Herbal Tea (Liangcha)

Liangcha, or herbal tea, is a Lingnan folk drink brewed from blends of herbs, born of the region's hot, humid climate and popular across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau.

Herbs are combined and simmered according to purposes such as clearing 'heat', dispelling damp or cooling in summer, with recipes varying by season and need, traditionally brewed fresh at herbal-tea shops.

Liangcha is national-level intangible cultural heritage, embodying the Lingnan wisdom of preventive health through diet.

In Guangzhou you can experience this custom at traditional herbal-tea shops and a dedicated herbal-tea cultural quarter in the Xiguan and Liwan areas.