Wheat, Sour Jujube Seed, Cypress Nut and Lily Bulb Soup

Why people make this soup

After months of pandemic restrictions — lockdowns, isolation, constant uncertainty — a lot of people quietly started to feel it: the low energy, the sleepless nights, the free-floating anxiety, the sense that they just could not switch off. Nourilo wanted to offer something practical and gentle. This soup brings together several ingredients that traditional Chinese food therapy has used for centuries specifically to calm the heart-mind, ease restless nights, and lift a deflated spirit. There is no bitterness, no powerful medicinal smell — just a soft, slightly sweet soup that the whole family can drink comfortably.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients and soak briefly in cold water.
2. Pit the red dates.
3. Place all ingredients in a pot with 2.1 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat for 1 hour until reduced to 0.9–1.2 L.
5. Serve warm. Drink 1–2 bowls per day.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup is gentle, balanced in temperature, and not at all medicinal-tasting. Beyond its calming effect, it also supports the spleen and drains mild dampness, making it a versatile everyday soup. Breastfeeding mothers should swap the wheat grain for millet (xiao mi), which carries no risk of reducing milk supply. Note: small wheat grain (xiao mai mi) is not the same as floating wheat (fu xiao mai) — the latter is used specifically to stop sweating and is sold in Chinese medicine shops, while whole wheat grain is found at any grocery store.