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How to Cook A Chinese Herbal Formula

As is the case with many aspects of traditional Chinese medicine, there are many ways to get results. When it comes to the cooking or steeping of raw herbs for medicinal teas, there are many methods that all serve to draw out the therapeutic qualities from the herbs.

The Kind of Container

The best container is ceramic or glass. It is important that your tea pot has a lid. Materials to avoid include cast iron or metals. Stainless steel is okay. Teflon coatings are not as good as ceramic coatings.

Water

In ancient times the source of the water used in the tea was an important issue. Some teas required water from a spring; others called for water collecting during a rain. Nowadays, any drinking water is acceptable. The purity and cleanliness of the water you chose is a personal choice.

Cooking

1. Soak the herbs

Ideally, if you have time soak, for 15 minutes without turning on the heat beneath the tea pot. The water should cover the herbs by about an inch and a half.

2. Bring water to a rolling boil. Then, turn down the fire to a low simmer.

3. Cook herbs for 20 to 40 minutes

There is variation in the time necessary to cook herbs. It depends mostly on the kind of herbs you're cooking. The average is 20 minutes. When given your herbs, we will give instruction as to the time needed for your specific formula

Don't lift up the lid, especially with aromatic herbs as the volatile oils can evaporate out of the mixture very easily.

4. Strain the tea

5. Drink it

If you find the taste disagreeable, then your tongue is working right. However, if you find the taste so unpalatable that you don't drink it, then you need to do something to make it more drinkable. We suggest watering it down a bit. This helps a great deal. Also, it seems that after time, the body begins to crave a certain formula, especially the ones that help the body and you'll find the taste to be more attractive. Some people add a little honey to sweeten it or eat raisins or fruit while drinking it. This should only be done with the consent of your herbalist. Honey can adversely affect the therapeutic qualities of the formula and so it should only be added when appropriate.

6. Re-cook the same herbs a second time

During the first steeping, the temperature energetic comes out of the herb. This affects the patient mostly at the Qi level. It is more superficial, more Yang in nature. During the second steeping, the taste energetic comes out of the herb. This affects the patient more on the Blood level. These energetic have more an impact internally. The Yin is affected more. The tea from both batches are then mixed for drinking.