Rose and Longan Tea

Why people make this tea

After weeks of intensive work — long shoots, tight deadlines, the constant hum of projects — there is a moment when you finally exhale. Bro Niu’s way of marking that release is to brew a simple flower tea and sit quietly. Rose and longan is a favourite pairing: the rose brings a warm, romantic fragrance, while the longan adds a honeyed sweetness and a grounding richness. Together they make a tea that feels like a small act of self-care.

In Chinese food-therapy tradition, this combination is particularly valued for people who push themselves hard — those whose work depletes both their energy and their emotional reserves. The two ingredients together are associated with nourishing blood (xue), calming the heart-mind (shen), and supporting a naturally healthy, radiant complexion.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most adults, especially those experiencing mild stress, mental fatigue, forgetfulness, or restless sleep.
• Regularly drinking this tea is associated in folk tradition with helping clear free radicals and reducing pigmentation over time.
• Pregnant women should avoid this tea.
• Those with a warm or heat-prone constitution should keep the longan portion moderate.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Rose petals (mei gui hua): In Chinese food therapy, rose is considered gently warming, associated with moving qi (energy), nourishing the liver, and supporting emotional balance. It is prized for both its beauty benefits and its calming properties.
• Longan flesh (yuan rou / long yan rou): A classic tonic ingredient, traditionally associated with nourishing the blood and heart, calming the mind, and improving sleep quality. Its natural sweetness makes this tea genuinely enjoyable without any added sugar.

Ingredients (1 cup, refillable)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried rose petals (mei gui hua)	6 blooms	Use food-grade, unsprayed rose petals
Dried longan flesh (yuan rou)	10 pieces	Available at Chinese herbal or dried-goods stores

Method

1. Place the rose petals and longan flesh in a teacup or small teapot.
2. Pour water heated to 80–90 degrees Celsius (just below a rolling boil) over the ingredients.
3. Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
4. Drink as is; do not remove the rose and longan — simply refill with hot water and steep again until the flavour fades.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea has a lovely clear fragrance and a natural honeyed sweetness from the longan — no sugar needed. Regular consumption is associated in folk tradition with helping clear free radicals and reducing skin pigmentation. It is also considered beneficial for those prone to forgetfulness or restless sleep. You can add佛手 (fo shou, finger citron) to further ease feelings of stagnation or tension. Pregnant women should not drink flower teas.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (ckl): I have rose and longan — can I also add fo shou (finger citron) when steeping? Bro Niu: Yes, adding fo shou is a great idea — it will further help ease feelings of tightness and emotional stagnation.

• Q (ling): How should I use this tea — do I remove the ingredients after steeping and then sip it all day? Bro Niu: No need to remove the ingredients. Simply steep, drink, then add more hot water and steep again — keep going until the flavour is gone.

• Q (Sumsum): I am going through menopause and having trouble sleeping, which is also affecting my complexion. What would you suggest? Bro Niu: Try 15 pieces of longan (yuan rou) and 1 liang of lily bulb (bai he), simmered in 4 bowls of water down to 1 bowl. Drink it about 1 hour before bed, and eat the longan and lily bulb as well. Repeat for 5–6 doses and see if sleep and complexion improve — it is associated with nourishing the blood, calming the heart-mind, and supporting a healthy complexion.

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Published September 30, 2019 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.