Green Olive, Golden Monk Fruit, and Dried Snow Pear Tea

Why people make this tea

When Bro Niu noticed his throat becoming uncomfortable after eating too much chilli paste and kimchi, his first instinct was to brew this simple, pleasant-tasting tea. In traditional Chinese food therapy, the throat is considered an early checkpoint for respiratory pathogens — keeping it moist and clear is seen as an important daily wellness habit, especially during seasons when viral infections circulate. Green Chinese olives have long been used in Cantonese food therapy to clear throat heat and generate fluids; monk fruit (luo han guo) is one of the sweetest natural ingredients known, beloved for its throat-soothing properties; and dried snow pear adds a light, moistening quality. The three together make a tea that is refreshing, naturally sweet, and genuinely soothing.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for the whole family, including children (who generally enjoy its sweetness)
• May be drunk during a cold, fever, or sore throat — it is appropriate across these situations
• Slightly cooling in nature; those with a very cold constitution should not drink it in large amounts continuously
• Suitable for pregnant women

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Green Chinese olive (qing lan): One of the most important Cantonese folk remedies for the throat; traditionally associated with clearing throat toxins, generating fluids, and soothing inflammation. Also a key ingredient in the traditional “Green Dragon White Tiger Soup” (qing long bai hu tang) for throat protection
• Golden monk fruit (jin luo han guo): A sweeter, more delicately flavoured variety of monk fruit; the whole fruit — skin, flesh, and seeds — is used. Traditionally valued for clearing heat, moistening the lungs, and soothing the throat. Regular monk fruit can substitute; use the whole fruit for a family-sized pot
• Dried snow pear (xue li gan): Traditionally associated with cooling, moistening, and dissolving phlegm; fresh snow pear is an excellent substitute if dried is unavailable. (Bro Niu considers apple a lesser substitute — pear is better for the throat.)

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Green Chinese olives	10 pieces	Rinsed; bruised with flat of a knife
Golden monk fruit	half a fruit	Shell cracked open
Dried snow pear slices	8–10 slices	Seeds removed; rinsed
Water	6 bowls (approx. 1.5 litres)

Method

1. Rinse the green olives and lightly bruise each one using the flat side of a cleaver or a heavy object.
2. Crack the golden monk fruit open and break into pieces; use all parts including the skin.
3. Remove seeds from the dried pear slices and rinse.
4. Place all ingredients in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes until liquid reduces to approximately 3 bowls.
6. Serve warm. For a sore throat, drink 2–3 consecutive daily portions.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea has a pleasant, clear sweetness that children rarely refuse. If using regular monk fruit instead of the golden variety, use 1 whole fruit for a family pot, increase the olives to 15, and add a few extra pear slices. The whole monk fruit — skin, flesh, and seeds — all have therapeutic value, so nothing needs to be discarded. For a persistent sore throat, Bro Niu recommends continuing for 2–3 days. If fresh snow pear is available, that works just as well as the dried version.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Monnie): I don’t have green olives — what can I substitute? And can I use regular monk fruit instead of golden? Bro Niu: Yes, regular monk fruit works fine — the golden variety just has a sweeter, more pleasant flavour. If you don’t have green olives, substitute with a few dried figs.

• Q (Monnie, follow-up): Can this tea be drunk during a fever or cold? Bro Niu: Yes, this tea is suitable during both fever and a cold.

• Q (mandy): Can children drink this after vaccination, or for a dry throat? Bro Niu: This tea is slightly cooling in nature. For children with a good constitution, it is completely fine. If the child tends to be cold-natured, moderate the amount.

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Published February 28, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.