Ginseng Tea
Check Out: Ginseng Chrysanthemum Tea Recipe
This is a very simple ginseng tea (洋参茶) recipe with the most minimum ingredients – ginseng, water and salt (optional). Ginseng with its cooling property is perfect for combating our hot weather, keeping the body balanced. It is also a drink which is touted to improve mental alertness (提神), thus mums love to brew this for their children during exams period (for the same reason, you should avoid consuming this this drink too close to bedtime).
In this recipe, the inexpensive American ginseng “fibers” or “beards” are used. They are small, thin and wispy looking (see photo above). You can easily get a packet for less than S$10 here.
Ginseng Tea Recipe
The addition of salt is optional. I find that a small pinch of salt draws out the favour of the ginseng.
Ingredients:
- 30g American Ginseng “fibers” or “beards” (洋参须)
- 1.5 litres of water
- a pinch of salt
Directions:
- Bring water to a boil in a pot. Add ginseng and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Season with salt. Sieve the tea using a strainer and serve the drink at room temperature or chilled.
Noob Cook Tip
If you do not want to use a strainer, you can put the ginseng in disposable soup pouches and discard the entire pouch after simmering.