Herbal & Flower Teas
Hawthorn, Tangerine Peel and Red Date Tea
Traditionally used to support the spleen and stomach and ease food stagnation
Why people make this tea
Back when Bro Niu was teaching postnatal-care classes, lunches out were unavoidable. At a quick noodle shop one day, a man sat down, ordered wonton noodles, and — never minding how scalding hot it was — wolfed down soup and noodles in moments and was gone, while Bro Niu wasn’t even half done. He saw it happen more than once. Bolting food like that not only risks burning the throat, it loads up the digestive system and leads to indigestion. The real fix is to chew slowly and well. But for people with lingering indigestion — bloating, even nausea, no appetite, eating little yet feeling full fast — a tea built around hawthorn, which helps digestion and breaks up food stagnation, can be a good support.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with bloating, food stagnation, poor appetite or a too-quickly-full feeling.
- Pregnant women should not drink hawthorn tea.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hawthorn (shan zha): Traditionally aids digestion and breaks up food stagnation; also associated with supporting blood pressure and blood lipids.
- Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Moves qi, dries damp and transforms phlegm, easing a bloated stomach.
- Red dates (hong zao): Warm and sweetening, they support the spleen and stomach and round out the tea.
Ingredients (3 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried hawthorn | ~19 g | Rinse and soak |
| Dried tangerine peel | 2 pieces | Rinse and soak |
| Red dates | 5–6 | Sliced, pitted |
Method
- Rinse and soak the hawthorn and tangerine peel; slice and pit the red dates.
- Simmer everything in 5 bowls of water for 20 minutes down to 3 bowls, and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Best taken after meals — one cup daily or every other day. Kept up over time, it can effectively ease indigestion and is also associated with supporting blood pressure and blood lipids. But pregnant women should not drink hawthorn tea.
Community questions answered (selected)
-
Q (Bu Yin): Should I scrape off the white pith inside the tangerine peel? Bro Niu: When I studied Chinese medicine, the professor said not to scrape off that pith — it has a softening effect on the blood vessels, which many people don’t realise. It would be a shame to throw it away.
-
Q (Xiao Pu Mao): Does drinking red dates cause bloating? I often have a bloated stomach but am also short on qi and blood. Bro Niu: Red dates won’t cause a bloated stomach. Add a piece of dried tangerine peel and it will help move qi all the more.
Published September 24, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
