Lemongrass, Fresh Turmeric & Green Apple Tea

Why people make this tea

Bro Niu first introduced a version of this tea combining lemongrass and green apple for those with knee cartilage wear. Later, while teaching a postnatal care cooking class, one of the students — who happened to grow both lemongrass and fresh turmeric in her village garden — suggested bringing some in for the group to try. Bro Niu provided the green apples and rock sugar, and on the second class they brewed a pot together. Organically grown makes a real difference in aroma, and the result was beautifully fragrant and clean-tasting.

Turmeric has attracted a lot of scientific attention in recent years for its anti-inflammatory properties, and its traditional use in food therapy aligns well with that research. This tea is both a pleasant everyday drink and a focused 4–5 day course for those dealing with knee stiffness or joint aches.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suited to people with knee cartilage wear, knee stiffness, clicking knees (even without pain yet), and general hand or foot joint aches
• Also suitable for gout sufferers (Bro Niu has confirmed this)
• Elderly people (even in their 90s) may drink it — simply reduce the rock sugar for those watching sugar intake
• For therapeutic use (treating active joint pain), this is a single-person serving and should be taken for 4–5 consecutive days before expecting results
• For general health maintenance, double the quantities for the whole family

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Lemongrass (xiang mao): Aromatic and warming, lemongrass is traditionally used to unblock stagnation in the channels and meridians — the pathways through which qi and blood move. When these pathways are blocked, pain and stiffness result. Lemongrass helps restore flow
• Fresh turmeric (huang jiang): Turmeric’s active compound curcumin has been widely studied for its anti-inflammatory properties. In traditional Chinese food therapy, turmeric is also said to move qi and blood, break up stagnation, and reduce joint inflammation — its warm, slightly pungent nature makes it particularly suited to cold-stagnation joint pain
• Green apple: Adds sourness and natural pectin, which are traditionally thought to help with joint fluid and sinew health. The tartness also balances the warming quality of the other two ingredients, making the tea more pleasant to drink

Ingredients (2 bowls, 1 person — therapeutic dose)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Lemongrass	4 stalks	Wash and slice thinly
Fresh turmeric, unpeeled	4 to 5 slices	Wash well; skin can stay on
Green apple	2 medium	Blanch briefly in boiling water to remove wax; remove core, slice thinly
Rock sugar	To taste	Add at the end

Method

1. Wash and thinly slice the lemongrass. Wash the fresh turmeric and slice with the skin on.
2. Briefly dip the green apples in boiling water (a few seconds) to remove wax and surface residue. Remove the core and slice thinly — no need to peel.
3. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 4–5 bowls of water. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium heat for 30 minutes.
4. Stir in rock sugar until dissolved. Pour and drink.

Bro Niu’s tips

For therapeutic use (active knee or joint pain), this recipe is calculated for one person and should be taken daily for 4–5 consecutive days before results become apparent. Turmeric’s inflammation-supporting action builds over time.

For family wellness maintenance, simply double all ingredients — this makes a wonderfully aromatic everyday tea that benefits everyone at the table.

If fresh turmeric is unavailable, turmeric powder can be used — about 1 teaspoon per pot. Buy a quality product to ensure purity.

Lemongrass stalks can be composted or, if you have a garden or balcony, pressed horizontally into a pot of soil — they root quickly and produce abundant new shoots.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Anonymous): My mother has been drinking this tea for 4 consecutive servings and her knee pain has improved noticeably. Can she continue long-term? Bro Niu: Yes — this tea supports knee cartilage regeneration. Two to three times a week is a good maintenance rhythm and will continue to benefit her.

• Q (JoeJoe): I’m in my 40s and my knees click frequently but without any pain. Will this tea help? Bro Niu: Clicking knees are often an early sign of cartilage wear. You don’t have pain yet, which is exactly the right time to start drinking this as prevention — drink it more often than someone with active pain.

• Q (Mei): My mother’s knee pain improved after drinking this. Can people with gout drink it too? Bro Niu: Yes, this tea is suitable for gout sufferers.

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Published September 2, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.