Wampee Leaf, Ginger and Brown Sugar Tea

Why people make this tea

Fresh wampee leaves — the aromatic leaves of the wampee fruit tree (Clausena lansium) — are a seasonal staple in southern Chinese wellness tradition, often appearing alongside pomelo leaves around Chinese New Year. Generations of southern Chinese families have used these leaves in daily wellness rituals, with a long history in folk medicine for supporting resistance to seasonal flu and even meningitis-type fevers. During flu season, Bro Niu brews up a big batch of this warming tea for the whole family. The aroma is pleasant and distinctive, and the tea makes for an easy daily preventive measure.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most adults and children as a preventive seasonal drink.
• Best suited to those with a cold or neutral constitution, particularly in cooler weather.
• The brown sugar and ginger make this a warming brew — people who tend to run hot or have significant internal heat should moderate their intake.
• This is a preventive tea, not a treatment for active flu; if you are already ill with high fever, please see a doctor.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Wampee leaves (huang pi ye): The leaves of the wampee fruit tree contain volatile aromatic compounds. In southern Chinese folk tradition, they are considered to have antiviral and antimicrobial properties, and are specifically associated with helping prevent seasonal influenza and epidemic-type respiratory illness.
• Fresh ginger (sheng jiang): A warming, qi-moving ingredient that helps dispel cold and dampness from the surface of the body, supports digestion, and is associated with strengthening resistance to cold and flu.
• Brown sugar (hong tang): Adds warmth and nourishment; particularly associated in Chinese food culture with supporting blood circulation and warming the interior. It also makes the tea more palatable.

Ingredients (~4 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh wampee leaves	~75 g (2 liang)	Wash thoroughly, then tear or snip into smaller pieces
Fresh ginger	4–5 slices
Brown sugar	to taste	Added after cooking
Water	6 bowls (~1.5 L)

Method

1. Wash the wampee leaves thoroughly. Tear or cut them into smaller pieces to help release their aromatic compounds.
2. Combine the wampee leaves and ginger slices in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium heat for about 30 minutes until the liquid reduces to approximately 4 cups.
4. Add brown sugar to taste and stir until dissolved.
5. Strain and serve warm. Can be drunk throughout the day by the whole family.

Bro Niu’s tips

In southern China, pomelo leaves and wampee leaves are traditionally sold together as a seasonal pair. While pomelo leaves are more commonly used in a bath or body rinse (a ritual for washing away last year’s negativity), wampee leaves are ideal for brewing and drinking. If fresh wampee leaves are only available during the New Year period, buy an extra bunch and dry them for use throughout the year — dried wampee leaves still retain their aromatic properties.

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Published January 16, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.