Soups
Day Lily, Goji Berry, Lily Bulb and Dried Conch Soup
traditionally associated with calming the mind, nourishing yin, and supporting restful sleep
Why people make this soup
Modern urban life brings a level of pressure that the body and mind are not always well-equipped to handle. Hong Kong in particular is well known for extremely long working hours, and rates of anxiety among its residents reflect that. Traditional Cantonese food therapy offers a gentle, dietary approach to supporting emotional balance — not as a substitute for professional care, but as a meaningful part of how people tend to their wellbeing day to day.
This soup was developed by Bro Niu specifically as a calming recipe for a Singapore television feature on Hong Kong food culture. The four ingredients — day lily, lily bulb, goji berry, and dried conch — are individually well-established in Chinese food therapy for their association with nourishing yin (cooling, moistening energy), settling heart fire, and supporting a calm, grounded mood. Together they make a naturally sweet, pleasant soup that is suitable for anyone who finds themselves prone to worry, restlessness, night sweats, or difficulty sleeping.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suited to those experiencing anxiety, palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, dizziness, or ringing in the ears
- Helpful for those with yin deficiency and excess heat signs: night sweats, dry throat, rapid heartbeat, easily startled
- Suitable for pregnant women (confirmed by Bro Niu)
- The whole family can enjoy this, young and old
- If anxiety symptoms persist or are severe, please also see a doctor — food therapy supports but does not replace professional treatment
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Day lily (jin zhen / wang you cao): Also called “the herb of forgetting sorrow” — traditionally said to nourish the blood and calm the spirit; associated with easing low mood and excessive worry
- Lily bulb (bai he): One of the most widely used herbs in Chinese food therapy for emotional health; traditionally nourishes heart yin and lung yin, clears deficiency heat, and calms the mind
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Nourish liver and kidney yin; associated with supporting eye health, steadying the nerves, and building blood
- Dried conch (xiang luo gan): Seafood is generally associated in TCM with nourishing yin and the kidney; dried conch is traditionally used to nourish yin, clear heat, and calm the spirit; fresh baby abalone or soaked sea cucumber can substitute
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried day lily buds (jin zhen) | ~11 g (3 qian) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Dried lily bulb (bai he) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | ~19 g (5 qian) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Dried conch meat (xiang luo gan) | ~75 g (2 liang) | Soaked and rinsed |
| Water | 7 bowls (~1.75 litres) |
Method
- Soak each ingredient separately in cold water for 20–30 minutes to rehydrate and remove any dust or impurities. Drain.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 7 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Cook for about 1.5 hours until the soup reduces to 3–4 bowls.
- Serve warm and eat the solid ingredients along with the broth.
Bro Niu’s tips
This broth is naturally sweet and pleasant — it suits everyone from children to the elderly. If dried conch is hard to find, you can substitute 6 fresh baby abalone or 2 rehydrated sea cucumbers — both similarly nourishing, both achieving the same yin-nourishing, heat-clearing quality. For those who would like to enhance the calming effect, you may add 1 liang of poria with heart wood (fu shen) and 3 qian of sour jujube seeds (suan zao ren). Adding a little lean pork or spare ribs gives the broth extra savouriness. Day lily is also sold in general grocery stores and Chinese medicine shops alike.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Ling): I have poor sleep, easy waking, and anxious feelings. Can I add fu shen and suan zao ren to this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, you can add 1 liang of fu shen and 3 qian of suan zao ren to the pot.
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Q (Polly): Is this soup suitable during pregnancy? What about adding fu shen? Bro Niu: Pregnant women can drink this soup, and adding fu shen is also suitable.
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Q (junjun): I have social anxiety and find it hard to afford expensive ingredients like conch. Can I substitute something cheaper? Bro Niu: For social anxiety, a simpler recipe works well: use 1 liang of wheat grain (xiao mai mi), 5 qian of fu shen, 2 qian of roasted liquorice (zhi gan cao), 6 red dates, and 1 liang of lily bulb — simmer as a sweet soup or with lean pork. Very affordable. And please do see a doctor for ongoing anxiety.
Published July 22, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
