Herbal & Flower Teas
Finger-Citron Flower and Amomum Tea
Traditionally used to soothe a tight, bloated stomach brought on by stress
Why people make this tea
Finger-citron (fo shou) itself is a common herb, but the flower is much harder to find — worth seeking out at a Chinese-medicine shop when you come across it. Where the dried fruit is bitter and used mainly as medicine, the flower is gentler and is traditionally turned to when low mood or worry leaves the stomach feeling tight and the appetite poor. Paired with amomum (sha ren), it’s a small, fragrant cup for when stress sits in your belly.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People who feel bloated, full or crampy in the upper abdomen with sluggish digestion, especially when it flares up with stress or a low mood.
- This is a mild, short-course tea — Bro Niu suggests three servings and stopping once you feel better. The flower is genuinely hard to source; dried finger-citron fruit slices (fo shou gan) make a fine substitute.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Finger-citron flower (fo shou hua): Traditionally valued for easing the digestive upset that comes with poor mood and emotional tension.
- Amomum / sha ren (Amomum villosum): Traditionally used to move stagnant qi, warm and settle the stomach, and calm nausea.
Ingredients (1 small pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Finger-citron flower (fo shou hua) | ~7.5 g | Hard to find; dried fo shou fruit slices work too |
| Amomum (sha ren) | ~7.5 g | Crush lightly before use |
Method
- Lightly crush the amomum (sha ren) with the back of a knife.
- Simmer the amomum in 2 bowls of water for about 10 minutes.
- Add the finger-citron flower and simmer 5 minutes more, then drink.
Bro Niu’s tips
The fragrant fruit in the photo is the finger-citron of the rue family (Rutaceae) — completely different from the chayote (also called “Buddha’s-hand melon,” fo shou gua) that we usually drop into soups. Don’t mix them up.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Yy): How often can I drink this? Bro Niu: Generally take three servings; once the symptoms ease, stop.
- Q (Su Tai): Where do you buy the finger-citron flower? Can I use finger-citron fruit instead? Bro Niu: It can be found at Chinese-medicine shops — available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online. If you can’t find the flower, about 11 g of dried finger-citron fruit slices (fo shou gan) works as a substitute.
- Q (jlsy): Can this tea be drunk regularly? And is there any food therapy that helps with autonomic nervous system imbalance? Bro Niu: For nervous-system imbalance, the main thing is to relax, keep regular hours and eat a balanced diet; if it’s serious, see a specialist. Day to day you can brew rose, jasmine and Arabian-jasmine flower tea, or lavender-mint tea, to help ease the mood — a little sugar makes it nicer. Finger-citron flower and amomum tea works too, though I find it not the tastiest.
Published January 24, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
