Why Do Mothers Take Special Tea During Confinement?

In traditional Chinese practice, new mothers are encouraged to consume special soup and tea to hydrate themselves, usually in substitute to water. Contrary to the popular myth that plain water shouldn’t be consumed during confinement, studies have shown that keeping yourself hydrated is important especially if you are breastfeeding and drinking water is absolutely fine, but keep it warm. 

Confinement tea and soup is one way to complement warm water during your postpartum recovery period. Among the ingredients commonly used in preparing confinement, tea is red dates, dried longan and wolfberries. 

Red dates tea is a must during confinement in most Chinese households. Red dates and longan, when cooked together is not only tasty but also produce amazing health benefits. This confinement tea is known to have a warming effect, which is very important in postpartum recovery. A very good source of iron, red dates also help replenish the loss of blood and improve the immune system. 

For breastfeeding mothers, red dates are known to help your body produce more prolactin, a hormone that tells your body to produce more milk.  Red dates are also rich in Vitamin C, B1, B2, protein, magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphorous, which can help in the overall postpartum recovery.

Longan, on the other hand, is believed to have anti-depressant properties and for new mothers who are getting used to the new routine, this can help in keeping themselves calm and in check. Meanwhile, wolfberry helps in improving blood circulation, strengthens the immune system and nourishes the liver and kidney, making it a very beneficial herb during confinement. 

At PopoMama, on top of the red dates tea, we have several other nourishing confinement tea and soup to supplement the daily healthy meal we prepare and provide. Get in touch with us for a fulfilling and comprehensive confinement meal program.