Tonic Drinks & Waters
Lemon and Job's Tears Barley Water
Traditionally used to support the body's defences against colds
Why people make this drink
On public transport you hear plenty of coughing and sniffling, so Bro Niu always masks up. With lots of colds going round — especially among children and older folk — it’s a good time to lean on gentle teas and soups that support the body’s defences. Children dislike taking medicine, but lemon barley water tastes good with no herbal flavour, so they won’t refuse it. Lemon is rich in vitamin C (protected by its own citric acid, so even hot water won’t destroy it) and is traditionally enjoyed to lift appetite, support digestion and ease the discomfort of colds and a stuffy nose.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- The whole family, especially children and older folk, as a pleasant everyday drink during cold-and-flu season.
- For a sore-feeling throat, a few fresh mint leaves can be steeped in.
- Pregnant women should skip the Job’s tears; use lemon slices with honey instead. (Roasted Job’s tears is gentler; cold-leaning bodies can mix raw and roasted.)
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Lemon (ning meng): Rich in vitamin C, traditionally used to lift appetite, support digestion and ease cold and stuffy-nose discomfort.
- Job’s tears, raw (sheng yi mi): Traditionally used to clear damp-heat and ease puffiness.
- Job’s tears, roasted (shu yi mi): Gentler in nature, better at supporting the spleen-stomach.
- Rock sugar (bing tang): Rounds out the flavour (honey can be used instead — add only once the tea has cooled a little).
Ingredients (1 pot / several cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Raw + roasted Job’s tears | ~38 g total | Rinse |
| Fresh lemon | 3–4 slices | Add at the end |
| Rock sugar | to taste | Or honey, off the heat |
Method
- Rinse the Job’s tears and cook in 7 bowls of water for 40 minutes.
- Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Add the fresh lemon slices, turn off the heat, cover and steep 5 minutes. Drink.
Bro Niu’s tips
Fragrant and tasty, suitable for young and old. For an uncomfortable throat, steep a few fresh mint leaves in too. Pregnant women should not use Job’s tears — use lemon slices with honey instead, which is traditionally enjoyed to support the body’s defences.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Mat): If I want to make a bigger batch, do I just double everything — 2 taels of barley and 14 bowls of water? Bro Niu: To make more you needn’t double the water — use 9 bowls of water, cook 40 minutes down to 4–5 bowls, then while hot add fresh lemon slices and steep. Drink.
- Q (reader): Can I use honey instead of rock sugar? Bro Niu: Yes — but it’s best to stir the honey in once the tea is no longer very hot.
- Q (reader): Job’s tears, fu ling and qian shi all drain damp — what’s the difference? Bro Niu: Job’s tears drains water and damp and is on the cooling side; fu ling supports the spleen and drains damp and is neutral; qian shi supports the spleen, eases loose stools and also supports the kidney, and is neutral. Strengthening the spleen helps clear damp — all three are useful.
Published March 26, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
