Herbal & Flower Teas
Bitter Melon & Green Tea
traditionally used to clear summer heat, calm internal fire, and support blood sugar balance
Why people make this drink
After the Great Heat arrives and temperatures sit in the mid-30s, people who work outdoors or who tend to run hot can find themselves with a bitter taste in the mouth, an unpleasant burning thirst, flushed and irritated eyes, and a general sense of inner heat. This two-ingredient tea is Bro Niu’s simple answer for those moments. Bitter melon is one of the most cooling vegetables in the Cantonese kitchen, with particular affinity for the heart, liver, and lungs. Simmered briefly to extract its cooling juice and then steeped with a small amount of green tea, the result is a mildly bitter drink with a pleasant aftertaste of sweetness — the classic “bitter return” (hui gan) that Cantonese drinkers appreciate. It is also a well-regarded daily tea for those managing high blood pressure or blood sugar, as both bitter melon and green tea have been studied for metabolic support.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Well suited to those who feel hot internally, experience bitter mouth, red or irritated eyes, excessive thirst in summer, or nervousness.
- Traditionally considered a good daily wellness tea for those managing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, or high cholesterol (the “three highs”).
- People with cold and weak digestion (spleen-stomach deficiency), manifesting as loose stools, poor appetite, or always feeling cold in the abdomen, should avoid this drink or use it only occasionally in small amounts.
- This is not suitable as a treatment for acute heatstroke — if someone collapses or has very high body temperature, seek emergency care immediately.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Bitter melon (ku gua): Enters the heart, liver and lung channels in Chinese medicine. Strongly cooling; associated with clearing heat, calming “heart fire,” supporting digestion of summer heat, and traditionally considered helpful for blood sugar regulation and preventing pancreatic inflammation. The bitterness itself is considered therapeutically relevant in Chinese medicine — the bitter taste is associated with the heart and with clearing fire.
- Green tea (lv cha): Cooling, astringent, and slightly bitter. Associated with clearing fire, eliminating phlegm, clearing heat and summer dampness, promoting urination, strengthening the heart, and lifting the mind. Drinking green tea in summer is traditionally associated with quenching thirst, stopping excessive sweating, and cooling the body.
Ingredients (3–4 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bitter melon (ku gua) | 1 medium | Seeds and pith removed, cut into chunks |
| Green tea leaves (lv cha) | 1 small pinch | Added after the heat is off |
| Water | 4 bowls | ~800 ml |
Method
- Wash the bitter melon. Halve lengthways, scoop out the seeds and pith, then cut the flesh into chunks.
- Place the bitter melon in a pot with 4 bowls of water. Bring to the boil and cook for 20 minutes.
- Turn off the heat. Add the green tea leaves to the pot.
- Cover and let steep (infuse) for 10 minutes.
- Strain and drink while warm or at room temperature. The slight initial bitterness will be followed by a pleasant sweet aftertaste.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea has a mild bitter flavour but finishes with a pleasant sweetness — that aftertaste is part of what makes it satisfying. It is a good everyday wellness drink for those managing the “three highs.” However, people with cold and weak digestion should not drink this regularly, as it is quite cooling in nature.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Vivi): I am 50 years old. My stools are hard, so I have been drinking a lot of warm water. Now I have a bowel movement daily but it comes very urgently and is loose, not formed. What should I eat or drink? Bro Niu: If your stools are loose, you can try: Chinese yam (huai shan), poria mushroom (fu ling), lotus seeds (lian zi), and euryale seeds (qian shi) — about 15 g each — plus 2 slices of fresh ginger and 5 red dates, simmered with lean pork. The whole family can drink this; it supports the spleen and helps firm the stools.
Published July 24, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
