If your evening wind-down involves scrolling your phone and hoping for the best, it's worth trying something warmer. Sweet Garden's Instant Longan & Jujube Drink (薰園 紅棗桂圓茶) is a naturally sweet Taiwanese herbal tea built on two ingredients that have been comforting people in Chinese kitchens for generations. It might become the most soothing five minutes of your day.
What is it?
It's a warming herbal drink rooted in traditional Chinese culinary practice, combining longan (桂圓) and red dates (紅棗) in a convenient instant sachet. Each box holds 18 individually wrapped 10g sachets, 180g in total, made in Taiwan with no artificial additives, flavours or preservatives.
Sweet Garden was founded in 1990 in Taichung and crafts natural, additive-free health foods now trusted in more than 20 countries. The range is certified to ISO9001, ISO22000, HACCP, HALAL and Taiwan Organic standards.
What are longan and jujube?
If these are new to you, here's the quick version.
Longan (桂圓 / guì yuán), sometimes called "dragon eye," is a small tropical fruit related to the lychee. Dried, the translucent flesh turns deep amber and takes on a warm, honeyed sweetness with notes of caramel and brown sugar. It's long been prized in Chinese herbal cooking, especially in teas and soups.
Jujube (紅棗 / hóng zǎo), also known as red dates or Chinese dates, is a small reddish-brown fruit tasting like a cross between a date and an apple. Dried jujube is one of the most widely used ingredients in Chinese home cooking, turning up in soups, teas and congee.
Together they're a classic pairing in traditional Chinese wellness cooking: warm, naturally sweet and deeply comforting. The combination is old enough and common enough that most people who grew up with it associate it instantly with home.
What makes it different from everyday tea?
You might be thinking: I already drink herbal tea, what's special here?
The flavour is naturally sweet and warming. Because it's built on real longan and jujube, the drink has a deep, honeyed sweetness with a caramel note from the longan and gentle fruitiness from the dates. It doesn't taste medicinal. It tastes like a treat.
It's instant. Traditional longan and jujube tea means simmering dried fruit for the better part of an hour. This dissolves in hot water in seconds, which is the difference between a nice idea and something you'll actually do on a weeknight.
It's caffeine-free. No tea leaves involved, so a mug at 10pm won't work against you.
It fits a daily rhythm. Eighteen sachets is nearly three weeks of evenings, and it's designed to be enjoyed daily rather than saved for special occasions.
How to enjoy it
No special equipment needed, just a mug, hot water and a sachet.
The classic warm mug
The way it's meant to be drunk, and the best place to start. Dissolve one sachet in 150 to 200ml of hot water, stir well, and sip it slowly while it's still properly warm. Best enjoyed daily as a comforting warm tea.
Longan jujube latte
If you like milk tea, add a splash of warm milk or oat milk to a prepared mug. The creaminess plays beautifully against the honeyed longan and pushes the whole thing closer to dessert. Good for when you want something a little more indulgent.
Pair it with a snack
Because it's lightly sweet and warming, it goes well with something plain and crumbly. Try it alongside Aomeisi 功夫桃酥 walnut shortbread, a handful of mixed nuts, or a slice of pound cake. Warm tea and a not-too-sweet biscuit is a genuinely satisfying combination.
The bottom line
Sweet Garden Instant Longan & Jujube Drink is a small, easy comfort that fits into modern life without any fuss. It's warm, naturally sweet, caffeine-free, and made with two ingredients that have been part of Chinese home cooking for centuries. The 18-sachet box gives you nearly three weeks of evening rituals ready to go.
Ready to bring a little Taiwanese warmth into your routine? Pick up a box of Sweet Garden Instant Longan & Jujube Drink, 18 sachets. If you'd like a lighter, cooling alternative for daytime, their 果杞菊花茶 chrysanthemum and goji drink is the natural companion.
Please check the actual package for full ingredient and allergen information before consuming. Consult a healthcare provider before use if pregnant, breastfeeding or managing a health condition.