Snow Fungus, Goji Berry and Red Date Sweet Soup

Why people make this dessert soup

Summer is not the right season for heavy, rich tonics — but the body still needs gentle nourishment, especially for people who stay up late or look pale from overwork. Bro Niu has long recommended snow fungus as a wonderful, affordable alternative to bird’s nest: it contains natural plant-based polysaccharides that act similarly to collagen, supporting skin elasticity and smoothness without any of the hormonal concerns sometimes associated with bird’s nest. Combined with goji berries and red dates, this sweet soup is mildly nourishing and easy to digest, even in warm weather.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Well suited to adults who feel fatigued, look pale, or want gentle daily support for skin health and energy.
• Suitable for most constitutions, including those that run warm — the soup is moistening without being heavy.
• Can be drunk during menstruation; brown sugar is a particularly good choice at this time.
• Pregnant women may ask their doctor before drinking, as individual circumstances vary.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Snow fungus (xue er, Tremella fuciformis): Inexpensive and widely available. Contains polysaccharides that function similarly to plant-based collagen, traditionally associated with smoother, more elastic skin, reduced wrinkles, and lung-nourishing properties. Unlike bird’s nest, it is not linked to hormonal concerns.
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): Classically used in Chinese food therapy to nourish the liver and kidneys, support eye health, and supplement blood.
• Red dates (hong zao): Warming and sweet. One of the most fundamental blood-nourishing and qi-supporting foods in Cantonese cooking. Pitting them before cooking makes the soup cleaner and sweeter.
• Rock sugar (bing tang): Cooling and moistening; balances the warming red dates. Brown sugar (hong tang) is a warmer alternative that more directly supports blood nourishment — a good choice during or after menstruation.

Ingredients (3–4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried snow fungus (xue er)	~11 g	Soak until fully expanded; remove the tough yellow base
Goji berries (gou qi zi)	1 tbsp	Rinse briefly before use
Red dates (hong zao), pitted	8 pieces	Pit them for a sweeter, cleaner broth
Rock sugar or brown sugar	to taste	Rock sugar is cooling; brown sugar is warming and blood-nourishing
Water	7 bowls (~1.3 L)

Method

1. Soak the snow fungus in cold water for 20–30 minutes until it expands and softens fully. Trim away the tough, yellowish base and tear the fungus into smaller pieces.
2. Rinse the goji berries; pit the red dates.
3. Place snow fungus, red dates, and goji berries in a pot with 7 bowls of water.
4. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 1 hour.
5. Add rock sugar (or brown sugar) to taste and stir until dissolved. Serve warm, eating the softened fungus and dates.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup is pleasantly nourishing without being rich — a safe choice even in hot weather. Eat the snow fungus and goji berries for full benefit; don’t just drink the broth. Rock sugar has a cooling, moistening quality; brown sugar is warmer and more directly supports blood. During or after menstruation, brown sugar is the better choice.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Bobo): Can I use brown sugar instead of rock sugar? Bro Niu: Yes, brown sugar works well — rock sugar is cooling and moistening, while brown sugar is gently warming and nourishing for blood. No problem at all.

• Q (Bobo): Can this be eaten during menstruation? Which sugar is better at that time? Bro Niu: Fine to eat during menstruation. Brown sugar is the better choice at that time.

• Q (reader, male): Will this make a man feel hot? Bro Niu (implied from article context): The soup is gentle and moistening rather than heating — men can drink it without concern.

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Published May 24, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.