Perilla Leaf, Ginger, and Brown Sugar Tea

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 Nourilo 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.

Method

1. Wash the perilla leaves thoroughly. If using dried perilla, rinse briefly.
2. Combine perilla leaves and ginger slices in a pot with 1.2 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes.
4. Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
5. Serve warm. Drink it while it is still warm to encourage a light sweat.

Nourilo’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.