Suan Mei Tang (Sour Plum Juice, 酸梅汤) is a traditional Chinese summer beverage that has existed for over 1,000 years. It is drank chilled as a remedy to relieve summer heat, and cool off the body. Suan Mei Tang is also has effects to improve digestion, open appetite, cure minor diarrhea (and dysentery), and reduce liver fire.
Ingredients
– Dried Plum (Ume, Mei, Prunus mume – a Chinese plum) 100g
– Dried Hawthorn 100g
– Licorice 10g
– Sweet Osmanthus 5g (optional)
– Rock sugar or White sugar (according to your taste)
– Water 1500g
Directions
– Put water into a large pot, and soak plum, hawthorn and licorice in water for 30 minutes
– Place the pot on the stove, bring it to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes
– Add sugar and sweet osmanthus, simmer for 2 more minutes
– Turn off the heat, leave to cool
– Strain and store it in the refrigerator
– Drink it as a tea
Plum, hawthorn and licorice can be found in Chinese herbal and grocery stores.
For more information about natural remedies for summer, go to Natural Remedies Center: http://www.naturalremediescenter.com/treat/summer/
