Category: Herbal Tea

Artemisia argyi （Asiatic wormwood) is a medicinal herb used in TCM. In TCM we use Artemisia argyi for moxa treatment。

We also can use leaves to a medicinal herbal tea. But the taste of dried artemisia leaves without being processed in advance is hard to drink because of its very very bitterness in taste.

(65) Artemisia Ginger Tea – YouTube

The pre-processed step helps to reduce the bitterness, afterward stir fry in a dry wok with sliced gingers till all ingredients are fully dried.

Today I used about 2g, water temperature is below 90C, quickly brewing and quickly filter out, I am amazed by its gentle sweetness instead of bitterness. Multiple brewing is possible with this medicinal herbal tea.

For herbal infusion, there are various ingredients we can use,  either roots, bark, branch, fruit, leaf or flowers.

We can prepare the herbal infusion in two methods:

Cooking Method: 

• This method fits best with the herbal infusion based on roots, bark, branch and fruits
• Teapot selection can be glass, ceramic or porcelain tea pot
• Teacup selection can be glass or porcelain
• Boil the water first then put ingredients for 10-15 minutes soaking

Brewing Method: 

• This method fits best with flowers and/or leaves
• Water temperature: nearly the boiling point
• Suggest brewing time: 3 minutes. (max. may not exceed 10-15 minutes)

In case long soaking/brewing, the taste may become bitter.

Health  Effects

• Stimulate digestion
• Reduce heat (Yang)
• Diuretic
• Stimulate blood circulation
• Defreckle
• Good for liver
• Lowering blood pressure
• Prevention against cancer

Potential Side effects

Not recommend to consume too much with those who suffer problems with cold stomach

Suggestion :

• Cooking method:
  • Once the water is boiled, let it cool down for 3 minutes, then add the Hibiscus and soaking for 5 minutes; Can add on honey
• Brewing method
  • 2-3 pcs with 180ml water
  • Cover the cup with lid for 5-8 minutes
• Suitable to make iced tea with Hibiscus

Mulberry tea is a natural organic herbal tea.  The natural characters of Mulberry Tea is bitter and cold, it works with Lungs, Liver and Kidneys meridians according to the Chinese Traditional Medicine practice,

In the Chinese ancient herbalology “Compendium of Material Media 本草綱目” written by Li ShiZhen during the Ming Dynasty, it highlights the benefits of

Mulberry tea “treating  heat and cough, cooling  blood that has effect to enhance the eyesight and growing hair”.  Modern  scientific researches confirmed dried mulberry leaves contain 25%-45% crude protein, 20%-25% carbohydrate, 5% crude fat with rich contains of potassium, calcium, Vitamin C, B1, B2 , A, etc. also copper, zinc, boron, manganese, 18 different kind of Amino acid and other substances that we need for our health.

Health  Effects

• Inhibiting the rise of blood sugar
• Antibacterial
• Lowering blood pressure
• Lowering blood lipid
• Antioxidant
• Anti-toxic sterilization
• Anti-aging
• Lighten pigment freckles
• Prevention of dementia
• Reducing depression syndrome
• Reducing cancer risk
• Alleviating menopausal syndrome
• Improve laxative, reducing swelling

Potential Side effects

Even though Mulberry Tea is suitable for daily drink because of its  many healthy effects of lowering blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, aid to lose weight and freckles,  but still there are some potential side effects to people who have sensitive stomach or special health conditions:

• It can inhibit the digestive enzyme
• It stimulates the digestive system
• With excessive consumption can have cause discomfort to stomach

Suggestion :

• Brewing method: 3gm vs. 200ml, water temperature: 90°C – 950°C, multiple infusions
• 4 cups per day
• Drink after eating
• Drink water in between
• Can add one some Goji, Hong Chiao Mei or Jasmine tea

Hong Chiao Mei (Redartfulplumtea) is a family of Globe amaranth, a natural organic herbal infusion tea that can be consumed daily.

Health  Effects

Suggestion :

• For infusion tea, it requires just boiled water and should be infused for +/- 3minutes
• Brewing tea ware : porcelain or glass tea pot
• 3 times a week
• Girls/Women who suffer dysmenorrhea, can drink Hong Chiao Mei tea one week before the period.
• Drink after eating
• Drink water in between
• can be a natural blending ingredient with other herbal tea , i.e. mulberry, rose, forget-me-not, hibiscus, lemon, peach blossom, lily, calendula, longgan and black tea

Nowaday many people like to eat or use Goji in tea. Indeed Goji is a very common and healthy ingredient used in Chinese traditional Yang Sheng or medicine.

But if you were one from the following groups, then probably it is better not to consume too much:

1. those who have stomach problems, especially not for those who have diarrhea problem
2. those who suffer from having too much Yang (陽) in body because Goji can easily stimulate the rise of Yang energy in body
3. when suffering from having fever or flue

In this Autumn period,  Goji with Tremella soup is a very delicious and healthy dessert.

Hand picked & made Cherry Loose Leaf Tea from the Spring plucks. 

There are many different kinds of cherry blossom tree (Zakura) and Yaezakura is the only one that we can consume its flowers and leaves. 

These Yaezakura trees have already been cultivated more than 10 years. It is pesticide-free herbal tea, because no pesticide is needed for cherry blossom trees.

Cherry Leaf Tea has various benefits to health:

1. Prevention against cancer due to the antioxidant components
2. Help to lower risk of blood pressure and bad cholesterol, to lower the risk for cardiovascular problems.
3. Potentially contribute to the detoxification process in body
4. Help to balance pH by lowering uric acid levels in body

Cherry leaf tea does provide many health benefits as other types of tea but do consider it as a healthy herbal tea and shouldn’t exaggerate its medicinal benefits. Always check with your doctor if having any health problem.

This is solar dried wild Jiao Gu Lan from China. Wild Jiao Gu Lan is a pure nature herbal tea used as Yang Shen Cha (養生茶) in the practice of Chinese Traditional Medicine.  Jiao Gu Lan is known for the following health benefits:

• help to anti-fatigue and improve the immunity function
• help to lower blood fat, blood sugar and reduce fat; improve the balance of blood pressure, sleep and eliminate the chest tightness
• with the benefit to clear the daily intake of hormones, the accumulated toxins from chemical drugs and help to regulate the endocrine.

The natural taste of Jiao Gu Lan is pretty sweet (similar as Licorice) and the taste from the 1st infusion can be intensive, therefore we suggest to shorten the infusion time on the 1st infusion and gradually increase the infusion time afterwards.

Brewing suggestion:

• Quantity: 2-2.5g vs. 150ml water
• water temperature : 90°-95°C
• Infusion time
  • 1st : 20 seconds
  • 2nd : 30 seconds
  • 3rd : 45 seconds
  • 4th and above : 45 seconds to 1 minute
• Suggested tea ware: Porcelain tea pot or gaiwan
• 

In the “Compendium of Materia Medica” written by Li ShiZhen, the most famous doctor specialized in Chinese Traditional Medcine, in 1578 and published in 1596, in the book Mulberry Tea was noted for its effects of rejuvenation, it’s also known as “Immortal Grass” (桑箕星之精神也，蟬食之稱文章，人食之老翁為小童，桑叶又名：“神仙草”).  It is a medicinal and edible  in one plant, it contains 17 kinds of amino acids, crude protein, crude fat and is known as “longevity tea’ in Japan.

Mulberry trees can only grown in a pesticide-free environment, so it’s a natural organic healthy green plant. Mulberry tea was processed through special techniques that diminishes the bitter taste and elevate the sweet flavour and taste. Those researches in the East and West confirmed various benefits of Mulberry tea to those who have problem either with lower blood sugar, blood pressure or blood fat and is appreciated for its effects in anti-aging because of amino acid, fiber, vitamines, minerals and various physiologically active substances.  There are many different kind of mulberry trees in the world, but not all leaves are suitable to produce good quality Mulberry tea, for example the Mulberry leaves for silkworm are not suitable for direct consumption.  In order to maintain the Polysaccharides, flavonoids and alkaloids DNJ components so leaves much be processed carefully through hand-picked, wash & dry, cutting, fixing, rolling, deblocking, roasting and fermentation.

According to various researches, we know Mulberry tea is suitable for those who have health problems with impaired glucose tolerance, light diabetic population, type 2 diabetes and high risk of diabetes and complications of cardiovascular disease, and of course, it is also suitable for normal populations as daily health drink.  It is free from caffeine, people who suffer from stomach pain and insomnia are also safe to drink Mulberry tea.

Like all healthy plants or fruits in the world, even though Mulberry tea has many healthy benefits, but there is always a catch that we should be aware of.  We should avoid with exaggerate consumption even though it tastes good and healthy.  In the Compendium of Materia Medica  has also indicated certain contraindications, because excessive consumption can result the too much Yin energy in body that stimulates the cold in spleen and stomach that will cause some health problems. It is not suitable to drink Mulberry tea during the menstruation period, because of Yin and its role in hemostasis.

Brewing Mulberry tea is easy:

• water temperature: 95-99°C
• Multiple infusions, i.e. 1 minute – 45 seconds – 1 minute

Mulberry leaves can also blended with other herbal ingredients:

1. Mulberry leaves with Goji
2. Mulberry leaves with Chrysanthemum

Despite Mulberry tea provides many health benefits, but still it is suggested to avoid over exaggerate consumption. Knowing and listening to your own body is essential step to maintain a balance health.