I really love our Immunity Support formula—the herbs feel potent, the flavor is spot on, and I genuinely feel more resilient when I use it. With two kids in preschool (and all the exposure that comes with it), this blend has become part of my daily wellness toolkit. As someone who travels often, I’ve swapped out my old pre-flight tangerine immunity powder for Immunity Support, and I haven’t looked back. It helps me feel balanced, supported, and ready to go—no matter where I’m headed.

Supporting the body’s natural defenses is a core principle in both Chinese and Western wellness traditions. The beauty of our formula is its versatility—it’s not only great for overall seasonal support, but also especially useful during times when environmental factors like pollen or ragweed are more present.

A Thing About Chinese Herbs: the Flavors are Tough

 If you’re a fan of Chinese herbs or have spent time with our brand, you know that Chinese medicine can taste pretty bad (in some cases, really bad). We’ve worked hard (and we think successfully) to upgrade the flavors, and that really comes through with Immunity Support, with its refreshing pear-ginger combination. But we didn’t just select these flavors because they pair well; they also relate to the efficacy of the herbal formula itself (in Chinese medicine, the connection between food and medicine is huge). So why ginger and pear?:

• According to renowned Chinese medicine author Bob Flaws, ginger is traditionally used to support healthy circulation and respiration. Other practitioners and herbal scholars have also noted its long history of use for travel-related discomfort—like motion sensitivity on airplanes—and for general support during colder seasons.
• Pear is considered a “yin tonic” that clears heat, energizes the stomach, spleen and lungs.  

Cue the Cocktail

With our Chinese herbs in hand and our flavor guardrails in place, DAO executive chef Travis Metzger recommended simply enhancing Immunity Support’s flavor profile with ingredients that we can pick up at any liquor store. So we did.

Much like the three herbs in Immunity Support, the power of this drink comes from the simplicity of the ingredients. While a fresh ginger syrup would be just short of perfect, ginger beer tastes great and mixes well with just about anything (we were soon to discover, Chinese medicine as well). As we are nothing if not authentic when it comes to Chinese herbs, we felt the same should apply to our selection of ginger beer, so we chose Goslings, but surely other varieties would perform just as well.

For our pear flavor, Travis recommended pear brandy, admittedly a drink I had never enjoyed before. But remember: in Chinese medicine, pear is considered a yin “tonic” that helps with both the spleen and stomach…I am sure the same applies to brandy.

Finally, we added a rosemary sprig. Why rosemary? In addition to tasting amazing with the two other ingredients, Chinese medicine doctors believe rosemary to be a “warming herb” that supports the heart, kidneys, lungs and spleen, further enhancing the wellness-inspired qualities of this herbal cocktail. And of course, we added a packet of our Immunity Support.

The Qi Ginger

Part pear brandy, part ginger beer, some Chinese herbs to boost your immunity, 2,500 years of heritage, and you’ve got the first DAO Labs Cocktail: the Qi Ginger. The flavors of our Immunity Support blend harmonize beautifully with the added ingredients, offering a mild hint of Chinese herbs. It’s a refreshing drink that not only helps you feel more balanced but also supports your body’s natural defenses against environmental challenges. The effervescence particles of Immunity Support, when combined with the brandy, give the drink a little fizz, which adds a nice latte-like foam at the top.

 So, as we continue pushing the innovation envelope on Chinese medicine, we’ve added another dimension to our path to revolutionize the way we pursue health.   Expect more cocktails in the not-too-distant future, but until then, we raise this glass to our immunity, Chinese style.

Serving Size

One cocktail

Prep Time

1-2 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 shot Pear Brandy (we used Clear Creek)
• 1 can of ginger beer
• 1 packet DAO Labs Immunity Support
• 1 sprig rosemary
• 1 lemon wedge

Directions

Empty the contents of one DAO Labs Immunity Support packet. Slowly add the shot of pear brandy and ginger beer (the cocktail will fizz!). Stir slightly, and squeeze a bit of lemon juice for added flavor. Garnish with the sprig of rosemary. Enjoy as part of your seasonal wellness ritual.

Looking for some music to accompany The Qi Ginger? Try this mix.

Care Consideration: Just a reminder that the above information is not a substitute for medical care and is not a substitute for medical advice or recommendations from a healthcare provider. This information is not intended to treat, mitigate, or cure any disease.  That said, we encourage you to connect with an Acupuncturist in your community to learn more about this and other Traditional Chinese Medicine options.  If you’ve got questions about Chinese herbal medicine or getting started with an Acupuncturist, feel free to connect with us at hello@mydaolabs.com.

John G. McGarvey is a co-founder of DAO Labs and a regular contributor to The Way. A frequent visitor to China and Asia for both business and pleasure, he is an avid consumer of Chinese medicine. He can be reached at john@mydaolabs.com.