Herbal & Flower Teas
Green Olive, Mandarin Cake and Dried Pear Tea
Traditionally used to soothe the throat, moisten dryness, and ease coughs
Why people make this tea
As summer fades into autumn, the air in many climates — and certainly in Hong Kong’s heavily air-conditioned offices — turns notably drier. The throat starts to feel rough, the skin feels parched, and there may be a dry cough with sticky phlegm that is hard to bring up. Bro Niu spotted bright mandarin cake (ju bing) and dried pear (xue li gan) at the Chinese medicine shop and bought them for exactly this transition season. Dried pear retains the pear’s renowned moistening and lung-supporting properties while losing much of the raw pear’s cold nature, making it a better fit for those with a more sensitive constitution. Fresh green olives add a pleasant tartness and are traditionally associated with generating fluids, easing sore throats, and preventing throat inflammation. Together with the naturally sweet mandarin cake — which has none of the bitterness of fresh mandarin peel — this produces a brew that is clean, sweet-tart, and genuinely pleasant to drink.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults, children, and pregnant women
- Particularly useful for those working long hours in air-conditioned environments; those experiencing dry throat, dry cough, or a rough feeling at the back of the throat
- Also traditionally considered helpful for easing fatigue and soothing mild liver qi stagnation
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh green olives (qing gan lan): Traditionally used to generate fluids, relieve thirst, ease sore throat, prevent throat inflammation, and dissolve phlegm; the slight tartness and mild astringency help tighten and soothe inflamed throat tissue
- Mandarin cake (ju bing): Processed from mandarin oranges so the peel loses its bitterness; associated with regulating qi, relieving coughs, and supporting digestion; the natural bright orange colour is genuine, not artificial
- Dried pear (xue li gan): Retains the pear’s moistening, lung-supporting effect while reducing its raw coldness; more suitable than fresh pear for those with a cool or sensitive constitution
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh green olives (qing lan) | 15 pieces | Rinsed, then cracked gently with the back of a knife |
| Mandarin cake (ju bing) | 2 pieces | Rinsed, cut into chunks |
| Dried pear (xue li gan) | 75 g | Rinsed, cores removed |
Method
- Rinse the green olives, then use the flat side of a cleaver or knife to gently crack each one — this helps the flavour release during cooking.
- Rinse the mandarin cake and cut into smaller chunks.
- Rinse the dried pear and remove any remaining seeds or cores.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 6–7 bowls (about 1.2–1.4 litres) of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a medium simmer for 30 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 4 bowls.
- Drink warm.
Bro Niu’s tips
Mandarin cake’s bright orange colour is completely natural, the result of the mandarin itself, not added dye. The processing removes the bitterness of the peel, so the resulting tea is clean and sweet. This brew is suitable for all ages and is especially handy during the drier autumn and winter months or any time the throat feels dry from air-conditioning. It is also traditionally associated with relieving mental and physical tiredness and easing mild liver qi sluggishness.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (small Ming): Can pregnant women drink this tea? Bro Niu: Yes, pregnant women can drink this tea.
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Q (Po): My 8-year-old daughter had bronchitis, took antibiotics for 5 days and then Chinese medicine for 3 days, but still has a cough — a scratchy throat and some sticky phlegm, especially in the mornings. What can I make for her? Bro Niu: Try wrapping perilla seeds (su zi) and radish seeds (lai fu zi), about 3 qian each, in a herb bag and use them to cook a lean pork porridge for her. Take for 3 consecutive days — it helps clear phlegm and ease the cough.
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Q (Yvonne): Can I add fish mint (yu xing cao) and magnolia flower buds (xin yi hua) — my child has some nasal drip? Bro Niu: You can add the magnolia flower buds, but fish mint doesn’t really complement the flavour of this tea.
Published August 19, 2022 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
