I don't know if it's brainwashing at a tender age, but somehow my Mum telling me, "Drink this, it will give you good lungs, will make you brighter, or give you nicer skin," has stuck with me. Although I was born and raised in a Western culture, I too, have that traditional Chinese thinking embedded in me. That dried herbs, fruits, insects, animal horns, sea creatures and etc. boiled together will bring me utopia. As long as the Chinese have existed, these herbal concoctions have been used for their healing and sustaining medicinal powers; that drinking a certain Chinese "tong" (soup) or "cha" (tea, although there are no actual tea leaves present), will bring out the best or better in you. 

I too, now boil these soups and herbal teas because of their reputed powers for myself and my loved ones, and coincidentally, I feel taken care of afterwards, so I guess it's a simple pleasure. To this day, I still don't know if it's for real, but like every other yellow-skinned human being, we drink them for the mythical powers of good health, long-lasting beauty, and longevity - and to some extent, we actually believe it.

That's Hot

If you have ever wandered the streets of Hong Kong you will have come across shop fronts displaying 5-6 varieties of black soup-like substances in traditional Chinese rice bowls, and/or a large copper cauldron that sometimes resemble a tortoise's shell? Yup, those are the herbal tea shops I'm taking about. Those elixirs are boiled with a variety of herbs to "cool" you, nourish you, and detox you. People passing by and feeling the need for a quick fix will stop and choose the most appropriate one. Voila, you're fixed! The taste on the other hand is not as straight forward, I'm not going to lie. Potent, bitter (extremely pungent and sharp to be exact), and the worst ones are thick and grainy. 

During hot days, and especially these humid months, the body internally builds "heat" and dampness causing heaviness and fire in the body and liver. Heavy meal(s) of spicy and deep-fried foods, and a lack of sleep are also heating. Symptoms like acne, muscle ache, loss of sleep, swollen gums, canker sores, sore throat, bad breath, fever, a fiery temper etc., are indications of a "hot body", and not the sexy type! 

Individuals with these symptoms need a dose or two of cooling tea or homemade soups to alleviate the "hotness". What's not so hot are the trips to the loo, as heat and dampness are expelled through urination.

But note, cooling teas are not suitable for everyone. People that are pregnant, physically weak or weary, have low blood pressure, and females before, during and right after their menstrual period are not suitable for "cooling", it will weaken them and deplete them further. And, individuals that are "cool-natured" should seek more neutralising substances which strengthen and warm them internally. 

Different seasons and symptoms require different soups and teas. I have put together the following basic guide.

The Light Stuff

"Lerng Cha"涼茶 (Cooling Teas)

For those who want to start off on a light note, begin with the cooling sugared varieties, situated at the store front in beverage dispensers. Frequently they're only available cold and sweetened; an easy drink commonly consumed as a refreshing sugary beverage to quench thirst. For convenience and high market demand, these sugary herbal drinks can be found bottled and available at most convenience stores in most part of E. Asia.

Chrysanthemum Tea 菊花茶 (pronounced: "Gook Fa Cha")

Seeped from dried chrysanthemum flowers. A pale yellow, light, fragrant and thirst quenching drink, sweetened with sugar (more traditionally, rock sugar is used to nourish internal organs). Helps to cool the body, relieve sore throats, recover from influenza, and expels symptoms of a "heated" body.

Five Flower Tea 五花茶 (pronounced: "Ng Fa Cha") 

Five types of dried flowers: Lonicera Japonica (Japanese Honeysuckle), Plumeria Rubra, Chrysanthemum, Bombax Ceibal, Cleistocalyx Operculatus. Light brown, slightly bitter, sweetened. Relieves dampness, expels heat, infection, and symptoms of a "heated" body.

Xia Ku Cao 夏菇草 (pronounced "Ha Goo Cho")

Prunella Vulgaris (aka Self Heal) herb. Dark brown, slightly bitter, usually cold and sweetened. Helps to detoxify, expels heat and inflammation, relieves fire build up in the liver, promotes good eyesight, removes heated symptoms.

Fuo Ma Ren 火麻仁 (pronounced "Fuo Ma Yun") 

A neutral drink of tempered seeds of the Cannabis Sativa plant. Facilitates the digestive system and hair growth, relieves constipation. Since there is a small amount of poison in the seeds, the drink cannot be consumed in large amounts, and no, you won't get high.

The Heavy Stuff

24/28 Herb Blend (pronounced: "Ya Say Mei" (24)/ "Ya Bat Mei"(28))

The real deal, the powerhouse. A blend of 24 or 28 herbs. Dark brown, and bitter. Rids heat and dampness symptoms, detoxes the "poisons" in the body.

Chicken Bones Grass Tea 雞骨草 (pronounced: "Gai Gwut Cho")

There are no chicken bones in this blend, it's the name of the grass used. Light brown, moderate bitterness. Relieves dampness, heat, painful joints and arthritis, detoxes the "poisons" in the body, helps those with difficulty urinating.

Turtle Shell Jelly (pronounced: "Gwai Ling Go")

A complicated and lengthy procedure using tortoise shells and Chinese herbs. Kept warm in the copper cauldrons. Black jelly, bitter, can be eaten hot or cold, sugar syrup to taste. Detoxes, remedies acne and bad breath, and other "heat and damp" symptoms.

Influenza Tea (pronounced: "Gum Mo Cha")

Recipe varies. For flu symptoms.

Nowadays Chinese natural remedies have become more common and adaptive to other cultures. The benefits of these natural remedies go far beyond my knowledge so for further information seek a Chinese herb specialist before you begin your journey to "beautiful skin". I can honestly say, I can't live without my soups and teas. As you may know already, we Chinese eat everything for a purpose. So is it fact or fiction? You be the judge.

Easy Recipes for Summer

Sugar Cane and Water-chestnut Cha

A pack of already cut sugar cane stalks (about 3-5 stalks)

2 Chinese carrots (fatter than the Western variety), peeled and coarsely chopped

A handful of fresh water chestnuts, washed and peeled

All ingredients available at your local grocer

Wash the sugar cane, if not done slice in half from one end to the other. Place all prepared ingredients in a large soup pot. Depending on the amount of your ingredients, fill the pot with water ratio 1:2. Bring to boil, lower temperature to medium. Simmer until half the liquid have dissolved, at least 30 minutes.

To taste, can add rock sugar. Can be drank hot or cold. 

Sweet Pears Cha

2 Chinese yellow pears, peel, sliced into quarters, core

1 tbsp combined of North and South Chinese Apricot Seeds 南北杏, washed (available at Chinese Herbal Shops)

2 Dried Chinese Figs 無花果 (available at Chinese Herbal Shops)

Rock Sugar to taste (optional)

Combine all prepared ingredients in a pot, add ratio 1:2 amount of water. Boil on medium heat for 20-25 minutes. Add rock sugar to taste (optional). Drink hot or cold.