Monk Fruit, Chrysanthemum and Chinese Olive Tea

Why people make this tea

Office workers staring at screens, especially anyone burning the midnight oil, often end up with a sore throat, a dry mouth, and tired eyes threaded with red. Bro Niu brews a clear, sweet tea of monk fruit, chrysanthemum and Chinese olive to cool things down. Traditionally it is associated with clearing heat and soothing the throat and eyes — a gentle way to settle a day of heat and strain.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Those feeling overheated, with a dry throat, hoarseness or tired, red-tinged eyes after long screen time or late nights.
• Monk fruit is cooling: those with a cold constitution should drink it only occasionally, ideally with a piece of dried tangerine peel and a few red dates.
• In early pregnancy, you can have it with added peel and dates, but go easy on flower teas generally, as many can affect the womb.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Monk fruit (luo han guo): traditionally used to clear heat, moisten the lungs and soothe the throat.
• Chrysanthemum (ju hua): classically associated with clearing the liver and brightening the eyes.
• Chinese olive (qing lan): traditionally used to soothe the throat and generate fluids.

Ingredients (3 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Monk fruit	1	crushed
Chrysanthemum flowers	~11 g	rinsed; add last
Fresh Chinese olives	10	lightly cracked with the back of a knife

Method

1. Crush the monk fruit; rinse the chrysanthemum; lightly crack the olives with the back of a knife.
2. First simmer the monk fruit and olives in 5 bowls of water down to 3 bowls.
3. Add the chrysanthemum and simmer 5–6 minutes more. Serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

Chinese olives are sold at flower or herbal-medicine stalls. This tea is clear and sweet; you can also use it as a base to simmer a lean-pork soup for the whole family. Add the chrysanthemum near the end so it doesn’t overcook.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Mrs Yeung): I added lean pork, dried tangerine peel and red dates — can a woman less than 3 months pregnant drink it? Bro Niu: With the peel and dates added, yes, even in early pregnancy. But go easy on other flower/herb teas, as many flowers can cause the womb to contract.
• Q (Q): My work means long hours at the screen and late nights, so I run hot and can’t take warming tonics, plus my eyes tire. I can’t get Chinese olives where I live — what can I substitute? Bro Niu: Use one carrot, or about 15 g of mulberry fruit (sang shen) instead — it isn’t heaty.
• Q (Elly): Is monk fruit tea just the fruit crushed and boiled? Can my 8- and 5-year-olds drink it daily? Will it be too cooling? Bro Niu: Crush it before boiling. Monk fruit helps clear phlegm and ease coughs but is a touch cooling — children can have it 1–2 times a week, and adding a dried persimmon cake (shi bing) tempers the coolness.

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Published July 27, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.