Tonic Drinks & Waters
Lemongrass, Green Apple & Ginger Water
Traditionally dispels wind, supports the joints and helps manage blood lipids
Why people make this drink
With the New Year near, Bro Niu wishes everyone peace and good health. The festive season means lavish meals at home and big dinners out — and a quiet worry about blood fats and cholesterol creeping up. This old favourite is traditionally taken to support healthy blood lipids, cholesterol and uric acid, while its main reputation is for dispelling wind, supporting the joints and helping knee cartilage. Tasty, inexpensive, and worth a pot even when you’re well.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People mindful of the “three highs” after rich festive eating
- Those who love hiking or skiing and want to support hard-working knees
- A light, fragrant everyday drink with no special cautions
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lemongrass (xiang mao): traditionally associated with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory qualities and soothing aches.
- Green apple (qing ping guo): aids digestion and eases tiredness; associated with supporting healthy blood lipids and cholesterol. In traditional thought, “green enters the liver” and the liver governs the sinews, so green apple is felt to be especially kind to worn knee joints.
- Ginger (sheng jiang): warming, traditionally used to settle and soothe; balances the drink.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lemongrass (xiang mao) | 5 stalks | Washed, thinly sliced |
| Green apple (qing ping guo) | 1 | Skin-on, cut and cored |
| Ginger (sheng jiang) | 4–5 slices | |
| Water | 5 bowls | Reduce to 3 bowls |
Method
- Wash and thinly slice the lemongrass; wash the green apple (skin on), cut and core; slice the ginger.
- Put everything in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Boil 20 minutes until reduced to 3 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This drink is fragrant and pleasant. Red apple works too, but in traditional thinking “green enters the liver” and the liver governs the sinews, so green apple is felt to be especially good for worn knee joints. Friends who love hiking or skiing can take this often.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Queenie): My young son just had foot surgery — what soup helps post-operative recovery? Bro Niu: Cook a soup of astragalus (bei qi), codonopsis (dang shen) and goji (each 3 qian) with 4 southern or red dates and pork shin; sea-bream or sea-bass is even better. If he has appetite, a fish-maw chicken soup is very good for sinew and bone; if he doesn’t mind the herbal taste, add morinda (ba ji) and eucommia (du zhong) 5 qian each plus 4 red dates.
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Q (Yi Yi, on behalf of a friend): A friend wants to conceive but the doctor says premature ovarian decline — any soup to help? Bro Niu: Sea cucumber can be eaten more often, as it supports kidney qi and is associated with fertility. Cook it with golden cherry (jin ying zi), dodder seed (tu si zi) and goji (each 3 qian), 5 southern dates and 3 slices of ginger with black-boned chicken or pork shin; one batch over two days, once or twice a week, for a month. Drink the soup and eat the sea cucumber.
Published December 31, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
