This brew is a time-honoured recipe which has a cooling energy, helps to reduce phlegm, and soothe a dry/sore throat in this hot dry weather. Not only is licorice believed to be one of nature's best medicines, licorice tea tastes delicious as it has a bittersweet flavour that does not require any further sweeteners. Though highly beneficial, health care practitioners do not recommend more than 3 cups of licorice tea a day. While licorice tea is available (in tea bags) in many health food stores, you can easily buy the root at Chinese herbal shops to get the full benefit by simply boiling it with ginger and red dates in a pot of water.
Ingredients:
- 35g (about 1/2 cup) Licorice Root Slivers
- 35g (1 finger length) Ginger
- 5 Dried Chinese Red Dates (jujube) - pitted
- 750ml (3 cups) Water
Method:
1. Crush the ginger with a cleaver or pestle and mortar.
2. Place all ingredients in a small pot, bring to boil and reduce heat to simmer for 20 minutes.
3. Drain and serve warm with red dates.
Note: You can omit the Chinese red dates if you can't find them.
