Tonic Drinks & Waters
Watercress and Monk Fruit Water
Traditionally clears heat and moistens dryness
Why people make this water
In dry autumn and winter weather, the body can feel parched and the joints uneasy — what old folks call “bone fire” (gu huo). A simple and time-honoured remedy is to simmer fresh watercress with a monk fruit into a sweet, soothing tea. A bowl or two over a day or so usually takes the edge off the dryness and that lingering heaty feeling.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for the whole family, young and old, in dry weather; people feeling heaty, with a dry throat or that “bone fire” achiness.
- As long as it is simmered properly (a good two hours), it is not overly cooling. Anyone with a true cold-pattern cough or feeling unwell from a fresh chill should treat any food therapy as a gentle helper only.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Watercress (ye ge cai): Traditionally used to clear heat and dampness and to ease cough and joint achiness associated with “heatiness.”
- Monk fruit (luo han guo): Naturally sweet, traditionally associated with moistening the lungs, easing the throat, and calming a dry cough — no added sugar needed.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Watercress (ye ge cai), with roots | ~150 g | Rinse well, cut into sections |
| Monk fruit (luo han guo) | 1 fruit | Crack open / break up |
| Water | 6 bowls | Reduce to ~4 bowls |
Method
- Rinse the watercress thoroughly, keeping the roots on, and cut into sections.
- Crack open the monk fruit.
- Add both to a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Simmer about 2 hours until reduced to roughly 4 bowls. Drink throughout the day as you like.
Bro Niu’s tips
This water is clearing and moistening, traditionally used to ease dryness and loosen phlegm. Simmer it the full length of time so it is not too cooling — done this way it suits the whole family. Fresh watercress is available at Asian grocers; monk fruit (luo han guo) can be found at Chinese herb shops or Asian food stores.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (yan): Can I drink this during chemotherapy? Bro Niu: Yes, it is fine to drink during chemotherapy.
- Q (Zhao Tai): Is watercress-and-monk-fruit suitable for damp weather, to help with dampness? Bro Niu: Its main role is to clear heat and “bone fire,” and it does have some dampness-clearing action too, so yes, you can drink it.
- Q (Becky): Can I add sugar? Bro Niu: Monk fruit is about 300 times sweeter than sugar — you don’t need to add any.
Published December 13, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
