Herbal & Flower Teas
Dried Guava Tea
Traditionally associated with supporting healthy blood sugar levels and soothing the throat
Why people make this tea
Guava is well known as a tropical fruit, but its leaves and dried fruit have a long history of use in traditional medicine across Asia. In Cantonese food therapy, dried guava fruit is used as a simple daily tea with two main areas of traditional benefit: supporting blood sugar balance and soothing an irritated throat. The science on guava and blood sugar is genuine — guava extract has been studied for its effect on post-meal glucose levels — but Bro Niu’s recommendation is characteristically practical: brew a cup each day, alongside sensible eating, rather than as a “cure.” Guava tea bags from Taiwan are now widely available, as are slices of dried guava, and both work equally well.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults who want a pleasant daily tea to support blood sugar management alongside diet and medical care
- Also suitable for those with hoarse voice, dry or inflamed throat — both acute and chronic pharyngitis
- Gestational diabetes: Bro Niu confirms this tea is safe for pregnant women with gestational diabetes; aim for 3–4 times per week rather than every single day
- The tea is not particularly cooling, so those with cold constitutions can drink it comfortably
- Not a substitute for diabetes medication or regular medical monitoring
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Dried guava (fan shi liu gan / Psidium guajava): The fruit and leaves of the guava plant contain polyphenols, quercetin, and other compounds associated with inhibiting certain sugar-digesting enzymes; in traditional Chinese food therapy it is used to lower blood sugar, arrest loose stools, stop bleeding, and clear throat inflammation; the dried fruit is mild and easy to steep repeatedly
Ingredients (2–3 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried guava fruit slices (fan shi liu gan) | ~11 g (3 qian; about 1 tablespoon) | Available at herbal shops and some health food stores |
| Water | 1 pot (approximately 500 ml) |
Method
- Place the dried guava slices in a teapot or infuser.
- Rinse once with boiling water and discard that first rinse.
- Pour in fresh boiling water and steep for 7 minutes.
- Pour and drink warm. The same slices can be re-steeped multiple times until the colour and flavour fade.
Bro Niu’s tips
Dried guava can be found at herb and flower-tea shops, as well as some Chinese or Asian grocers, or online. It can also be paired with green luoshen flower (lu luo hua / Hibiscus sabdariffa) for a tea associated with supporting blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar together. Bro Niu suggests 3–4 times per week for regular support, rather than every single day — giving the body room to do its own work. For a practical blood-sugar supporting routine, he also recommends: cooking rice with a few pieces of pumpkin added, and between meals drinking a tea made from fresh apple (with skin, cored) simmered with a tablespoon of goji berries.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (烦小姐): My fasting blood sugar has been hovering in the 5.8–6.0 range for the past week. This is considered “pre-diabetes.” How can I bring it back to normal? Is there a daily tea I can drink? Bro Niu: Brew and drink guava tea regularly. In addition, try simmering 1–2 apples (skin on, core removed) with 1 tablespoon of goji berries as a water substitute — this is traditionally associated with supporting insulin sensitivity. Adding diced pumpkin (especially the elongated variety, which is lower in sugar) when cooking rice is also a useful daily habit.
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Q (Katies): Can this tea be used by someone who also has gestational diabetes? Is it cooling? Will it cause constipation? Bro Niu: Guava tea is suitable 3–4 times per week for gestational diabetes. It is not particularly cooling. Because you are drinking the tea rather than eating the fruit, it will not cause constipation.
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Q (Adachung): I have heard that green luoshen flower combined with dried guava is good for blood sugar. Is luoshen flower too cooling? Is 650 ml a day too little? Bro Niu: Luoshen flower is mildly cool — using 5–6 flowers per brew is not excessive. 650 ml is about 3 cups, which is perfectly reasonable.
Published March 7, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
