Soups
Longan, Lotus Seed, Sour Jujube Seed, and Fresh Baby Abalone Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the heart and calm the mind, supporting emotional wellbeing and sleep
Why people make this soup
City living brings enormous pressures. When stress becomes chronic and the mind feels perpetually unsettled, it is common in Chinese food therapy to look for ways to nourish the heart and calm the spirit from within. Traditional Chinese medicine recognises a pattern called heart-spleen deficiency, in which prolonged worry, overthinking, or emotional strain depletes both the heart (which governs the spirit and sleep) and the spleen (which governs digestion and blood production). The result is a cluster of familiar modern complaints: persistent low mood, difficulty concentrating, anxious thoughts, poor sleep, forgetfulness, pallor, and fatigue. This soup was designed for exactly that pattern. Longan flesh, lotus seeds, and sour jujube seed are three of the most respected ingredients in Chinese food therapy for calming the mind and supporting restful sleep; the baby abalone adds delicate nourishment. Together the soup is pleasant to eat, and many families make it regularly as a stress-period tonic.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults experiencing low mood, anxiety, poor concentration, fatigue, and disrupted sleep associated with heart-spleen deficiency.
- CAUTION: Longan (yuan rou) is warming and slightly sweet; it should be avoided by people with diabetes and by pregnant women. A suitable substitution is dried lily bulb (bai he) 1 liang.
- This soup is a wellness support tool. It does not replace professional mental health treatment.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Longan flesh (yuan rou): Traditionally associated with nourishing blood, calming the heart-spirit, improving sleep, and supporting brain function. Warming in nature.
- Fresh lotus seeds (xian lian zi): Associated with nourishing the heart and calming the spirit, strengthening the spleen, and mildly astringent to counter diarrhoea. The inner green embryo (lian xin) is bitter and should be removed before cooking.
- Sour jujube seed (suan zao ren): One of the most widely used Chinese calming herbs. Traditionally associated with nourishing heart yin, quieting the spirit, and improving sleep quality. Often used in both food therapy and herbal medicine for anxiety and insomnia.
- Fresh baby abalone: Traditionally considered nourishing for the liver and kidney, adding protein and mineral content to the soup. Also associated with improving vision and calming the mind.
- Fresh ginger: Warms the stomach and aids digestion of the richer ingredients.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried longan flesh (yuan rou) | 5 qian (~19 g) | — |
| Fresh lotus seeds (xian lian zi) | 2 liang (~75 g) | Remove green inner embryo |
| Sour jujube seed (suan zao ren) | 3 qian (~11 g) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Fresh ginger | 3 slices | — |
| Baby fresh abalone | 300 g | Clean well; blanch briefly in boiling water |
| Water | 7 bowls (approx. 1.75 litres) | — |
Method
- Remove the green embryo from each fresh lotus seed; rinse the lotus seeds clean.
- Rinse and briefly soak the sour jujube seed; set aside.
- Clean the baby abalone thoroughly, removing any viscera; blanch briefly in boiling water and drain.
- Place all ingredients except the abalone into a pot with 7 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- After 1 hour, add the abalone to the pot.
- Continue simmering for another 30 minutes until liquid reduces to 4 bowls.
- Serve the soup and eat the solid ingredients together.
Bro Niu’s tips
Longan flesh is a wonderful ingredient for nourishing the blood and calming the spirit, and it makes this soup naturally sweet. However, if you or the person you are making it for is pregnant or diabetic, swap the longan for 1 liang of dried lily bulb (bai he) — it is a good substitute that also calms the mind without the warming, sweet properties of longan. This soup is best eaten regularly over a period of time rather than as a one-off — emotional and nervous exhaustion takes time to recover from, and consistent nourishment helps.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (仪妺): My daughter-in-law always has cold hands and feet. She also experienced hair loss after having a baby. Is there anything you can suggest? Bro Niu: For both cold extremities and postpartum hair loss, try a soup with: zhi shou wu (processed he shou wu) 5 qian, green-seed black beans 1 liang, walnut meat 5 qian, longan flesh 5 qian, gui zhi (cinnamon twig) 3 qian, fresh ginger 3 slices, and red dates 6 pieces — simmer in 8 bowls of water to make a chicken soup. Can be divided over 2 days and drunk regularly.
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Q (匿名访客): My knees are very stiff and I struggle to squat or stand back up. What food therapy might help? Bro Niu: Try: lemon grass (xiang mao) 6 stalks sliced, green apple 2 pieces (deseeded and sliced), fresh or turmeric ginger 6–8 slices, a little rock sugar, simmered in 5 bowls of water to 2 bowls — drink over a day, for 4–5 days. This may help ease discomfort.
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Q (访客): My daughter is 3 years old and has had a rash for a few days but no fever now. Can she drink this abalone soup? Bro Niu: If the rash has subsided, she can drink this soup.
Published December 13, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
