Awakening of Insects · Tea break · Damp-Heat
Gotu kola and honey drink
A Hong Kong herbal-tea-shop classic: fresh gotu kola blended into a grassy, cooling green drink with a little honey.
- 10 min
- Serves 2
- Blend
- Easy
CoolingClears heat and drains dampDetoxifies
Why it suits you: Damp-heat types tend to get spots, a bitter taste in the mouth and dark urine as Awakening of Insects warms up. Bitter, cold gotu kola clears heat, drains damp and detoxifies, and honey keeps the bowels moving.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 0 min- 1Pick off any yellow leaves, soak the gotu kola in water for 10 minutes and rinse well.
- 2Blend with the cooled boiled water for 1 minute, then strain through a nut-milk bag or fine sieve.
- 3Stir in the honey and drink straight away.
Cautions
- It is cold in nature: avoid it with a cold stomach, during menstruation or pregnancy, and keep to once or twice a week.
Chef's tips
- Wet-market greengrocers and herbal tea shops sell fresh gotu kola; choose small, bright green leaves.
The TCM view
Gotu kola is bitter, pungent and cold, clearing heat, draining damp and reducing swelling. Honey is sweet and neutral, moistening and harmonising. Together they clear damp-heat.
