Cozy Up: 3 Chinese Herbal Tea Recipes to Keep You Warm

As the winter days get shorter, darker and cooler, our bodies naturally feel slower and stiffer. Personally, once temperatures dip to under 10 degrees Celsius, I feel chills creep out from my bones every time I go outdoors. If you can relate, these warming teas might be helpful for you.

Chinese herbal teas come with thousands of years of history, and are rooted in the idea of balancing and nurturing the body for holistic wellness. Although this concept could feel mysterious, the practice itself is more approachable than it seems. Here are a few tried-and-true (by me) family recipes for Chinese herbal teas that warm the body from the inside out. You can pick up these ingredients at any Chinese herbal store. Alternatively, most of these ingredients can be found at your local T&T Supermarket.

1. Tea for Overall Warmth

Ingredients:

• Dried rose – 10g
• Wolfberries – 10g
• Red dates (pitted) – 3 pieces
• Dried longan – 10g
• Water – 600ml

Directions:

1. Rinse the dried longan and wolfberries with water.
2. Add all ingredients to a pot with 600ml of water.
3. Keep the pot on the heat until the water boils. After the water boils, turn off the heat and let it sit for five to 10 minutes.
4. Strain the tea into a cup and serve.

2. Tea for Improved Blood Circulation

Ingredients:

• Red dates (pitted) – 3 pieces
• Chinese wild yam – 10g
• Black bean – 10g
• Black rice -10g
• Walnut – 3 pieces (optional)
• Water – 600ml

Directions:

1. Rinse the Chinese wild yam with water.
2. Add all ingredients to a pot with 600ml of water. Add walnuts (optional) for added soothing properties.
3. Keep the pot on the heat until the water boils. After the water boils, turn off the heat and let it sit for five to 10 minutes.
4. Strain the tea into a cup and serve.

3. Tea for Menstruating People

Ingredients:

• Red dates (pitted) – 3 pieces
• Wolfberries – 10g
• Dried longan – 10g
• Brown sugar – 1 tablespoon
• Ginger – 5g (optional)
• Water – 600ml

Directions:

1. Rinse the dried longan and wolfberries with water.
2. (Optional) Rinse the ginger with water, then cut it into thin slices. Add the sliced ginger to the pot before boiling for added warming properties.
3. Add all ingredients to a pot with 600ml of water.
4. Keep the pot on the heat until the water boils. After the water boils, turn off the heat and let it sit for five to 10 minutes.
5. Strain the tea into a cup and serve.

It’s important to note that all these teas are meant to be enjoyed hot or warm to maximize their benefits. (They’re not meant to be made into trendy iced teas.) As with many traditional Chinese recipes, the ingredients you use don’t have to follow an exact measurement. Don’t stress if you add a few grams too many of any ingredient. Just sit back, sip and enjoy.