Wampee Leaf Tea

Why people make this tea

Come late autumn and early winter, wampee leaves are a traditional seasonal herb that pairs with pomelo leaves in Cantonese food culture. Most households use them in bathwater as a cleansing ritual, but Nourilo likes to make a simple drinking tea from the wampee leaves. The aroma is striking: crush a leaf between your fingers and a bright, citrusy fragrance is released. In traditional Cantonese food therapy, wampee leaves are considered warming in nature and are said to “dispel wind and open the surface” — a phrase that roughly means helping the body push out early-stage cold or flu pathogens. A small cup brewed with rock sugar is a gentle, fragrant way to care for yourself when you feel a cold coming on.