Apple and Orange Tea-Traditional Chinese Wellness Recipes

A sharp-eyed reader reached out to me recently with a DM, she bought my book and tried to make the Apple and Orange Tea, and noticed something was off. She was right! The orange is completely missing from the ingredient list and the instructions. It's in the title, it's in the Chinese name (苹果热橙茶), it's even mentioned in the intro paragraph   but somehow it didn't make it into the actual recipe. I am so sorry about that!

I've already contacted my publisher to update the ebook version, and the correction will go into future print editions. But in the meantime, here is the fully corrected recipe so you have it right now.

Thank you to everyone who reads carefully and reaches out — this community keeps me honest, and I love you for it. 🍊

Apple and Orange Tea Ping Guo Re Cheng Cha 苹果热橙茶

From Traditional Chinese Wellness Recipes, Chapter 1: Beauty and Skin Care

Yield: 2 to 4 servings

This nourishing apple and orange tea possesses a range of skin-enhancing benefits. Apples are rich in vitamin C, which is essential for collagen production and skin rejuvenation. The citrus from the orange and lemon slices provides an additional boost of vitamin C, helping to brighten the complexion and even out skin tone. Dates, a staple in Traditional Chinese Medicine, are believed to have moisturizing and antiaging properties. Goji berries, often referred to as the "beauty berry," are a powerful superfood packed with carotenoids, vitamin C, and antioxidants. These nutrients work together to protect the skin from environmental stressors, reduce inflammation, and promote a healthy, glowing complexion.

Ingredients

1 apple, washed, cored, and sliced into ⅜″ (1-cm) wedges 1 orange, washed and cut into ⅜″ (1-cm) slices ← CORRECTED: this ingredient was missing from the printed recipe ½ lemon, washed and cut into scant ¼″ (5-mm) slices 8 Chinese dried red dates, rinsed in cold water and drained 3⅓ cups (800 ml) water 2 tbsp (20 g) rock sugar Rounded 2 tsp (8 g) dried goji berries, rinsed in cold water and drained

Instructions

1. In a medium-sized pot, combine the apple wedges, orange slices, lemon slices, dates, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, lower the heat to low and let the tea simmer for 15 minutes. This allows the flavors to meld and the ingredients to release their beneficial compounds.
2. After 15 minutes of simmering, add the rock sugar and goji berries to the pot. Continue to cook over low heat for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the sugar to dissolve and the goji berries to infuse their essence into the tea. Finally, strain the tea to remove the solid ingredients, leaving behind the aromatic and nourishing liquid.

Vivian's tip: Don't peel the orange before slicing , the skin adds a lovely subtle bitterness that balances the sweetness of the rock sugar and dates. Just make sure to wash it well! Navel oranges or blood oranges both work beautifully here.

If you already made this recipe without the orange, please try it again — it makes a real difference! And if you spot anything else in the book, please always feel free to DM me. I read every message.

— Vivian