Herbal & Flower Teas
Buckwheat and Luo Han Guo (Monk Fruit) Tea
Traditionally used to support digestion, clear stagnation and help manage fats
Why people make this tea
After a string of festive meals the stomach feels overloaded, so before heading back to work Bro Niu likes something that helps lighten things up. Hawthorn is good for cutting grease but quite sour and not for everyone, so this toasted-buckwheat and monk-fruit tea is a tastier, easygoing alternative.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people who have been eating richly and want a gentle tea to support digestion and clear stagnation; it leans slightly cool, so it suits warmer constitutions.
- Because monk fruit is sweet but does not readily raise blood sugar, this tea is generally fine for people watching their sugar — though anyone managing a medical condition should check with their own doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Buckwheat (qiao mai): folk-named the “gut-cleaning herb”; traditionally used to clear stagnation and help the body clear away accumulated waste.
- Monk fruit (luo han guo): associated with clearing heat, moistening the lungs and supporting the bowels.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toasted buckwheat | 2 tbsp | Dry-toasted first (see method) |
| Monk fruit | 1/4 fruit | Broken open and crushed |
Method
- Dry-toast the buckwheat in a pan over low heat for about 7 minutes, then store.
- Put 2 tbsp of the toasted buckwheat into a pot with the crushed monk fruit.
- Rinse once with boiling water, then refill with boiling water and steep, covered, for 15 minutes. Re-steep until the flavour fades.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is sweet and cooling, best suited to warmer constitutions. Monk fruit is about 300 times sweeter than sugar yet does not easily spike blood sugar, so people watching their sugar can usually enjoy it too.
Published February 12, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 1 min read.
