Herbal & Flower Teas
Lemon, Osmanthus and Licorice Tea
Traditionally used to freshen the mouth and soothe the throat
Why people make this tea
Bad breath is often just a matter of oral hygiene, but it can also point to something else — gum disease, tonsil stones, rhinitis, or a digestive issue. Bro Niu’s honest advice: if a cleaning and brushing only freshens things for a short while before the odour comes back strong, look further into the cause. For people who tend toward strong breath — late nights, lots of spicy and pungent food — this fragrant lemon, osmanthus and licorice tea is a pleasant daily helper. Osmanthus brews into a lovely, sweet-scented cup and is traditionally enjoyed to help freshen the mouth.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People who keep late nights or favour spicy, pungent, strongly flavoured food and want a fragrant tea to help freshen the breath.
- This is a gentle culinary tea. If bad breath keeps returning despite good oral care, see a doctor or dentist to rule out an underlying cause.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Osmanthus (gui hua): Traditionally enjoyed to help freshen the mouth and is associated with soothing the throat and a hoarse voice.
- Lemon (ning meng): Bright and fresh, adding a clean, fragrant note.
- Licorice (gan cao): Traditionally used to harmonise a blend and soothe the throat.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Osmanthus flowers | 1 tablespoon | |
| Fresh lemon | 3 slices | |
| Licorice | 4 slices |
Method
- Put all the ingredients in a teapot.
- Pour in fresh boiling water.
- Steep, covered, for about 5 minutes, then drink.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea is fragrant and mellow and can be enjoyed year-round, and it is especially pleasant in the cooler “store and nourish” months of autumn and winter. Gentle and warming, it makes a soothing cup that anyone — men, women, young and old — can enjoy regularly.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (anonymous reader): My elderly relative just finished his first round of chemotherapy for liver cancer. What soup or food therapy suits him? Bro Niu: Chemotherapy can affect the blood-forming cells, so make good use of golden needle (jin zhen), wood-ear and snow fungus, and red dates simmered with lean pork. You can also make a “Four Reds Soup” to nourish the blood — red beans, red-skinned peanuts, goji berries and red dates, each as you like, simmered into a soup; drink the soup and eat the ingredients, three times a week. Amounts to taste; the whole family can have it.
Published August 9, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
