Black Mulberry, Goji Berry & South Jujube Date Tea

Why people make this tea

There is an old Chinese saying: “Eat three jujube dates a day and youth will not show its age.” Bro Niu keeps a bag of dried black mulberries on his shelf — they are enjoyable as a snack straight from the packet, but even better steeped into a warm tea. Black mulberries are rich in anthocyanins and the trace element selenium, making them one of the most potent natural antioxidants available in a food-therapy kitchen. They are traditionally used to nourish yin, build blood, promote skin health, support dark and glossy hair, and sharpen vision. For anyone whose eyes feel dry and tired after a long day at a computer, or who notices their hair greying earlier than expected, this simple three-ingredient tea can become a pleasant and sustainable daily habit. South jujube (nan zao) is considered superior to ordinary red jujube in Chinese tradition — it is processed with black bean juice during production, giving it a richer nutritional profile. The three ingredients together make a tea that is warming, naturally sweet, and genuinely enjoyable.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for all ages; can be enjoyed 4–5 times per week as a regular wellness habit
• Particularly recommended for people who spend long hours at screens and experience dry or fatigued eyes
• Those with premature greying, blood deficiency, or pallor may benefit from regular consumption
• No strong contraindications at this dose; suitable for elderly drinkers

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Black mulberries (hei sang shen): Rich in anthocyanins and selenium; traditionally associated with nourishing yin and blood, brightening vision, supporting hair health, and acting as a natural antioxidant; also traditionally credited with anti-tumour properties in Chinese food-therapy literature
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): The classic Chinese eye-support food-herb; nourishes liver-blood and kidney yin; mild, sweet, and suitable for daily use
• South jujube (nan zao, Ziziphus jujuba var.): Considered more nutritionally rich than ordinary red jujube, having been processed with black bean juice; tonifies qi and blood, calms the mind, and is particularly suited to those who feel tired and pale

Ingredients (1 mug / 1–2 servings)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried black mulberries	1 tablespoon	Use 3 tablespoons if fresh
Goji berries	1 tablespoon
South jujube dates	4 pieces	Available at Chinese herb shops

Method

1. Place all ingredients in a heatproof mug or small teapot. Pour over a small amount of boiling water to give a quick rinse, then drain.
2. Pour in enough fresh boiling water to fill the cup (about 300–350 ml).
3. Steep for 10 minutes.
4. Drink warm. It is best to also eat the mulberries, goji berries, and jujube dates — they carry most of the nutritional value.
5. The cup can be re-steeped 1–2 more times until the flavour fades.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is excellent for anyone who stares at a screen all day — a simple way to support your eyes through what you drink. Bro Niu suggests drinking it 4–5 times per week rather than every single day. If you live in an area where fresh black mulberries are available (Bro Niu mentions this is more common in places like the United States), you can use 3 tablespoons of fresh fruit in place of 1 tablespoon of the dried version. Fresh black mulberries are equally nourishing.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Vicky, writing from the US): Can I use fresh black mulberries in this recipe? Bro Niu: If you have fresh ones available, absolutely use them — use about 3 tablespoons. Fresh black mulberries nourish blood and complexion beautifully.

• Q (Joey): Can an elderly person drink this every day? Bro Niu: It is fine to drink 4–5 times per week; every single day is not necessary.

• Q (Susanna): What is the difference between black jujube (hei zao) and south jujube (nan zao)? Bro Niu: South jujube has been processed with black bean juice and other beneficial herbs, making it richer than both red jujube and black jujube. However, there is a cheap lookalike (the “horse tooth date” from Southeast Asia) that resembles black jujube and is often mislabelled — to be safe, using red jujube or south jujube is more reliable.

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Published September 5, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.