The literal translation of “qīng gān huǒ chá” is clear liver heat, however this tea has various uses and is meant for people with extreme heat or fiery feeling in their bodies.  Symptoms includes a dry, sore throat (not from screaming or shouting), dry eyes (so when wind blows against it, there is a stingy sensation), cold sores inside or out of the mouth, a sore and or painful rib feeling and or overall feeling of heatiness.  It was recommended to me by my herbalist when I developed an extremely sore throat with no associated cough (as cooling teas should be avoided if there is a cough).  As ugly as this drink looks or even tastes without added sugar, it helped relieve the heatiness in my body and in a few days, helped “cool” my throat.

Ingredients

• 1 large piece of dried Chinese foxglove (about 3 inches in diameter)
• 4-5 long pieces of dried white peony root
• 20g of dried bamboo
• 10 pieces of dried Creeping Liriope Root Tuber
• 5 pieces of dried Lucid Asparagus Root
• rock sugar (to taste)
• 3 L of water

Cooking Instructions

1. Boil water
2. Rinse ingredients in warm water briefly (except rock sugar)
3. When water boils, add all ingredients together
4. Boil for an hour on medium heat
5. Strain ingredients from liquid
6. Add rock sugar and let dissolve
7. Cool in fridge or with ice (optional)
8. Serve and enjoy!

Monk Fruit and Chrysanthemum Flower Herbal Tea (for dry coughs and yin deficiency)