Herbal & Flower Teas
Winter Melon, Lotus Leaf, Red Adzuki and Barley Summer Tea
traditionally used to relieve summer heat, clear dampness, and support comfortable digestion in hot weather
Why people make this tea
Around the Minor Heat (Xiao Shu) solar term in early July, the air in Hong Kong becomes heavy and stifling — and this is exactly when families traditionally brew this simple cooling drink. The idea is not complicated: summer heat and accumulated dampness make people feel sluggish, bloated, and thirsty, and a gentle pot of this tea helps the body do what it needs to do to stay comfortable.
Bro Niu specifies one important detail: the best winter melon for this purpose is the old, fully ripe variety that has developed a visible white frost on its skin (pei shuang dong gua). This frost-coated maturity means the flesh is denser and more medicinal than an immature melon. Fresh lotus leaf pairs beautifully with the melon — use it immediately or dry it for later.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family, including older children and elderly
- People with a cold constitution (always feeling cold, loose stools) should swap barley (yi mi) for flat-beans (bian dou) to make the recipe less cooling
- Pregnant women may have this soup if the barley is replaced with flat-beans
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Mature winter melon (dong gua): Cooling and gently diuretic; traditionally associated with relieving summer heat, clearing internal dampness, and reducing puffiness
- Lotus leaf (he ye): Aromatic and cooling; traditionally associated with clearing summer heat, lifting dampness, and supporting healthy fat metabolism
- Red adzuki beans (chi xiao dou): Traditionally associated with clearing damp-heat, reducing swelling, and gently promoting urination
- Barley (yi mi): Traditionally used for clearing damp-heat and supporting the spleen; those with a cold constitution should substitute with flat-beans (bian dou)
- Poria mushroom (fu ling): Gentle and calming; traditionally associated with supporting the spleen, calming the mind, and promoting healthy fluid balance
- Honey dates (mi zao): Add natural sweetness and balance the cooling character of the other ingredients
Ingredients (3–4 bowls / family of 4)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mature winter melon | 600 g (1 jin) | Choose frost-coated variety; keep skin on |
| Lotus leaf | 1 fresh leaf or small dried handful | Rinse; add with other ingredients |
| Red adzuki beans | 75 g (2 liang) | Rinse |
| Barley (yi mi) | 38 g (1 liang) | Swap for flat-beans if cold constitution |
| Poria mushroom (fu ling) | 19 g (5 qian) | Available at Chinese herbal shops |
| Honey dates | 2 pieces | |
| Water | 8 bowls (~1.6 L) | Reduce to about 4 bowls |
Method
- Rinse the winter melon; cut into chunks. The skin may be left on for this recipe.
- Rinse red adzuki beans, barley, and poria.
- If using fresh lotus leaf, rinse it; if using dried, rinse briefly.
- Combine all ingredients with 8 bowls of water in a large pot.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 1.5 hours until liquid reduces to around 4 bowls.
- Drink the tea warm or at room temperature. Can be served as a light meal broth too.
Bro Niu’s tips
For the best cooling effect, choose the old frost-covered winter melon. Fresh lotus leaves are ideal but dried ones work fine — if you can find a fresh lotus leaf, use it immediately rather than letting it sit. For people with a cold constitution, replace barley (yi mi) with flat-beans (bian dou) to reduce the cooling nature. You can also use rock sugar or dried tangerine peel (chen pi) in place of honey dates for different flavour profiles. This tea can be drunk every other day during summer.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader, 2022): Does this suit a cold constitution? Bro Niu: Yes — just swap the barley (yi mi) for flat-beans (bian dou) and it becomes suitable for a cold constitution.
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Q (颖妈): What are the exact amounts for a family and how long should it cook? Bro Niu: For a family: winter melon 1 jin, red adzuki beans 2 liang, barley 1 liang, poria 5 qian, honey dates 2 pieces. Use 8 bowls of water and simmer for about 1.5 hours. Add fresh lotus leaf when available.
Published July 7, 2013 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
