Welcome to July, the time of year when the entire Northern Hemisphere enters a collective "sauna mode." In Asia, this scorching mid-summer period is traditionally known as the Sanfu Days. While the heatwaves can be brutal, they have also inspired a variety of brilliant and wildly different summer survival hacks.
In this edition of APEC CP, we are pairing up two culinary icons: Guangdong's Herbal Tea and South Korea's Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup). Although the bitter taste of the herbal tea and steaming heat of the soup might put you off—a far cry from iced Americanos and cokes—together they embody the essence of East Asian wellness wisdom: combating heat through balance.
Guangdong's Herbal Tea: Instant Wellness Revolution
If you visit Guangdong in summer, you will likely see locals sipping a dark herbal tea that, honestly, tastes more like liquid medicine than tea. This is Leung Cha (凉茶), a national intangible cultural heritage item reputed for its ability to clear internal heat and dispel dampness.
Referred to in English as herbal tea, Leung Cha literally translates to "cooling tea." Originating from China's Guangdong Province, it is an herbal infusion traditionally believed to have medicinal properties. In fact, it rarely contains any leaves from the tea plant, making it more akin to a bitter-tasting medicinal soup.
But let's be real: for wellness enthusiasts around the world, sourcing exotic raw herbs and boiling them for hours is nearly impossible.
Thankfully, some Chinese brands like Wanglaoji (王老吉) have revolutionized this ancient tradition with instant herbal tea granules. Simply dissolve them in water, let it cool, and boom—your body's internal AC is activated.
Global netizens are even taking it a step further with trendy DIY creations. Add ice cubes and a shot of espresso to make a "Herbal Americano." Want something creamy? Mix it with oat milk for a low-calorie herbal latte. It's traditional wellness reimagined by Gen Z.
South Korea's Samgyetang: Fighting Heat with Heat
Meanwhile, across the sea in South Korea, people cope with the mid-summer heatwaves in a way that beautifully ehoes China's traditional wisdom. Local elders often advise the youth against hiding in AC rooms with iced drinks all day. Instead, they encourage them to visit nearby restaurants for a steaming bowl of Samgyetang.
Why drink a boiling soup packed with whole chicken, sticky rice, and ginseng when it is 35℃ outside? It all comes down to the traditional South Korean philosophy of Yi-yeol-chi-yeol (이열치열)—fighting heat with heat. By consuming a steaming, nutrient-rich soup, you intentionally induce sweating, which helps to flush out trapped toxins, while the premium ginseng replenishes your depleted energy. It is a full-body hard reset that leaves you feeling magically refreshed.
Walk into any global Asian supermarket today, and you will likely find instant herbal tea packets and ready-to-eat Samgyetang pouches side by side on the same "summer survival shelf." Both traditions perfectly embody the philosophy of medicinal food homology, which means everyday foods can be used to balance and harmonize the body with nature.
Whether you prefer to cool your body down with Guangdong's herbal innovation or sweat it out with South Korea's comfort food, one thing is certain: East Asians truly know how to conquer the summer heat.
So, now you know the secret to Asian summer wellness, right?
Author & Video: Dong Han
Poster: Lai Meiya
The video is generated by AI.
