Chinese grandmothers have been drinking this for glowing skin for centuries.

Your skin feels tight by November, and your water bottle sits full on the counter all day. A warm pot of Chinese beauty tea makes drinking more feel like a treat. It’s been brewed in Chinese homes for generations, and now it’s all over your feed.

It’s built the Clean Fit Fab way: real food, big flavor, and no seed oils.

Why this Chinese beauty tea works on tired nights

• It’s mostly water. A warm, sweet cup makes it much easier to stay hydrated when the air turns dry.
• The sweetness is fruit. Red dates and longan taste like caramel and honey, so you need little or no added sugar.
• No caffeine. So you can sip it at night while you wind down.
• Four pantry ingredients. All of them keep for months in a jar.

No tea can promise you glowing skin, and this one is simply a cozy drink. However, staying hydrated matters for your whole body, and the Harvard Nutrition Source on water notes that other drinks and water-rich foods count toward your daily fluids. Goji berries also bring carotenoids, the plant pigments behind their bright red color.

The flavor: what makes it taste so good

Each ingredient plays a part. In traditional Chinese food culture, these are everyday kitchen ingredients, often sold together at Asian markets for this exact tea. So the flavor is warm, fruity and gently floral, never bitter.

• Red dates (hong zao) for deep caramel sweetness
• Dried longan for a honeyed, smoky note
• Goji berries (wolfberries) for a tart, bright finish
• Dried chrysanthemum flowers for a light floral aroma
• Two thin slices of fresh ginger for warmth, if you like

What you need

Here’s a quick look at the ingredients. Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Ingredients: dried red dates (jujube), dried longan, fresh ginger, water, dried goji berries, dried chrysanthemum flowers, pure maple syrup

Also, a note on fat: we cook with extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, butter or ghee. They taste better, and they’re real food.

How to make Chinese beauty tea

First, rinse everything in a strainer. Next, slice the red dates open so they release their sweetness. Then simmer the dates, longan and ginger for 15 minutes. Finally, turn off the heat, add the goji berries and chrysanthemum, and steep for 5 minutes. The full recipe card is below.

Serving ideas

Pour it into mugs with a few of the plumped goji berries and a red date in each cup. Then eat the fruit with a spoon at the end, the way it’s often enjoyed at home. On warm days, chill it and serve it over ice.

Nutrition at a glance: each serving has about 60 calories, 1g protein, 15g carbs and 2g fiber. Numbers are estimates and change with your exact ingredients.

Swaps and variations

• Add a few slices of dried snow fungus (tremella) for a silky, fuller tea.
• Use a small piece of cinnamon stick instead of ginger.
• Sweeten with a teaspoon of pure maple syrup or skip it completely.
• Leave out the chrysanthemum if you want a richer, date-forward cup.

Make-ahead and storage tips

Chinese beauty tea keeps in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it gently in a small saucepan, or drink it chilled. Store the dry ingredients in airtight jars in a cool cupboard for months.

Frequently asked questions

Save this one for your next long day. Want more? Try our healthy pumpkin cookies next.

This article is for general information and is not medical or nutrition advice.