Herbal & Flower Teas
Ginger, Red Date, Licorice and Ginseng Tea
Traditionally used to support a sensitive constitution prone to allergic coughing
Why people make this tea
Red dates (da zao) are an everyday food that, perhaps surprisingly, are traditionally associated with calming an allergy-prone constitution. Bro Niu pairs them with licorice, ginger and a little ginseng to make a simple, pleasant wellness tea. It is traditionally taken by people with a sensitive constitution who get a nagging, hard-to-shake cough, shortness of breath, low energy and a dry mouth.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suited to adults with a sensitive, allergy-prone constitution, a dry persistent cough, low energy and dry mouth.
- Not for young children as written — swap the ginseng for tai zi shen (Pseudostellaria, ~11 g), which has a milder qi-supporting action and belongs to a different, gentler plant family.
- Keep the ginseng small — just a few slices; its main role here is to move qi. If you tend to run hot, use American ginseng or tai zi shen instead.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Licorice (gan cao): Traditionally used to moisten the lungs, ease coughing and harmonize the other ingredients.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): Warming; traditionally used to disperse wind-cold.
- Ginseng and red dates (ren shen, da zao): Traditionally used to support the spleen and qi; red dates are associated with calming allergic tendencies.
Ingredients (1 flask)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | |
| Red dates, pitted | 5 | |
| Licorice (gan cao) | ~3.75 g | |
| Ginseng (ren shen) | ~3.75 g | Use little; children use tai zi shen instead |
Method
- Put all ingredients in a vacuum flask.
- Rinse once with boiling water, then refill with boiling water.
- Steep about 15 minutes before drinking. You can re-steep until the flavor fades.
Bro Niu’s tips
For the ginseng you can use Korean, Jilin or sun-dried ginseng — use a small amount, two or three slices, mainly to move qi. Ginseng is not for young children; substitute tai zi shen (~11 g). You can use about 250 ml of boiling water to steep, and re-steep several times.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (connie): Can a 3.5-year-old drink this? Can I swap the ginseng for American ginseng? What soups help an allergy-prone child day to day? Bro Niu: For children use tai zi shen ~7.5 g instead — not ginseng-family herbs. Tai zi shen has a ginseng-like qi-supporting effect, slightly weaker, but it belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family, not true ginseng, so it is gentler.
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Q (琪琪): Korean red ginseng steeped in water made me feel “heaty” — can I add licorice, or what supports qi and blood without that? Bro Niu: Use American ginseng or tai zi shen in place of red ginseng and it won’t be heaty. Adding goji and red or southern dates supports qi and blood without being drying.
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Q (雪): Can I add a little rock sugar or honey? Bro Niu: This tea already has licorice, so it is naturally sweet. Adding honey risks making it too sweet and encouraging phlegm.
Published December 10, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
