Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Ophiopogon Soup

Why people make this soup

Midsummer brings an abundance of fresh lotus seeds to the markets — plump, green, and fragrant. Traditional Cantonese cooks consider this a seasonal reminder to make this soothing soup. Unlike dried lotus seeds, fresh ones have a clean, delicate flavour and a creamy texture, and they include the small, intensely bitter green core (the embryo), which is the part traditionally valued for its cooling, heart-calming properties.

This is a go-to remedy for anyone feeling restless in the heat of summer — or for parents whose children are unsettled, irritable, and sleeping poorly after illness. The combination of lotus seed core, lily bulb, and ophiopogon root is one of those classic, time-tested formulas that people in the Cantonese tradition reach for when the body is “over-heated inside” — a pattern that might manifest as a dry mouth, night sweating, difficulty settling down, or lingering discomfort after a fever. It is a simple soup, quick to make, and genuinely calming.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for adults and children who feel restless, irritable, or have difficulty sleeping — especially after illness or in hot weather
• Good for those with dry lips from over-consuming cold drinks in summer
• Can be used as a regular “open-milk tea” (kai nai cha) for children when made with dry lotus seeds, adding bulrush (deng xin cao) for extra calming effect — one reader used it this way for a baby as young as a few months
• CAUTION: Do not use during active cold, flu, or fever — the nourishing nature of the soup may interfere with the body’s clearing of the pathogen
• CAUTION: Ophiopogon root (mai dong) has cardiac-active properties due to its core; those with heart disease should use it with caution and consult a doctor
• People taking sleeping medication or antidepressants can drink this soup — simply space it 2 hours apart from medications

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Fresh lotus seeds with core (lian zi): The flesh of the lotus seed strengthens the spleen and calms the mind; the core (lian zi xin) is intensely bitter and traditionally associated with clearing heart fire and lowering blood pressure — keeping it in makes this soup more effective for restlessness and heat
• Dried lily bulb (bai he): One of the classic calming herbs in traditional food therapy; associated with nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, easing dry cough, and soothing unsettled emotions
• Ophiopogon root (mai dong): A slender, starchy root considered sweet and slightly cold; associated with nourishing yin and generating body fluids — particularly helpful for post-illness dryness, thirst, and lingering heat

Ingredients (3–4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh lotus seeds (with core)	80 g	Keep the bitter green core
Dried lily bulb	40 g	Rinse gently
Ophiopogon root (mai dong)	11 g

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients gently with water.
2. Place everything in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for 45 minutes.
4. Serve as a plain soup, or sweeten with a little rock sugar. The lotus seeds and other ingredients can be eaten along with the broth.

Bro Niu’s tips

The lotus seed skin (the thin outer layer) is actually beneficial for blood and should not be removed. If you prefer the lotus seed to be less bitter, split the seeds open and remove the green core; if you want maximum heart-cooling benefit, keep the core in. This soup is especially helpful for those whose lips have become dry and cracked from drinking too many cold beverages in summer. During any active illness or external pathogen (common cold, flu), do not serve this soup — wait until recovery. You can add lean pork and a piece of dried tangerine peel to make it warmer in nature and easier on the stomach.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Nick, parent): My 3-year-old daughter has been unsettled at night, crying out frequently for mum. She has been having repeated colds. Is it safe to give her this soup when she still has some residual phlegm and cough? Bro Niu: You can use fresh lotus seeds with core (1 liang), lily bulb (1 liang), bulrush grass (deng xin cao, 6 bundles), ophiopogon root (3 qian), and dried tangerine peel (1 piece). Cook with 5 bowls of water to make 2 bowls. Have her drink it for 3 consecutive days and see if it helps. Also spend time talking with your daughter to understand what might be making her anxious at bedtime.

• Q (谭妈妈, parent): My 14-month-old is restless at night, sweats a lot in sleep, and has been teething. Can I use this soup? Bro Niu: Try using lotus seeds (5 qian), lily bulb (5 qian), bulrush grass (6 bundles), and floating wheat (fu xiao mai, 5 qian). Cook with 5 bowls of water to make 1.5 bowls, and give it to the baby spread over one day. Three doses in a row will help calm the mind and stop excessive sweating. Add 3 qian of prince ginseng (tai zi shen) to help strengthen immunity.

• Q (reader): Can this soup be used as a regular “open-milk tea” for a baby? Bro Niu: Yes, adding 6 bundles of bulrush grass (deng xin cao) and making it with dry lotus seeds from a Chinese herb shop works well as a regular calming tea for babies.

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Published July 19, 2015 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.