Herbal & Flower Teas
Prunella, Water Chestnut and Honey Date Tea
Traditionally used to clear liver heat and support clear, bright eyes
Why people make this tea
Prunella is a well-loved, inexpensive herb traditionally associated with clearing “liver fire” and easing congested heat. When liver heat flares up — red, sore eyes, dizziness, or those firm “phlegm-fire” lumps — many home cooks reach for it. Paired with water chestnut and honey dates, it becomes a clear, sweet cooling tea that goes down easily.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with a “heaty” feeling, red or sore eyes from “liver fire,” dizziness, or those watching blood pressure who enjoy a cooling drink.
- Not for people who run cold with a weak spleen-stomach, loose stools, or frequent night urination. Always peel and cook water chestnuts; never eat them raw.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Prunella / selfheal (xia ku cao): Traditionally associated with clearing liver heat and dispersing congested heat.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): Traditionally linked with clearing heat, brightening the eyes, and aiding digestion — must be peeled and cooked.
- Honey dates (mi zao): Add sweetness and temper the herb’s cooling nature.
- Rock sugar (bing tang): Rounds out the flavor.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prunella (xia ku cao) | ~37.5 g (1 liang) | Soaked, rinsed |
| Water chestnuts (ma ti) | 8 | Peeled |
| Honey dates (mi zao) | 2 | Rinsed |
| Rock sugar (bing tang) | To taste |
Method
- Soak and rinse the prunella; peel the water chestnuts; rinse the honey dates.
- Simmer everything in 7 bowls of water for 30 minutes, reducing to about 4 bowls.
- Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Adding honey dates softens the cooling nature of the brew. Because water chestnuts grow in pond mud where their skins can pick up bacteria and parasite eggs (especially fasciolopsis larvae), never eat them raw — and even for soups, peel them first. This tea is clear and sweet, fine for young and old, but not for those with a cold-weak spleen-stomach, loose stools, or frequent night urination.
Published July 15, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
