Tangerine Cake, Ophiopogon Root and Dried Pear Tea

Why people make this tea

There is a particular kind of cough that is not an infection — it is a dry, tickling irritation at the back of the throat that comes from talking too much, breathing dry air-conditioned air, or having naturally sensitive airways. Teachers, singers, presenters and anyone who uses their voice for work know this sensation well. In Cantonese food therapy, the response is to moisten and cool the lung and throat channels. This three-ingredient tea does exactly that: tangerine cake (jie bing — preserved sweet tangerine) soothes and lubricates; ophiopogon root (mai dong) is one of the key “lung-moistening” herbs in Chinese medicine; and dried pear slices add a gentle, natural sweetness while supporting throat moisture. The result is a tea that is pleasant to drink, easy to make, and genuinely soothing for anyone dealing with a dry, irritated cough — whether from talking, a dry environment, or mild airway sensitivity.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Well suited for anyone with dry, tickling cough linked to voice overuse, air-conditioned environments or airway sensitivity.
• Helpful for smokers or those who drink alcohol who notice dryness and irritation in the throat.
• Teachers, presenters, and others who speak for long periods will find this a useful daily drink.
• People with diabetes should replace tangerine cake with half a monk fruit (luo han guo), as tangerine cake is high in sugar.
• For a more substantial version, the ingredients can be combined with lean pork, dried figs and almonds in a full soup, which also supports appetite and digestive qi.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Tangerine cake (jie bing): Preserved, sweetened tangerine; used in Cantonese medicine for its throat-soothing, lung-moistening qualities and pleasant, slightly citrus sweetness. It moves lung qi gently and helps stop a persistent dry cough. High in sugar — diabetics should substitute monk fruit.
• Ophiopogon root (mai dong, Ophiopogon japonicus): A premier lung-yin nourishing herb in Chinese medicine; sweet and slightly cooling; moistens the lungs and throat, promotes fluid production and reduces irritation. Widely used for dry cough, dry throat and voice fatigue.
• Dried pear slices (li gan): Pear is one of the most beloved throat-moistening foods in Cantonese cooking. The dried form concentrates the action and does not require fresh produce. Remove any seeds or core pieces before using. Note: dried pear is mild and not excessively cooling, making it more suitable for regular use than fresh pear for some constitutions.

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Tangerine cake (jie bing)	2 pieces	Can substitute half a luo han guo for diabetics
Ophiopogon root (mai dong)	~19 g (5 qian)	Rinse gently
Dried pear slices	10 slices	Remove seeds / core pieces before use

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients gently.
2. Remove any seeds or core from the dried pear slices.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes until reduced to approximately 3 bowls.
5. Drink warm or at room temperature throughout the day.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is naturally sweet and pleasant — suitable for all ages, including the elderly and children. It can be prepared quickly on a busy weekday and works as a gentle daily drink for anyone whose work involves a lot of speaking. If you want a more nourishing version, add lean pork, dried figs and almonds and simmer it as a full soup — this makes it supportive for the digestive qi as well, which is helpful for people who eat irregularly due to their work schedule.

For those in countries where tangerine cake (jie bing) is hard to find, substitute half to one whole monk fruit (luo han guo) — widely available online or in Asian supermarkets.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Amy): Can people with diabetes drink this tea? Bro Niu: Tangerine cake is high in sugar, so it is not suitable for diabetics. Substitute half a luo han guo (monk fruit) in its place.

• Q (reader in the UK): Tangerine cake is hard to find here — what can I use instead? Bro Niu: You can use half to one whole luo han guo (monk fruit) in its place.

• Q (reader, about a post-lung-surgery friend): A friend had a lobe of the lung removed about 6 weeks ago. The surgeon says the cough is from intubation during the long operation and should resolve with time. Can this tea help? He has white phlegm — is that a cold-type cough? Bro Niu: Yes, your friend can drink this tea. White phlegm generally suggests a cold-type cough pattern, but since lung cancer is a heat pattern, he can still use chuan bei mu (Fritillaria) combined with hu ru ling zhi and dried tangerine peel and almonds to keep it balanced — neither too cold nor too warming.

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Published June 9, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.