8 Treasures Herbal Infusion

Eight Treasures Infusion carries on the spirit of the Ba Bao Cha, that great classic of hospitality from north-west China: eight treasures gathered in one and the same cup, offered to the guest as a mark of regard.

Around the red jujube, the Goji berries and the dried longan, the composition brings in chrysanthemum, jasmine, dates and a touch of rock sugar: a sweet, round, naturally sugared palette in which every mouthful uncovers a different treasure.

Where the preparation of former times called for patience and transparent glassware, the BotaQi version brings it back to a simple gesture: one tea bag, a large cup, and the same generosity in the bowl.

A composed infusion, mild and of the supplementing register, in the tradition of the everyday drinks the tradition attaches to the Qi and the Blood.

Inherited from a thousand-year-old gesture of hospitality in north-west China (the bowl held out to the guest, clear so that the eye may follow the infusion), it is savoured without haste, particularly in the cool season for its comforting roundness.

• Infusion for pleasure: 1 tea bag in a large cup (250 ml), water at a simmer (90°C), 5 to 8 minutes covered
• Regular use: 1 tea bag a day for 2 to 4 weeks in the cool season
• The Hui tradition: served to guests as a mark of hospitality, a traditional gesture of north-western China

To be used in moderation in cases of settled heat or of marked stagnation.

Its supplementing sweetness can feed constitutions of thick Dampness: alternate with herbs that move if need be.