- 1. Suan Mei Tang: tangy freshness & thirst quenched 酸梅汤
- When your mouth stays dry despite drinking water
- Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of Suan Mei Tang
- 2. Balance & Hydration drink: inner hydration & radiant skin 清润平衡茶
- When your skin seems as thirsty as your body
- Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of this drink
- 3. Summer Lightness drink: light belly & light legs 夏日轻身饮
- When your belly bloats and your legs feel heavy
- Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of this drink
- 4. Summer Night drink: inner freshness & a calm mind 夏夜养心茶
- When the body is tired, but the mind stays awake
- Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of this drink
Persistent thirst, skin lacking radiance, bloated belly or restless mind?
Discover 4 drinks inspired by Chinese medicine to support the different ways summer makes you feel.
In summer, we often think that drinking something cold is all it takes to feel better: a big iced glass, a lemony drink or a herbal tea to "bring the heat down".
But have you noticed that heat does not always show itself in the same way? Dry mouth, heavy digestion, tired legs, a restless mind in the evening… In summer, we are not all looking for the same kind of freshness.
So rather than picking a summer drink at random, why not find the one that truly matches how you feel?
Inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine, these summer drinks made from herbs, flowers and fruit do not simply aim to "cool you down". They support the different needs of the hot season: quenching thirst, regaining lightness, refreshing the throat or calming the mind at the end of the day.
Here are 4 TCM-inspired summer drinks, designed to help you through the heat according to your constitution and how you feel in the moment.
1. Suan Mei Tang: tangy freshness & thirst quenched 酸梅汤
A traditional Chinese drink much appreciated when you drink a lot without ever really feeling refreshed.
When your mouth stays dry despite drinking water
There are summer days when you drink a lot without really feeling your thirst quenched. Your mouth stays dry, thirst comes back quickly and your energy seems to dip.
In Chinese medicine, this feeling does not depend solely on the amount of water you drink. The body's Fluids, called Jin Ye (津液), must be produced, distributed and preserved by the body. When summer heat consumes them, or when their transformation becomes less efficient, water alone is not always enough to bring back a real sense of freshness.
Suan Mei Tang follows the traditional logic of Suan Gan Hua Yin (酸甘化阴), "sour and sweet to nourish the Fluids". Its tangy flavour naturally stimulates salivation, while its ingredients also support digestion.
This is what makes it a particularly popular summer drink when the heat comes with persistent thirst and a feeling of inner dryness.
Did you know? 望梅止渴
In Chinese culture, a famous anecdote tells how Cao Cao, a strategist of the Three Kingdoms period, is said to have encouraged his thirsty soldiers by telling them about a plum orchard further ahead. Just by imagining those tangy fruits, their mouths began to water.
This story gave rise to the expression 望梅止渴, "gazing at plums to quench one's thirst".
Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of Suan Mei Tang
Suan Mei Tang owes its character to the balance between five notes: tangy, fruity, aromatic, sweet and floral. Each brings a different sensation, but all serve the same idea: quenching thirst, supporting the Fluids and aiding digestion.
2. Balance & Hydration drink: inner hydration & radiant skin 清润平衡茶
A fruity infusion designed for times when the heat leaves your skin drier, your complexion duller and the feeling of inner freshness less present.
When your skin seems as thirsty as your body
Besides thirst, there is another common feeling in summer: the skin seems less supple, the complexion less radiant, the mouth sometimes less comfortable. The body seems to be asking not just for water, but for deeper hydration, able to nourish the tissues.
In Chinese medicine, the body's Fluids, called Jin Ye (津液), do not only serve to quench thirst. They also contribute to supple skin, comfortable tissues and inner balance.
This Balance & Hydration Drink follows a gentle, nourishing logic: red goji berries, black goji berries and dried mulberries are traditionally valued for nourishing the Fluids, supporting natural beauty and preserving the skin's radiance.
This is what makes it a worthwhile summer drink when the heat shows itself not only through thirst, but also through skin that is less supple, less fresh or less luminous.
Did you know?
In China, goji is often associated with traditions of longevity, vitality and inner beauty.
Red or black, it holds a special place in everyday rituals: it is added to infusions, soups, desserts or drinks to gently nourish the body and preserve its natural radiance.
Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of this drink
This recipe brings together three fruits traditionally valued for supporting inner hydration, preserving the balance of the body's Fluids and supporting the skin's natural radiance.
3. Summer Lightness drink: light belly & light legs 夏日轻身饮
A summer drink designed for times when the heat comes mainly with a feeling of heaviness.
When your belly bloats and your legs feel heavy
When summer turns hot and humid, the body does not always react with thirst. It can also feel as though it is running in slow motion: digestion seems less smooth, the belly more bloated and the legs heavier. In Chinese medicine, these sensations are often linked to Dampness. When it settles in, Dampness weighs the body down, slows digestion and hinders the smooth circulation of fluids.
The Spleen, regarded in TCM as the centre of digestion and of the transformation of fluids, plays a key role here. When it works less well (especially in hot, humid weather, after overly rich meals or when the body is already tired), fluids tend to stagnate instead of being properly transformed and distributed. This stagnation can show up as a bloated belly, slow digestion, a feeling of water retention or heavy legs.
This drink follows that logic: it supports digestion, supports the natural drainage of fluids and helps you regain a sense of lightness during the summer.
Looking for more lightness this summer?
Lotus leaf and wax gourd peel have long been used in Chinese traditions to support times when you want to feel lighter and regain more comfort during the hot seasons.
Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of this drink
This recipe combines two major traditions of Chinese dietetics: supporting digestion and promoting lightness when heat and humidity seem to slow the body down.
4. Summer Night drink: inner freshness & a calm mind 夏夜养心茶
A floral infusion designed for evenings when the body is tired but the mind is still wide awake.
When the body is tired, but the mind stays awake
There are summer evenings when the body is ready to slow down… but the mind is not.
The day seems to carry on inside: thoughts stay active, the heat still seems present and it becomes hard to find a real sense of calm.
In Chinese medicine, summer is associated with the Heart. According to Five Elements theory, the Heart governs not only the circulation of Blood, but also mental and emotional activity, known as Shen.
This drink follows the traditional logic of Yang Xin (养心), "nourishing the Heart". Its aim is not to force sleep, but to gently ease the transition from the bustle of the day to the tranquillity of the evening.
Did you know?
In the Huang Di Nei Jing (黄帝内经), summer is considered the season when Yang reaches its peak. It is also the season associated with the Heart.
Chinese tradition therefore recommends cultivating serenity, avoiding emotional excess and preserving a calm, stable mind so as to move in harmony with the energy of the season.
This is one of the reasons why floral, refreshing drinks hold such an important place in Chinese summer habits.
Each ingredient plays its part in the balance of this drink
This recipe combines three complementary directions: the fragrance of jasmine to soothe the mind, the light bitterness of lotus plumule to cool the Heart, and the freshness of mint to lighten the end of the day.
