Hey there, summer lovers! ☀️ While sunshine and longer days are awesome, summer heat can sometimes be a real drag, right? Feeling sluggish, losing your appetite, or just plain uncomfortable? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been dealing with summer discomfort for centuries, and guess what? They have some seriously refreshing solutions – Chinese medicine cooling teas!
Forget sugary sodas and artificially flavored drinks. Let’s dive into the world of natural cooling with these amazing Chinese herbal teas you can easily whip up at home. Ready to discover your new summer hydration heroes? Let’s get brewing!
Why Summer Heat Messes with Your Body (and How Cooling Teas Can Help!)
In TCM, summer is associated with heat and humidity. This combo can throw your body out of whack, especially your 脾胃 (spleen and stomach system)1. Think of your 脾胃 as the engine of your digestion and energy. When it’s not happy, you might notice2:
- Poor Appetite & Digestion: Feeling blah about food? Summer dampness can make your 脾胃 sluggish, leading to less desire to eat and digestive issues.
- Irritability & Sleeplessness: Ever feel restless and wired when it’s super hot? TCM says summer heat can stir up “heart fire,” leading to 烦躁 (irritability), insomnia, and even mouth ulcers.
- Dizziness & Red Face: If you’re prone to high blood pressure or liver fire issues, summer heat can make things worse, causing headaches, dizziness, and a flushed face.
- Dry Mouth & Thirst (That Water Can’t Quench): Sweating buckets? Summer heat can deplete your body fluids, leaving you parched even after chugging water.
- Bad Breath & Thick Tongue Coating: That sticky, yucky feeling in your mouth? Summer humidity can lead to damp-heat accumulation, showing up as bad breath and a thick tongue coating.
Sounds familiar? Don’t sweat it! (Pun intended 😉). These cooling teas are designed to gently nudge your body back into balance and help you breeze through the summer months.
✅ In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the 脾胃(spleen and stomach) form the core of the digestive system, transforming food into nutrients, Qi, and blood. The spleen governs fluid metabolism, while the stomach processes food. Weakness in these organs may cause fatigue or poor digestion.
✅ In TCM, “烦躁” (fán zào) refers to restlessness caused by internal heat, excessive heart fire, or liver qi stagnation. Linked to the heart and liver, symptoms include agitation, irritability, and insomnia, often treated by clearing heat or soothing liver qi.
6 Best Chinese Medicine Cooling Teas
Let’s get to the good stuff – the teas themselves! These recipes are super simple and use just a few ingredients you might even be able to find at your local Asian market or health food store.
1. Ume Plum & Tangerine Peel Tea: Revive Your Appetite & Digestion
Summer slump hitting your taste buds? This tea is your digestive BFF. Ume plum (乌梅) is known for boosting appetite and digestion, and it’s been used in traditional 酸梅汤 (sour plum drink) for centuries to beat summer thirst. Tangerine peel (陈皮) is a superstar for regulating qi (vital energy) in your 脾胃, drying dampness, and easing digestion3.
What you need:
- 6 grams Ume plum (乌梅)
- 6 grams Tangerine peel (陈皮)
How to make it:
- Rinse the ume plum and tangerine peel.
- Place them in a mug or teapot.
- Pour boiling water over them.
- Cover and steep for about 10 minutes.
- Let it cool down a bit and enjoy! Drink one serving per day.
Why it works: This tea helps to invigorate your 脾胃, reduce dampness, and get your digestive juices flowing again. Perfect if you’re feeling bloated, have a poor appetite, or just feel “heavy” after eating.
2. Bamboo Leaf & Lotus Seed Heart Tea: Calm Your Mind & Sleep Soundly
Feeling frazzled and can’t sleep in the heat? This tea is like a lullaby in a cup. Lotus seed heart (莲子心), despite its bitter taste, is a potent herb for clearing “heart fire” and calming the mind. Bamboo leaf (淡竹叶) is another cooling herb that helps clear heat and irritability, and it’s traditionally used to promote urination and clear heat from the heart and bladder4.
What you need:
- 3 grams Lotus seed heart (莲子心) – Warning: It’s bitter!
- 6 grams Bamboo leaf (淡竹叶)
How to make it:
- Combine lotus seed heart and bamboo leaf in a mug or teapot.
- Pour boiling water over the herbs.
- Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Let it cool and drink. One serving a day is recommended.
Why it works: This tea is your go-to for cooling down excess “heart fire,” easing irritability, and promoting restful sleep. If you’re feeling restless or experiencing mouth ulcers due to heat, this tea can offer some soothing relief5.
3. Chrysanthemum & Pagoda Tree Flower Tea: Soothe Headaches & Red Eyes
Head pounding and eyes feeling strained in the summer heat? This floral duo is here to help. Chrysanthemum (菊花) is a classic herb for “pacifying liver wind and clearing heat,” traditionally used for headaches, dizziness, and red, tired eyes. Pagoda tree flower (槐花) is also cooling and helps to clear liver fire and reduce redness and swelling6.
What you need:
- 6 grams Chrysanthemum (菊花)
- 6 grams Pagoda tree flower (槐花)
How to make it:
- Place chrysanthemum and pagoda tree flower in your mug.
- Pour boiling water over them.
- Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Cool and drink once a day.
Why it works: This tea is great for relieving symptoms related to liver fire rising in the summer, such as headaches, dizziness, and red, irritated eyes. If you spend a lot of time in the sun or are prone to these issues, this tea can be a refreshing and helpful remedy.
4. Ophiopogon & White Imperata Rhizome Tea: Quench Deep Thirst & Hydrate
Feeling like you can’t get enough water? This tea is your hydration powerhouse. Ophiopogon (麦冬) is a moistening herb that nourishes yin (the cooling, nourishing aspect of your body) and generates fluids, perfect for dry conditions. White imperata rhizome (白茅根) is known for clearing heat and promoting fluid production, helping to alleviate thirst and promote urination to clear heat7.
What you need:
- 6 grams Ophiopogon (麦冬)
- 10 grams White imperata rhizome (白茅根)
How to make it:
- Combine ophiopogon and white imperata rhizome in a mug.
- Pour boiling water over them.
- Cover and steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Cool and enjoy. Drink one serving per day.
Why it works: This tea is excellent for relieving persistent thirst, especially when you feel like water just isn’t cutting it. It helps to replenish body fluids and clear heat, addressing the root cause of summer dryness.
5. Lotus Leaf & Eupatorium Tea: Freshen Breath & Clear Damp-Heat
Dealing with bad breath and a thick tongue coating in the humid summer? This tea is your breath freshener and dampness fighter. Lotus leaf (荷叶) is a cooling herb that helps clear summer heat, promote fluid production, and even freshen breath! Eupatorium (佩兰) is an aromatic herb that helps to transform dampness, awaken the 脾胃, and get rid of that greasy feeling in your mouth8.
What you need:
- 6 grams Lotus leaf (荷叶)
- 6 grams Eupatorium (佩兰)
How to make it:
- Briefly rinse lotus leaf and eupatorium.
- Place them in a mug.
- Pour boiling water over them.
- Cover and steep for 10 minutes.
- Let the tea cool slightly and drink. One serving a day is recommended.
Why it works: This tea tackles damp-heat accumulation, which often manifests as bad breath and a thick tongue coating in the summer. It helps to clear dampness, refresh your breath, and get your digestion back on track9.
6. Bonus Tea: Lotus Leaf Tea for Weight Management
Want a little extra help with weight management this summer? Lotus leaf tea (荷叶茶) on its own is often used to promote weight loss and reduce dampness. It’s believed to help reduce fat absorption and promote fluid metabolism10.
What you need:
- 9 grams Dried lotus leaf (干荷叶), crushed OR
- 30 grams Fresh lotus leaf (鲜荷叶), chopped
How to make it:
- For dried lotus leaf: Crush it and steep in hot water like regular tea.
- For fresh lotus leaf: Chop it up and decoct (simmer) in water for a bit, then drink as tea.
How to use it: Drink frequently throughout the day for 2-3 months for potential weight management benefits.
Also read:
FAQs
Q1: Are cooling teas safe for everyone?
Generally, these teas are quite gentle, but like anything, moderation is key. People with weak 脾胃 (often characterized by bloating, loose stools, cold limbs) or yang deficiency (feeling cold easily) should be cautious as cooling herbs can further weaken their digestive fire. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and young children should also consult with a healthcare professional before regularly consuming these teas11.
Q2: Can I drink cooling teas every day?
While these teas are natural, it’s generally advised to drink them for 3-5 days per week, rather than daily long-term. Overdoing cooling herbs can potentially lead to digestive issues in some individuals. Listen to your body!
Q3: Is it okay to drink cooling tea before bed?
It’s generally not recommended to drink cooling teas right before bed. Many of these teas have a mild diuretic effect, meaning they can increase urination. Drinking them close to bedtime might lead to more trips to the bathroom at night, disrupting your sleep.
Q4: What about those pre-made “cooling tea” drinks I see in stores? Are they the same?
Many commercial “cooling tea” drinks are loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients. They might offer a temporary cooling sensation, but they don’t provide the same health benefits as these natural herbal teas and can actually be detrimental to your health in the long run. Always opt for homemade or teas made with natural herbs and no added sugar.
Q5: I have a chronic condition/take medications. Can I still drink these teas?
If you have any pre-existing health conditions or are taking medications, it’s always best to check with your doctor or a qualified TCM practitioner before incorporating new herbal teas into your routine. They can advise you on potential interactions and ensure these teas are suitable for your individual needs.
The Bottom Line
Chinese medicine cooling teas are a fantastic and natural way to beat the summer heat and address common summer discomforts. From boosting digestion to calming your mind and quenching thirst, these simple herbal infusions offer a gentle yet effective approach to summer wellness. So, ditch the sugary drinks and embrace the wisdom of TCM – your body will thank you for it!
Important Note: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized health guidance.
Trusted source
- https://wjw.sz.gov.cn/gzcy/ywzs/jbyf/content/post_11389336.html(Source: Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission) ↩︎
- https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E8%84%BE%E8%83%83/4969891 ↩︎
- https://www.jiangmen.gov.cn/bmpd/jmsrlzyhshbzj/zwgk/gzdt/content/post_2107707.html ↩︎
- https://patents.google.com/patent/CN1695475A/en ↩︎
- https://www.lifetimes.cn/article/44ZxqWrSycH ↩︎
- https://patents.google.com/patent/CN1511462A/en ↩︎
- https://wsjkw.sh.gov.cn/spwsyyy/20241030/ee8d20202ecc4c399ef7a7ad52a766ff.html(Reliable source: Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University) ↩︎
- https://patents.google.com/patent/CN1271938C/en ↩︎
- http://henan.people.com.cn/n2/2020/0817/c351638-34231827.html ↩︎
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/types-of-tea-that-may-help-with-weight-loss/ ↩︎
- https://m.baidu.com/bh/m/detail/qr_6999862160174658993(Lv Tao, Deputy Chief Physician, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital) ↩︎
