Tangerine Peel and Roasted Rice Tea

Why people make this tea

Every year Nourilo sun-dries a batch of fresh tangerine peel. Good aged peel (chen pi) is becoming increasingly expensive, so making your own and letting it mature for three years or more is well worth the effort. The older the peel, the more fragrant it becomes — after ten or twenty years, opening a jar fills an entire room with the warm, complex scent of aged citrus.

Traditional Chinese medicine often says: “A hundred years of chen pi, a thousand years of ginseng” — a testament to how highly aged tangerine peel is regarded. What makes this recipe particularly interesting is how it pairs chen pi with one of the most overlooked kitchen techniques: dry-roasting plain white rice in a wok until golden.

The result is a mild, naturally sweet tea with a pleasant toasted aroma. It is used in Cantonese households primarily for two things: supporting people who have just undergone surgery (especially caesarean birth), where trapped air inside the abdominal cavity can cause significant discomfort; and settling the digestive system after illness, for people who feel bloated or have lost their appetite.

Method

1. To prepare roasted rice (can be made in advance): dry-roast plain white rice in a wok (no oil, no washing) over medium heat for 5–7 minutes until golden. Store in an airtight container and use as needed.
2. Soak tangerine peel briefly in water to soften. Cut into strips. Do not discard the soaking water — use it in the pot.
3. Combine tangerine peel strips, their soaking water, and the roasted rice in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then cook for about 20 minutes.
5. Drink throughout the day as a substitute for plain water. For children, halve all quantities.

Nourilo’s Tips

Do not scrape off the white inner pith of the tangerine peel — it contains beneficial compounds that support blood vessel health. For the rice: no need to wash it before roasting; just dry-roast in a clean, dry wok for 5–7 minutes until it turns a nice golden colour, then store and use whenever needed. This tea can also be prepared by infusing in a thermos rather than boiling if that is more convenient. The tea is very gentle and broad in its application — even people who are months into recovery can continue drinking it comfortably.