Herbal & Flower Teas
Three-Treasure Tea (Pu-erh, Chrysanthemum, Luo Han Guo)
Traditionally used to calm the liver and support healthy blood pressure
Why people make this tea
As we age, high blood pressure, high blood lipids and high cholesterol become common — research suggests a third to two-thirds of older people develop high blood pressure. Prevention starts with eating moderately, keeping weight in check, and going easy on salt: too much sodium leads to water and salt being retained, which causes swelling and burdens the heart. Bro Niu’s “Three-Treasure Tea” — pu-erh, chrysanthemum and monk fruit — is a simple everyday brew traditionally used to calm the liver, dispel wind, clear heat and support healthy blood pressure, which can help older people troubled by headache and dizziness.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- A gentle daily tea for older people supporting healthy blood pressure, and helpful for the headache and dizziness that can come with it.
- It is traditionally also regarded as supportive for high blood lipids.
- This does not replace medication. If monk fruit makes your throat itch, see Bro Niu’s substitution below.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pu-erh (pu er cha): an aged, mellow tea, not cooling in nature, that forms the base.
- Chrysanthemum (ju hua): traditionally used to calm the liver, clear heat and ease headache and dizziness.
- Luo han guo / monk fruit (luo han guo): naturally sweet, traditionally soothing to the throat and used to round out the brew.
Ingredients (1 pot, re-steepable)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pu-erh tea | equal part | |
| Chrysanthemum | equal part | |
| Luo han guo | equal part |
Method
- Grind the three ingredients to a fine powder and fill tea bags with about 20 g each.
- Place a bag in a teapot, rinse once with boiling water, then pour in fresh boiling water.
- Steep about 7 minutes and serve. It can be re-steeped until light.
Bro Niu’s tips
Grinding the ingredients to a powder draws out the flavor more easily. If you’d rather not grind them, use 2 qian each of pu-erh and chrysanthemum with half a luo han guo, and simmer in 3 bowls of water down to 2. This tea is equally helpful for high blood lipids.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (betty): I’m 51 with high blood pressure and asthma; luo han guo makes my throat itch. Is there a substitute? Bro Niu: You can use figs instead — besides soothing the throat and being valued for cancer prevention, figs are associated with lowering blood pressure and blood lipids. Choose Middle Eastern figs, use a few each time, slice thinly, and steep with the chrysanthemum and pu-erh.
- Q (Stephanie): Can this tea be drunk often? How many times a day at most? Bro Niu: This tea can be re-steeped 2–3 times and drunk over the day.
- Q (火马峻星): Can pu-erh be steeped together with rose or jasmine? Bro Niu: Pu-erh isn’t cooling, so it can be steeped together with rose or jasmine.
Published January 6, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
