leaf (zi su) is a common and inexpensive herb available fresh at Chinese and Asian grocery shops almost year-round, usually sold in small bundles. It has a pleasantly aromatic quality that makes this tea quite enjoyable to drink, and the ginger and brown sugar give it a gentle warming sweetness. Healthy people can drink it too — it is considered broadly useful for strengthening the body’s surface defence and keeping the appetite strong in hot, humid weather.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits: those who caught a chill from air conditioning, rain, or cold weather; people with sneezing, clear runny nose, body aches, or a scratchy feeling in the throat without soreness
- Safe for pregnant women experiencing wind-cold symptoms
- Caution: DO NOT use this tea if your sore throat is prominent — that signals a wind-heat pattern, not wind-cold, and this tea may make it worse
- Caution: those with yellow or green phlegm and fever without chills should also avoid this tea and consult a practitioner
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh perilla leaves (zi su ye): Aromatic and warming; in Chinese dietary tradition this plant is associated with dispersing cold from the surface of the body, promoting mild sweating, calming the stomach, and reducing bronchial secretions to ease coughs. It is also traditionally known for neutralising fish and shellfish toxins — which is why Japanese cuisine uses it alongside raw fish.
- Fresh ginger (sheng jiang): A classic warming ingredient that complements perilla in dispersing cold and stimulating circulation and digestion.
- Brown sugar (pian tang): Gently warms the middle, adds a pleasant sweetness, and helps the tea go down easily.
Ingredients (2 bowls / 1–2 servings)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh perilla leaves (zi su ye) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Use dried (5 qian) if fresh unavailable |
| Fresh ginger (sheng jiang) | 5–6 slices | |
| Brown/slab sugar (pian tang) | To taste | Add after cooking |
| Water | 4 bowls (~800 ml) |
Method
- Wash the perilla leaves thoroughly. If using dried perilla, rinse briefly.
- Combine perilla leaves and ginger slices in a pot with 4 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
- Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Serve warm. Drink it while it is still warm to encourage a light sweat.
Bro Niu’s tips
- This tea is specifically suited for wind-cold conditions — people who feel cold when they catch a chill, have clear runny nasal discharge, a scratchy (not sore) throat, or who have been in and out of air-conditioned spaces. If your throat is sore or your phlegm is yellow, this tea is not for you even if you also feel cold.
- Pregnant women who have caught a wind-cold chill can drink this tea safely. If you are unsure of your pattern, check with your practitioner.
- Ginger can be reduced or omitted if you find it irritates the throat.
- Healthy people can drink this in hot, humid weather to strengthen the body’s resistance and support appetite.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (AnnieSK): I drank the perilla and ginger tea for 3 days and it has improved. Thank you. If a cough happens only at night, is it a cold-type cough? Bro Niu: Generally yes — if the phlegm is white and thin, it leans toward a cold-type cough. If the phlegm is yellow and sticky, especially with a sore throat, it is more likely a heat-type cough.
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Q (anonymous reader): My mother is 86 years old, has the three highs, and now has a runny nose and feels cold. Can she drink the tangerine peel, ginger, and perilla leaf tea? Bro Niu: Perilla leaf, ginger, and tangerine peel water has a warming and dispersing effect on cold. Your mother can drink it — it is quite gentle. Best to drink it while warm.
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Q (anonymous reader): Can I omit the ginger? I am worried it might irritate the throat. Bro Niu: You can use perilla leaves without the ginger. Without the ginger, it is also suitable as an aid to pregnancy comfort (an qi). If you just want the warming dispersing effect, you can add a small amount of ginger instead.
Published June 15, 2016 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
