Tonic Drinks & Waters
Imperata Root, Green Sugarcane & Carrot Drink
Traditionally used to clear internal heat, calm restlessness, and support urinary and digestive wellness
Why people make this drink
This is perhaps the most approachable of all Cantonese cooling drinks: three common, inexpensive ingredients that come together in under an hour into something genuinely refreshing. The combination is well known across generations — parents serve it to children after a measles or chicken pox recovery when the child is feverish and irritable; adults reach for it during hot weather or after a stretch of rich eating; and it appears regularly as a household remedy for the cluster of symptoms that Cantonese medicine labels “intestinal heat” — bad breath, scanty dark urine, constipation, restlessness at night, and nightmares.
The key ingredient is the green-skinned sugarcane (qing pi zhe), not the dark-purple-skinned variety. The green type is cooling and moistening; the dark type is warming and more tonifying — the two are not interchangeable for this purpose.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits people with intestinal heat, bad breath, dark or scanty urine, mild constipation, night-time restlessness or nightmares, irritability from heat, and those recovering from a fever or heat illness
- Suitable for all ages, including children
- No specific contraindications noted for this mild preparation
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green sugarcane (qing pi zhu zhe): Cooling and moistening. Traditionally used to clear heat, nourish fluids (jin ye), and promote both urination and bowel movement. Distinct from the dark-skinned variety, which is warming.
- Fresh imperata root (xian mao gen): A well-known cooling herb that clears heat, promotes fluid production, cools the blood, and supports urinary health. Used across many Asian cultures.
- Carrot (hong luo bo): Strengthens the spleen and stomach; harmonises digestion; adds a natural sweetness.
Ingredients (about 4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green sugarcane | 3–4 sections | Scrub the outer skin; split lengthwise |
| Fresh imperata root | 1 bundle (~50–60 g) | Cut into sections and rinse |
| Carrot | 1 medium | Peel and cut into chunks |
Method
- Scrub the sugarcane’s outer skin with a brush under running water. Split each section lengthwise.
- Cut the imperata root into sections; rinse thoroughly.
- Peel and chunk the carrot.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 6–7 cups (about 1.5 litres) of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 4 cups.
- Serve and drink the liquid. The sugarcane and carrot can be eaten as well if desired.
Bro Niu’s tips
When buying sugarcane, always inspect both cut ends before purchase. Healthy sugarcane is uniformly pale and clean-fleshed when cut; discard any piece with reddish or darkened flesh, or white cotton-like fibres inside — these indicate mould or bacterial fermentation and can cause food poisoning. The cooling effect of green sugarcane contrasts with the warming, tonifying dark-skinned variety: do not substitute one for the other. This drink is naturally sweet and very pleasant — even children drink it readily. Fresh knotgrass (xian shi hu) can be added to this drink for enhanced yin-nourishing benefit.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Joyce): Can fresh dendrobium (shi hu) be added to this drink? Bro Niu: Yes, fresh dendrobium can be added — it enhances the yin-nourishing and heat-clearing properties.
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Q (June): My daughter had a fever for two days and drank this tea. The fever is gone but her throat is still very painful. What to make now? Bro Niu: You can make a drink using one-quarter piece of “golden” luo han guo (monk fruit), 1 tablespoon of mai dong (ophiopogon), and 1 tablespoon of jin yin hua (honeysuckle flowers), simmered in 4 cups of water down to 2 cups. Take for 3 consecutive servings — this helps reduce throat inflammation.
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Q (sub-zi qing): Can this drink be taken during menstruation when there is some internal heat? Bro Niu: Sugarcane and imperata root water can be taken during menstruation if there is heat present. However, zi bei tian kui (purple-backed spiderwort) and shan zha water should be taken only after menstruation ends, as they may increase bleeding.
Published October 22, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
