Cherokee Rose Fruit and Eucommia Leaf Tea

Why people make this tea

A relative of Nourilo’s had slightly high cholesterol but little time to brew soups, so Nourilo suggested simply steeping eucommia leaf as a regular tea, which is associated with supporting healthy cholesterol. He picked up some himself — eucommia leaf has essentially the same active components as eucommia bark, so the effects are similar, and the leaf is easier to brew, with a good reputation for supporting kidney qi. Today’s pairing, Cherokee rose with eucommia leaf, is traditionally used for liver-and-kidney depletion: achy, weak sinew and bone, kidney-weak seminal leakage and frequent night urination.

Method

1. Put the Cherokee rose fruit and eucommia leaf in a pot and rinse once with boiling water.
2. Pour in fresh boiling water and steep, covered, for 10 minutes. Serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea has a slight medicinal taste and suits middle-aged and older adults with liver-and-kidney weakness. But avoid it if you have excess heat, an unresolved cold or flu, or are pregnant.