Wang lao ji or wong lo kat in Cantonese is one of China’s most popular herbal teas. Wang lao ji is said to be a product that was commercialized and sold by Wang Zebang (nicknamed Wang Ji) from Heshan in Guangdong province in 1828.
Currently sold as a herbal beverage, with the ingredients being, seven different kinds of Chinese herbal plants: “Water, white sugar, mesona, dan hua, Bu Zha ye (Microcos paniculata Linn), Chrysanthemum flowers, jin yin hua (Lonicera japonica Thunb.), Prunella vulgaris, and licorice. (The “Dan hua” does not refer to as eggs, but refers to the Apocynaceae species).
This will be a part one of a seven part series exploring the contents of Wang Lao Ji seven herbal tea drink. Today we will talk about xiancao.
?? Mesona
Xiancao or mesona is a genus of the mint family (Lamiaceae). Mesona grows up to 100cm with leaves from 2-10cm long and 1-3cm wide. In medicine the plant above the ground is dried and used.
Medicinal Properties: Diuretic
It has been known to be effective for diabetes, high blood pressure, common cold, and arthritis. However, more medical proof is still required to validate these.
Mesona jelly
Common Uses:
Mesona is used commonly as a dessert and is served as a hot, viscous drink, or set to cool as a gel and served as a black jelly.
The Hakka have a custom of eating mesona jelly on the first day of the peak of summer. They say that eating mesona jelly on this day that they will not get heat rash.
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Tags: chinese herbal remedies, Chinese Herbal Tea, Liangcha, sore throat, Wang Lao Ji, Wong lo kat
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