Making dried tangerine peel is not as simple as it looks.

Many citizens like to dry tangerine peels to make Chenpi for brewing tea, and even use them as condiments to enhance the medicinal effects of homemade medicinal diets. But is dried tangerine peel the same as Chenpi? Is homemade "Chenpi" reliable? The process of making Chenpi is not that simple.

A nutritionist states that self-dried tangerine peels cannot be used for medicinal purposes. In terms of efficacy, while they do have certain effects on regulating qi and strengthening the stomach, their medicinal properties are far from those of true Chenpi.

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To make Chenpi, the tangerine peels must be air-dried in the sun, then stored in a sealed container for 60-150 days, humidified with moist air at 80% humidity to soften the peels. Once softened, the peels are tied, air-dried again, then sun-dried a final time before being sealed for storage.

Unlike other traditional Chinese medicines, Chenpi has the special characteristic that the older it gets, the better. High-quality Chenpi has strict requirements for the time of peeling, meaning its medicinal properties improve with longer storage; it is generally only usable after being stored for a year. After a year, the essential oil content in Chenpi is greatly reduced, while the content of flavonoids relatively increases, at which point its medicinal value is fully realized. Fresh tangerine peels, on the other hand, contain a high amount of essential oils and do not possess the medicinal properties of Chenpi. Some expensive Chenpi sold in pharmacies may even have been stored for over a hundred years.

A nutritionist explains that fresh tangerine peels are not the same as Chenpi. Moreover, not all fresh citrus peels can be made into Chenpi; only peels from mature citrus fruits can be used.

In addition, some people enjoy brewing tea with fresh tangerine peels. A nutritionist cautions that fresh tangerine peels contain a high level of essential oils. Brewing them into tea not only fails to provide medicinal benefits but can also irritate the stomach. Furthermore, the surface of the peels may be coated with pesticides or preservatives, which are difficult to remove completely with a simple water wash. Therefore, it is best not to use fresh tangerine peels for tea or wine.