Xia Sang Ju facts for kids

Xia Sang Ju (pronounced Shee-ah Sahng Joo), also spelled xiasangju, is a popular herbal drink from China. It's made by cooking a special mix of dried plants. This drink is very common in East Asia and you can often find it in Asian grocery stores, usually in ready-to-drink packets.

What is Xia Sang Ju?

Xia Sang Ju is a traditional Chinese herbal drink. It gets its name from the main ingredients used to make it:

• Xia comes from Heal-all (also known as Prunella vulgaris).
• Sang comes from White mulberry leaves (from the Morus alba tree).
• Ju comes from a type of dried yellow sweet chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum).

These three plants are carefully chosen and cooked together to create the unique flavor and properties of the drink.

Where Did Xia Sang Ju Come From?

The idea for Xia Sang Ju came from a very old and famous herbal recipe from the Qing dynasty in China. This recipe was called Sang Ju drink (桑菊飲). It was first created in 1814 to help people during a time when a widespread sickness was affecting East China. People believed this herbal mix could help them feel better.

What Are Its Benefits?

Scientists have studied Xia Sang Ju to understand what makes it special. Researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology looked at the different parts of the herbs, both those that mix with fat and those that mix with water.

They found that the ingredients in Xia Sang Ju might help protect against certain illnesses, like the H5N1 virus and even the common cold. More studies were planned to test these ideas in people.