Tonic Drinks & Waters
Imperata Root, Sugarcane, Water Chestnut and Corn Water
Traditionally associated with clearing summer heat and supporting healthy urination
Why people make this drink
In the heat of summer we sweat a lot, and if we don’t drink enough the urine can turn scanty and dark — a discomfort that bothers active kids most of all. Bro Niu likes this one because store-bought drinks are usually loaded with sugar, while a homemade pot of imperata-root, sugarcane, water-chestnut and corn water is clear, naturally sweet, and gentle. It is traditionally enjoyed to clear summer heat and keep things flowing comfortably.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits the whole family in hot weather, especially active children who sweat after outdoor play
- A reader asked about giving it to a 15-month-old: Bro Niu says it can be made (dried sugarcane and imperata root work if fresh is unavailable), but watch a young baby for any sign of discomfort
- Cooling in nature: have it while staying active and warm, not when already feeling chilled
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Imperata root (mao gen): white, slender root traditionally used to cool the body and support urination; note it is a different herb from reed root (lu gen), which is golden and thick
- Sugarcane (zhu zhe): adds natural sweetness and is traditionally associated with generating fluids and easing summer dryness
- Water chestnut (ma ti): crisp and cooling, traditionally paired in summer cool-down drinks
- Corn and carrot (su mi, hong luo bo): lend body and gentle sweetness so children accept it readily
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh imperata root (mao gen) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Dried works if fresh unavailable |
| Sugarcane (zhu zhe) | 1 stalk | Rinse, cut into sections, split in half |
| Sweet corn (su mi) | 1 ear | Husked, cut into chunks |
| Water chestnuts (ma ti) | 6 | Peeled |
| Carrot (hong luo bo) | 1 | Peeled, sliced |
| Rock sugar (bing tang) | to taste | Optional |
Method
- Rinse the imperata root well.
- Rinse the sugarcane, cut into sections and split each in half.
- Peel the water chestnuts; husk the corn and cut into chunks; peel and slice the carrot.
- Put everything in a pot with 7–8 bowls of water and simmer about 45 minutes down to 3–4 bowls.
- Add a little rock sugar to taste if desired, and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This drink is also a friend to people prone to gout, who benefit from cooling, urination-supporting drinks day to day, traditionally thought to ease joint flare-ups. For outdoor summer days you can also brew a barley-lemon-rock-sugar water, which is traditionally enjoyed to help guard against heat exhaustion.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Irene): My 15-month-old grandson has bright red lips — is that normal, and can he drink this sugarcane water? I have no fresh sugarcane or imperata root here, will dried do? Bro Niu: If the baby is not fussy or unwell, bright-red lips may just be a touch of “heat.” You can simmer a pear-and-water-chestnut water, and this drink also has a cooling effect — dried sugarcane and imperata root are fine.
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Q (anonymous): Bro Niu, is reed root (lu gen) the same as imperata root (mao gen)? Bro Niu: No. Reed root is the root of the reed, golden and thick; imperata root is white and slender. They are two different herbs.
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Q (anonymous): Besides this, what easy summer soups suit kids after outdoor activity? Would barley water once or twice a week be too cooling for a child? Bro Niu: For outdoor summer days, barley-lemon-rock-sugar water is best; imperata-sugarcane-carrot-water-chestnut water is also good and traditionally thought to help guard against heatstroke. As long as the child stays active outdoors, don’t worry about it being too cooling.
Published August 3, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
