Tea Recipe: Spring Nettle and Fragrant Flower Tea

This tea is great for anyone who suffers springtime allergies with itchy eyes. It soothes, clears out excess heat and gets the qi moving. 

Nettles are well known for their capacity to enrich liver yin, nourish the blood, regulate metabolism, promote detoxification and fight allergies. They are also beneficial during pregnancy and afterward to boost milk production. Add steamed fresh nettle leaves to soups or quickly braise or saute them as a side dish. 

Fragrant dried red rose buds are slightly warming and gently pungent, so they move the liver qi- which is just what you want in the springtime. They open the body and mind up, stimulating the senses and stirring the heart.

Ingredients:

4 tsp dried nettles

4 tsp food-grade dried rosebuds

2 tsp dried chrysanthemum flowers (ju hua)

1. In a small saucepan, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat

2. Stir in nettles, rose buds and chrysanthemum flowers. Let stand for 5 minutes.

3. Strain into teacups. Serve immediately.