Banana Flower Tea

Why people make this tea

Banana blossom is more commonly known as a savory vegetable in Southeast Asian cooking — requiring blanching and soaking to tame its bitterness — but as a tea, the preparation is far simpler. Traditional herb references mention banana flower in connection with heart and chest discomfort, and with supporting healthy blood pressure. Bro Niu notes that the bitterness itself may be part of the plant’s heat-clearing quality — much like bitter melon or certain cooling greens — and that a small amount of rock sugar is all that is needed to make it pleasantly drinkable.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Those with liver-heat-type blood pressure concerns, or who feel hot, flushed, or irritable
• Not a replacement for prescribed blood pressure medication — treat this as a supportive wellness tea
• Banana blossom is cooling in nature; those with a cold constitution or digestive weakness should use cautiously and not drink large quantities
• If you are pregnant or taking blood-pressure-lowering medication, check with your doctor before using regularly

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Banana flower (xiang jiao hua, 香蕉花): Traditional texts associate banana blossom with clearing heat, calming liver qi, stopping bleeding, resolving stagnation, and supporting blood pressure balance. The bitter, astringent character is considered part of its heat-clearing property.
• Rock sugar (bing tang, 冰糖): Added in a small amount purely to soften the bitterness and make the tea more palatable. It is a gentle sweetener used in many food-therapy teas.

Ingredients (about 3–4 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Banana blossom bud	1 whole	Use only the small pale-yellow inner florets
Rock sugar	a small amount	Add to taste at the end
Water	5 bowls (~1.25 litres)

Method

1. Peel away the outer purple-red bract leaves of the banana blossom to reach the small, pale-yellow inner florets.
2. Rinse the inner florets thoroughly under running water.
3. Place the florets in a pot with 5 bowls of water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved.
5. Serve warm. The tea will taste bitter and slightly astringent — this is normal.

Bro Niu’s tips

• Use only the inner small pale-yellow florets; the outer leaf bracts are not needed for this tea.
• The bitterness is natural and may be part of what gives this plant its traditional reputation. The rock sugar helps, but do not expect a pleasant floral drink — this is more of a medicinal-style tea.
• Banana blossom is available at Chinese or Asian grocers and online; it is sometimes seasonal, so availability can vary.
• Traditional herb texts note that this flower can support heart health and blood pressure balance, but this is a supplementary role — those with high blood pressure should continue to follow their doctor’s treatment plan.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (SK): Where can I find banana flower? Bro Niu: It is available at Chinese or Asian grocers and online. Availability can vary by season, so it is worth calling ahead or checking before making a special trip.

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Published May 24, 2016 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.