Herbal Teas
Hawthorn, Lotus Leaf & Tangerine Peel Tea
Hawthorn, Lotus Leaf & Tangerine Peel Tea is a classic wellness tea for promoting digestion, regulating qi, strengthening the spleen, transforming dampness, and lowering turbidity. Hawthorn is sour and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature, entering the Spleen, Stomach, and Liver meridians—especially effective for greasy meat and food stagnation. Lotus leaf is bitter and astringent in taste, neutral in nature, entering the Liver, Spleen, and Stomach meridians, clearing summer heat, transforming dampness, and raising clear yang. Tangerine peel is pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature, entering the Spleen and Lung meridians, regulating qi, strengthening the spleen, and drying dampness to resolve phlegm. Together, hawthorn promotes digestion and lowers lipids, lotus leaf transforms dampness and lowers turbidity, and tangerine peel regulates qi and resolves phlegm. The tea is amber-colored, with the tangy taste of hawthorn, the aroma of tangerine peel, and the freshness of lotus leaf. It is suitable for those who consume greasy foods, experience food stagnation and abdominal distension, have phlegm-dampness constitution, or feel heavy and sluggish in summer dampness.
Main Ingredients
- Dried hawthorn slices 10-15g
- Dried lotus leaf 5-10g
- Dried tangerine peel (Chenpi) 3-5g
- Rock sugar or honey to taste
- Water 800-1000ml
Steps
Soak 3-5g of dried tangerine peel in warm water for 10-15 minutes until soft. Scrape off the inner white pith and cut into thin strips or small pieces to reduce bitterness. Rinse 5-10g of dried lotus leaf quickly and cut or tear into small pieces; if using 15-30g of fresh lotus leaf, rinse and cut into pieces. Rinse 10-15g of dried hawthorn slices quickly.
Put the tangerine peel strips, lotus leaf pieces, and hawthorn slices into a teacup or thermos. Pour freshly boiled water (about 300-500ml) over the ingredients. Cover and steep for 15-20 minutes. Hawthorn is firm, so a slightly longer steeping time helps extract its active compounds.
Add rock sugar or honey to taste if desired. Consume 1 dose daily, drinking frequently as tea. Can be re-brewed 2-3 times until the flavor fades. Best consumed after meals.
TCM Notes
Hawthorn (Shanzha): Sour and sweet in taste, slightly warm in nature; enters the Spleen, Stomach, and Liver meridians. Known for promoting digestion, resolving food stagnation, regulating qi, and dispelling blood stasis. Contains flavonoids, organic acids, and triterpenes that help promote digestion, improve blood circulation, and support lipid management. Hawthorn is especially effective for digesting greasy meat and food stagnation. Lotus Leaf: Bitter and astringent in taste, neutral in nature; enters the Liver, Spleen, and Stomach meridians. Known for clearing summer heat, transforming dampness, raising clear yang, and cooling blood to stop bleeding. Contains nuciferine, flavonoids, and other active compounds that help regulate lipid metabolism, clear summer heat, and transform dampness. Tangerine Peel (Chenpi): Pungent and bitter in taste, warm in nature; enters the Spleen and Lung meridians. Known for regulating qi, strengthening the spleen, and drying dampness to resolve phlegm. Contains volatile oils (limonene, etc.), hesperidin, and flavonoids that help regulate qi, relieve bloating, promote digestive juice secretion, and resolve phlegm. Synergistic Effect: Hawthorn promotes digestion and lowers lipids; lotus leaf transforms dampness and lowers turbidity; tangerine peel regulates qi and resolves phlegm. The warmth of tangerine peel balances the coolness of lotus leaf, making the formula gentle yet effective. This tea is very low in calories—a digestant and dampness-transforming medicinal tea.
Suitable for：Those with food stagnation, abdominal distension, and indigestion after greasy meals Those with phlegm-dampness constitution, body heaviness, and thick greasy tongue coating Those with hyperlipidemia or fatty liver (adjunctive support) Those who are overweight or managing weight Those with summer dampness, heaviness, and poor appetite General population after greasy meals or for daily wellness
Not suitable for：Those with Spleen-Stomach Cold Deficiency – lotus leaf is slightly cool in nature; may worsen abdominal pain and diarrhea Those with hyperacidity or gastric ulcers – hawthorn promotes gastric acid secretion and may worsen acid reflux and stomach pain Pregnant women – hawthorn has blood-activating effects; avoid to prevent miscarriage or premature labor Women during menstruation – lotus leaf is slightly cool and may cause menstrual discomfort Breastfeeding women – consult a doctor before consuming Those with hypotension – lotus leaf has auxiliary blood pressure-lowering effects; avoid long-term excessive consumption Those with abdominal pain, diarrhea, or loose stools – lotus leaf promotes dampness elimination and may worsen symptoms Those allergic to hawthorn, lotus leaf, or tangerine peel Avoid consuming with crab – tannic acid in hawthorn may form indigestible precipitates with crab Diabetes patients – avoid adding sugar or use a sugar substitute General population – not suitable for long-term excessive consumption; lotus leaf is slightly cool and may damage Spleen yang
