Sore throats are a common ailment that can affect people of all ages, and they often occur due to various reasons, such as colds, exposure to cold weather, excessive heat in the body, or even dehydration. While drinking water can provide some relief, turning to Chinese herbal teas can be a soothing and effective remedy to alleviate a sore throat.
Lo Han Guo Tea (罗汉果茶)
To prepare Lo Han Guo tea, crush a Lo Han Guo fruit. If available, you can wrap the crushed fruit in gauze to create a small bundle. Place the bundle in a cup and pour hot water over it. Allow it to steep for a while, then you can consume the tea. Lo Han Guo has a sweet taste and can help eliminate free radicals in your body.
Fat Sea and Honey Tea (胖大海蜂蜜茶)
For this tea, crush some Fat Sea (Pang Da Hai) and place it in a cup. Pour boiling water over the crushed Fat Sea and let it sit for about 20 seconds before drinking. This tea has soothing properties that can help with a sore throat, reduce inflammation, aid in digestion, and protect your vocal cords. Fat Sea is well-known for its throat-soothing abilities, and you can also find products like “Five-Flavor Throat Soothing Lung Tea” on popular e-commerce platforms, which are great for relieving a sore throat.
Ginseng and Ophiopogon Tea (参须麦冬茶)
Prepare this tea by combining Ophiopogon (Mai Dong) and Ginseng (Ren Shen) in a cup, then pour hot water over them. Allow the tea to steep until it reaches a suitable drinking temperature. This tea can help moisten your throat, boost your energy, and enhance your immune system.
Licorice Root Tea (甘草茶)
To make licorice root tea, you can use licorice slices or licorice sticks. Place them in a cup and pour hot water over them. Once the water reaches a suitable temperature, use the licorice tea to gargle. Licorice has a warming and anti-inflammatory effect on the throat.
Chrysanthemum and Goji Berry Tea (菊花枸杞茶)
Combine 15 goji berries and 8 chrysanthemum flowers in a cup, then pour hot water over them. Let the tea steep for about 5 minutes before drinking. This tea has the benefits of cooling and detoxifying your body and is known for protecting the eyes. It’s especially suitable for students or individuals who work long hours on computers, as it can relieve eye fatigue, dryness, and itchiness.
Chrysanthemum Tea (菊花茶)
Take 8 chrysanthemum flowers and place them in a cup. Pour hot water over the chrysanthemums, cover the cup, and let it steep for 3 to 5 minutes. In the summer, if you prefer cold beverages, you can fill the cup with hot water halfway, let it cool, and then add ice cubes. You can also add honey to taste. Chrysanthemum tea is known for its liver-clearing and vision-improving properties.
Wu Mei Beverage (乌梅饮)
To make Wu Mei tea, crush Wu Mei (black plum) and steep it in hot water for about 15 minutes. Remove the solid residues and then slowly sip the tea. Drinking Wu Mei tea once a day can help moisten your throat and alleviate chronic throat problems, hoarseness, and inflammation.
