Kitchen Recipe Collection
Hawthorn Berry Tea (Shan Zha Cha)
A bright red, tart, and fruity herbal infusion. Made from dried Chinese hawthorn berries, it is famous for aiding digestion, especially after eating heavy, fatty meals.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 15 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- easy
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 1/2 cup dried hawthorn berries (Shan Zha slices)
- 4 cups water
- 2-3 tbsp rock sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
- Optional: 1 tbsp dried goji berries or 2 slices dried licorice root
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Strainer
Instructions
- 1
Rinse
Rinse the dried hawthorn berry slices under cold water to remove any dust.
- 2
Boil
Place the water, hawthorn slices, and licorice root (if using) in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
- 3
Simmer
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 15 minutes. The water will turn a beautiful ruby red color.
- 4
Add Goji
If using goji berries, add them in the last 3 minutes of simmering.
- 5
Sweeten
Turn off the heat. Stir in the rock sugar until dissolved. Hawthorn is naturally very sour (like cranberries), so it requires sweetener.
- 6
Serve
Strain into mugs and serve hot. Alternatively, chill it in the fridge and serve over ice as a refreshing summer drink.
Cooking Tips
- Do not brew this in an unlined cast iron or aluminum pot, as the high acidity of the berries will react with the metal. Use stainless steel, glass, or ceramic.
- In Chinese medicine, Shan Zha is considered a powerful digestive aid, specifically targeted at helping the stomach process meats and fats.
Variations
- Hawthorn Apple Tea: Simmer half an apple (sliced) along with the hawthorn for a naturally sweeter, fruitier tea.
Nutrition Estimate
40 calories · 0g protein · 10g carbs · 0g fat · 1g fiber per serving
