Tangerine peel, known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as Chen Pi, is one of the most revered herbs in the Chinese pharmacopeia. It has been documented since the Han Dynasty (2nd century BCE) in the Shen Nong Bencao Jing, the foundational encyclopedia of Chinese herbalism, and still used today.

Tangerine peels drying on Dr. Sheppard’s kitchen counter

The name tells the story: Chen means “aged” and Pi means “peel.” The skin is aged a minimum of three years and can be stored up to 60 years, treasured much like a fine French wine. Older peels fetch high prices at auction, as the deeper the dis-ease, the older the peel.

Fresh peel starts bright orange with a vivid, spiced citrus scent. Over time, it fades to pale orange, then deepens into rich brown. Chinese folklore says that holding an aged peel to the light reveals oil cells that resemble “scattered stars across the sky.” The most prized Chen Pi comes from Xinhui in Guangdong Province, home to a dedicated museum where visitors can learn about the herb and buy aged peels.

Medicinal benefits. Brewed as a tea, Chen Pi delivers a warming, subtly sweet citrus flavor with gentle medicinal depth. As a Qi-regulating herb, it supports the spleen and stomach, easing indigestion, bloating, belching, nausea, poor appetite and acid reflux — especially after rich meals. It also enters the lung channel to clear cough caused by phlegm that rises from the digestive system. It is not intended for daily long-term use and should be avoided during dry cough.

How to make your own. To make your own Chen Pi, eat or juice the tangerines, scrape out the white pith with a spoon and let them dry out on the counter. After a couple of days, I place them in the sun for a few more days, preferring this to a dehydrator or oven, especially in the summer.

Place them in a brown bag for a day or two, then return the peels to the sun for one final day. Store them in glass jars or ceramic containers in a cool, dark cupboard and bring them into the sun every few months. You can use them right away in tea, coffee, soups or baked goods, or let time deepen them for greater medicinal potency.

Diane Sheppard is a licensed acupuncturist and doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with AcQPoint Wellness Center. She can be reached at (760) 345.2200. For more information, visit www.acqpoint.com.

Sources: 1) John K. Chen and Tina T. Chen, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology (City of Industry, CA: Art of Medicine Press, 2004); 2) Henry C. Lu, Chinese Natural Cures (New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 1994); 3) https://baike.baidu.com/en/item/Chenpi%20Village/57848