Celery & Red Date Water

Why people make this drink

Spring is the season when, according to Chinese medicine, the liver’s energy naturally rises. That can be a good thing — but for those who already run hot, it can tip into irritability, red eyes, headaches, or restless nights. Celery has been used in both Eastern and Western traditions as a cooling, calming vegetable. What many people do not realise is that the leaves — often discarded — contain far more vitamin C and beta-carotene than the stems, and are particularly associated with blood-pressure support in traditional practice. Paired with pitted red dates, which nourish the spleen and calm the spirit, this simple drink is one Nourilo reaches for whenever spring brings that familiar irritable, head-heavy feeling.

Method

1. Trim the celery roots. Wash the entire plant — stems and leaves — thoroughly under running water. Cut into segments.
2. Pit the red dates and cut them into slices.
3. Bring 1.5 L of water to a boil.
4. Add all ingredients and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Serve and drink the liquid; you can eat the dates as well.

Nourilo’s Tips

• Do not throw away the celery leaves — they hold the highest nutritional value of the whole plant, and their blood-pressure-supporting properties are especially notable.
• Use Chinese celery (fragrant/thin-stemmed variety) rather than Western celery for best results.
• For diabetics: replace the red dates with one ear of corn (with the silk attached) — corn silk is traditionally associated with helping manage blood sugar.