Black Mulberry, Black Bean, Goji Berry & Red Jujube Drink

Why people make this drink

Chinese medicine holds that “hair is the overflow of blood” — when blood is abundant, hair is lustrous and dark; when blood declines, it may grey early. Dark, fully ripened mulberries are considered especially valuable in this regard because they contain natural pigment compounds and anthocyanins. For people who spend long hours staring at screens, or who notice their hair greying sooner than expected, Nourilo recommends this simple four-ingredient drink as an easy daily ritual. It has a pleasant, slightly sweet and tangy flavour — the whole family can drink it together, and the ingredients are eaten as well.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients separately. Pit the red jujube dates.
2. Place everything in a pot with 1.8 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour until the liquid reduces to about 900 ml.
4. Serve warm. Eat the black beans, mulberries, and jujube together with the drink — they are nutritious in their own right.

Nourilo’s Tips

This drink has a clean, naturally sweet flavour and is suitable for all ages. It is particularly beneficial for breastfeeding mothers after childbirth. If you would like to enhance the hair-nourishing effect, Nourilo suggests adding 19 g of processed fo-ti root (zhi shou wu) and 11 g of glossy privet fruit (nu zhen zi) to the pot. If you pre-toast the black soybeans in a dry wok before cooking, they are gentler on the digestive system (toasting removes a compound that can cause bloating when the beans are simply steeped). Toasted black soybeans can be stored in a sealed container for up to three months.