Cassia seed tea (决明子茶, Jué Míng Zi Chá) is made from the seed of Cassia tora. Cassia seed is the dried mature seed of Cassia tora and it is traditional Chinese medicine.
Cassia tora is a shrubby herb and has a strong vitality. It often competes with other plants for nutrition. Cassia tora is regarded as a kind of wild grass that is difficult to be eradicated in many countries.
Cassia tora matures in autumn. After the whole plant is picked, its seeds are separated, washed, and dried. And then it can be used as Chinese medicine. High-quality cassia seed is plump, brown, and shiny.
Cassia seed can be made into tea or pillow. Cassia seed pillow is a very popular product, which has many health benefits.
Table of Contents
How to Make Cassia Seed Tea
Cassia seed can be eaten directly or after being stir-fried. Generally, cassia seed tea is made from fried cassia seed, which is good for the separation of effective components of cassia seed in the water.
If you can’t buy the fried cassia seed, you can try to make it at home. Stir-frying cassia seed is easy. Put cassia seed in a pot, stir-fry over low heat until its skin bursts with a slight crackling sound and a fragrance overflow.
Be patient when stir-frying cassia seed. Use low heat in the whole process. Cassia seed should not be fried for a long time, otherwise, it will affect its taste and nutritional value.
Making cassia seed tea is also easy. Put fried cassia seed into a cup, add boiling water, and steep it for 3-5 minutes. If you like to drink strong tea, you can crush cassia seed into powder and then steep it with boiling water.
Cassia seed can also be steeped with green tea, Ju Hua, hawthorn, wolfberry, honey, and so on, which have more medicinal value.
Benefits of Cassia Seed Tea
- Detox
- Anti-aging
- Anti-tumor
- Antitussive
- Weight loss
- Antibacterial
- Lower blood lipids
- Anti-atherosclerosis
- Relieve constipation
- Lower blood pressure
- Prevent night blindness
- Promote intestinal movement
Cassia seed mainly contains chrysophanol, emodin, rhein, obtusin, etc.
Chrysophanol has the functions of antibacterial, antitussive, and promoting intestinal movement.
Emodin has antibacterial, anti-tumor, and blood pressure lowering effects. It is also used as a laxative.
Rhein has effects of losing weight, detox, anti-aging, and preventing gastric cancer.
Obtusin has good effects of lowering blood lipids and anti-atherosclerosis.
Besides, cassia seed contains a variety of vitamins and amino acids, carbohydrates, and so on.
Cassia seed is rich in vitamin A and zinc, which can prevent night blindness and avoid zinc deficiency in children. Cassia seed tea also has the function of moistening the intestines and relieving constipation.
Side Effects of Cassia Seed Tea
The medicinal property of cassia seed is cold, so people who are prone to diarrhea and stomachache should not drink cassia seed tea.
Pregnant women are not suitable to drink cassia seed tea.
Women in the physiological period should not drink cassia seed tea, which may lead to dysmenorrhea or other symptoms.
After drinking cassia seed tea, a small number of people may have abdominal distension, diarrhea, and nausea at the early stage, but these symptoms can quickly disappear.
Cassia seed tea is a kind of mild laxative, so it should not be drunk in large quantities for a long time, otherwise, it will affect gastrointestinal function.