Plum Blossom, Fa Xia & Tangerine Cake Tea

Why people make this tea

Have you ever felt something lodged in your throat — not painful, not a physical lump — that you cannot swallow down or cough up? In traditional Chinese medicine this is called “mei he qi” (literally “plum-stone qi”) and it is a recognized pattern that predominantly affects women, often linked to emotional stress, suppressed feelings, or prolonged tension. The sensation tends to appear or worsen when the person is anxious and disappears during eating.

Classical TCM theory holds that when liver qi becomes stagnant — often through unresolved worry or frustration — it can travel upward to constrict the throat and create this very distinctive feeling. This tea formula draws on dried plum blossoms to gently ease liver stagnation, processed pinellia to resolve phlegm and descend rebellious qi, and tangerine peel and tangerine cake to harmonize the stomach and relieve bloating. It is a time-tested, pleasant-tasting remedy.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients briefly.
2. Lightly crush or break the pinellia (fa xia) into smaller pieces so it releases its properties more readily.
3. Cut or scissor the tangerine cakes into rough pieces.
4. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 1 hour until the liquid has reduced to about 2 cups.
6. Strain and drink warm. The tea has a mildly sweet and fragrant taste.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is sweet without being cloying, and gentle enough for long-term use without harming the body’s normal function. Beyond its traditional use for globus sensation, it also helps those who produce excessive phlegm or have a persistent cough. Three times per week is a good frequency; stop once symptoms improve. If wax plum blossoms are hard to find, bergamot (fo shou gan) at 9 g is a reliable substitute. Dried plum blossoms, tangerine peel, and tangerine cakes are all available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online.