Tonic Drinks & Waters
Imperata, Sugarcane, Carrot, Water Chestnut & Job's Tears Water
Traditionally clears heat, promotes urination and helps drain dampness
Why people make this drink
It may be winter, but on crisp clear days everyone heads out for a barbecue. A little of that “heaty” charred food now and then is fine, says Bro Niu, but eat too much and you feel the heat rising. That’s when a clear, sweet, cooling drink comes in handy. Imperata-and-sugarcane water suits any season; add carrot and water chestnut for extra sweetness, and a little raw Job’s tears to bring in some dampness-draining and gentle cough-easing as well.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for young and old after rich or barbecued, “heaty” meals
- Traditionally said to support the body’s defenses
- Avoid if you have a cold, weak constitution; not suitable for pregnant women
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Imperata root (mao gen): classic cooling herb, traditionally clears heat and promotes urination.
- Sugarcane (zhu zhe): lends natural sweetness; associated with moistening and generating fluids.
- Carrot (hong luo bo): adds sweetness and body to the drink.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): crisp and cooling, traditionally used to clear heat.
- Raw Job’s tears (sheng yi mi): associated with draining dampness and promoting urination; said to help with conditions like chickenpox and fluid-related swelling.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Imperata root (mao gen) | 1 bundle | Rinsed, cut into lengths |
| Sugarcane (zhu zhe) | 4 segments | Split in half |
| Carrot (hong luo bo) | 1 | Peeled, cut |
| Water chestnuts (ma ti) | 6 | Peeled, halved |
| Raw Job’s tears (sheng yi mi) | 2 tbsp | Rinsed |
| Water | 7 bowls | Reduce to 3–4 bowls |
Method
- Rinse the imperata root and cut into lengths; split the sugarcane in half; peel and cut the carrot; peel and halve the water chestnuts; rinse the Job’s tears.
- Put everything in a pot with 7 bowls of water.
- Boil about 30 minutes until reduced to 3–4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This drink is clear, sweet and pleasant, and is traditionally said to support the body’s defenses; good for young and old. But those with a cold, weak constitution and pregnant women are not suited to it.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Ming): What’s the difference between huang qi and bei qi? Is it unsuitable for spleen dampness? Bro Niu: Bei qi is huang qi (astragalus). For a weak, damp spleen, use it together with poria (fu ling) and atractylodes (bai zhu).
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Q (Ling): How do I tell whether I have spleen dampness? Bro Niu: A damp-spleen constitution often means easy fatigue, a white greasy tongue coating, a rather sallow complexion, stools that stick to the toilet and are hard to flush, and poor appetite or a feeling of fullness.
Published December 7, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
