Black Goji, Rose and Apple Tea

Why people make this tea

Bro Niu found a jar of black goji and a jar of rose buds tucked away in his tea cabinet, almost forgotten, and a basket of apples he couldn’t finish — so he turned them into a wellness tea traditionally said to support and soothe the liver, brighten the eyes, nourish the blood and calm the mind. It is fragrant and pleasant, and is also associated with caring for the complexion and easing inflammation. Black goji is rich in anthocyanins, the dark-pigment antioxidants prized for supporting vision and mopping up free radicals; with rose and apple it is traditionally considered kind to the heart and circulation too.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• People with tired eyes, a pale complexion, or who want a calming, good-tasting daily tea; also valued for hormonal balance and menstrual discomfort.
• Pregnant women should avoid floral teas.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Black goji (hei gou qi): rich in anthocyanins; traditionally used to support vision and as an antioxidant.
• Rose buds (mei gui hua): fragrant and soothing; traditionally used to move liver qi and calm the mood.
• Apple (with skin): lends natural sweetness and antioxidants.

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Black goji berries (hei gou qi)	2 tbsp
Dried rose buds (mei gui hua)	2 tbsp
Apple (ping guo)	2	keep skin; cored; cut

Method

1. Rinse the black goji and rose buds. Wash the apples well, core and cut into chunks with the skin on.
2. Combine everything with 7 bowls of water and simmer 20 minutes, reducing to 4 bowls. Serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is traditionally thought to help with hormonal imbalance, liver-and-stomach discomfort, and irregular or painful periods. But pregnant women should not drink floral teas.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Cola): Is this tea good to drink in the few days before my period, and can I drink it during my period? Bro Niu: This tea contains no blood-moving herbs, so it is fine to drink during your period.
• Q (Yi): I have uterine fibroids — can I drink this tea, and what can I take after my period? Bro Niu: With fibroids, the main thing is to avoid iced and cold drinks — keep things warm. You can drink this tea, including before your period. After your period stops, simmer red beans, red-skinned peanuts, red dates and goji berries as a tea and eat the solids too — it is traditionally associated with nourishing the blood and the complexion.
• Q (JK): I’m planning a pregnancy (not yet pregnant) and took a lot of antibiotics for a stye — what can I take to clear it? Bro Niu: While only planning a pregnancy you can use floral teas — try a chrysanthemum-and-goji tea. To help clear the effects of heavy medication, simmer 1 liang green-kernel black soybean and 2 qian licorice in water for 45 minutes down to 2 bowls, taken as a tea.

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Published April 29, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.