Spleen Tea
Neena BrostowskiA Warming TCM-Inspired Tea for Digestion and Energy 🫘🍎🫖
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the spleen isn’t just looked at as an organ. It’s closely connected to digestion, energy, and how well your body transforms food into fuel.
When the spleen is considered “weak” in TCM, it can show up as things like bloating after meals, loose stools, fatigue after eating, brain fog, water retention, or sugar cravings.
This Spleen Tea is warming, gently sweet, and digestion-friendly. It’s made with red dates, hawthorn berries, goji berries, apple, and water for a simple tea that feels grounding from the inside out.
My step-mom recently introduced me to this recipe, and it’s quickly become my go-to.
🛑 Before You Start
This recipe is inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, but it is not meant to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice.
If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication, or working with a health condition, check with a qualified practitioner before adding new herbs or medicinal foods into your routine.
Spleen-supporting teas are usually warm, gently sweet, and easy on digestion. This one is subtle, comforting, and perfect to sip warm.
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- 6 red dates, also called jujubes, pitted and cut
- 4 to 6 hawthorn berries
- 6 to 8 goji berries, added at the very end
- 1 medium apple, chopped
- 6 cups water
Optional:
- 2 to 3 slices fresh ginger
- Tiny pinch of cinnamon
- A few slices of astragalus root
How To Make It
-
Prep your ingredients
Pit and cut the red dates, chop the apple, and measure out the hawthorn berries. Set the goji berries aside for the end. -
Add to a pot
Add the red dates, hawthorn berries, chopped apple, and water to a pot. -
Bring to a boil
Bring everything to a boil over medium-high heat. -
Simmer
Once boiling, lower the heat to medium-low and let simmer for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The longer it simmers, the deeper and sweeter the flavour becomes. -
Add the goji berries
Add the goji berries at the very end so they stay soft and don’t overcook. -
Strain and sip
Strain the tea, pour into a mug, and sip warm.
Note:
This tea is naturally subtle and gently sweet from the red dates, goji berries, and apple.
If you prefer a stronger flavour, simmer closer to 1 hour. If you want something lighter, 30 minutes is perfect.
What Each Ingredient Does in TCM
-
Red dates, also called jujubes
Red dates are used in TCM to tonify Spleen Qi and gently build blood. They are naturally sweet, grounding, and comforting. -
Hawthorn berries
Hawthorn berries are often used to help move food stagnation. They’re a beautiful addition if you tend to feel heavy or bloated after eating. -
Goji berries
Goji berries are traditionally used to support blood and yin. They also add a soft natural sweetness to the tea. -
Apple
Apple is moistening, mildly sweet, and easy on digestion. It rounds out the tea and makes it feel extra cozy.
Make It Your Own
- Add 2 to 3 slices of fresh ginger if you run cold or bloat easily.
- Add a tiny pinch of cinnamon for extra warmth.
- Add a few slices of astragalus root if you feel very tired and want deeper Qi support.
- Simmer longer for a richer, sweeter flavour.
- Sip warm after meals or as a cozy afternoon tea.
Why You’ll Love It
- It’s gently sweet without added sugar.
- It’s warming and grounding.
- It’s inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine.
- It’s easy to make with simple ingredients.
- It’s a cozy tea to sip when digestion feels sluggish.
- It leaves you feeling good from the inside out.
Final Thoughts
This Spleen Tea has quickly become one of those little rituals I look forward to.
It’s subtly sweet, grounding, and so comforting to sip warm. The combination of red dates, hawthorn berries, goji berries, and apple makes it feel nourishing without being complicated.
You can find the ingredients at E-Joy Food Mart in Halifax or online.
With love from my kitchen to yours,
—Neena