As the autumn air becomes dry and crisp, many people experience an itchy throat, especially upon waking when it feels dry and sore. However, they dismiss it as not being a serious illness. Coupled with work stress, they procrastinate, and the situation can become severe. Even medication may not provide immediate relief. As someone who has experienced this firsthand, I'm here today to recommend a wonderful ingredient you can make at home—*Siraitia grosvenorii* (monk fruit). It's perfectly suited for this season, time, and situation!
Before we begin, let's learn about monk fruit and its benefits:
Monk Fruit: A member of the gourd family, also known as *la han guo* or "longevity fruit." It is cultivated in regions like Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Guangdong in China, with its fruit ripening from August to October. It is both a food and a medicinal herb. It is cool in nature and sweet in flavor, known for clearing the lungs, relieving coughs, reducing heat, and soothing the throat.
Without further ado, let's get into the process of making "Fresh Monk Fruit Tea":
Steps:
1. Utensils:
A clay pot (a stainless steel or tempered glass pot is also acceptable; do not use an iron pot).
2. Ingredients:
2000 ml of water, one monk fruit, a small handful of honeysuckle (about 3g), 10 chrysanthemum flowers, 3g of hawthorn slices, 10g of rock sugar (or one spoonful of honey).
3. Instructions:
First, wash the monk fruit and break it into a few pieces. Set aside. Briefly rinse the honeysuckle and chrysanthemum flowers with warm water to remove any dust, then set aside. Place all the ingredients into the pot, bring to a boil over high heat for 5 minutes, then reduce to a low simmer for 15 minutes before turning off the heat. (Honey can be added after the tea is brewed to minimize nutrient loss).
4. How to Serve:
Strain out the solids and pour the brewed liquid into a cup. Be careful as it will be hot. Serve 200g at a time, or drink it as a tea throughout the day. If you make a large batch, it can be stored in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. It's cool and refreshing, convenient to drink whenever you like.
5. Benefits:
Clears heat and moistens the lungs, relieves coughs, soothes the throat, and promotes bowel movements.
6. Suitable For:
① Those who are often dehydrated, smoke, drink alcohol, or suffer from constipation.
② Professionals who rely on their voices for work, such as actors, teachers, broadcasters, and salespeople.
③ People who often work overtime, frequently use air conditioning, or have poor dietary habits.
④ Individuals who work indoors and have limited exposure to fresh air.
⑤ Those who are frequently active outdoors, have high levels of physical activity, and easily lose body fluids.
⑥ Anyone looking to detoxify, improve skin complexion, or slow down the aging process.
7. Friendly Reminders:
① Modern medical research has confirmed that monk fruit contains a sweetener that is 300 times sweeter than sucrose, but it produces no calories. Therefore, it is an ideal alternative beverage for people with diabetes or obesity who should avoid sugar.
② This remedy is not suitable for individuals with a weak or cold spleen and stomach.
The above is the homemade monk fruit tea I recommend, offered simply as a starting point. In fact, monk fruit has many other uses. It can be paired with various ingredients. For example, brewing it with hawthorn and barley creates a tea that can help lower lipids, aid in weight loss, and reduce blood pressure. For those interested, I encourage you to try making it for your family at home. This homemade fresh monk fruit tea will help you easily relieve the autumn dryness.