Herbal & Flower Teas
Fresh Mulberry and Goji Berry Tea
traditionally used to nourish liver and kidney yin, support eye health, and moisten the intestines
Why people make this tea
The entire mulberry tree is valued in traditional Chinese practice — the leaves, young shoots, root bark, branches, and fruit all have recognised uses. But it is the ripe, deep-purple berries that arrive in spring for a brief, beautiful season that Bro Niu particularly loves to make use of. They are naturally sweet, deeply coloured, and packed with anthocyanins and antioxidants that modern nutrition research associates with healthy ageing and eye protection. Fresh mulberries are also notably high in zinc, which is associated with children’s cognitive development and the prevention of age-related cognitive decline.
Combined with goji berries — themselves prized for their zeaxanthin content and liver-kidney nourishing properties — this becomes one of the simplest and most elegant seasonal teas you can make. Two ingredients. Twenty minutes. And a tea that looks and tastes like something far more complicated.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and older children; people managing diabetes can drink this tea safely.
- Particularly helpful for those with dull vision, eye fatigue from screen use, dry eyes, blood-deficiency-type constipation, or a tendency to feel dizzy.
- Regular seasonal drinking may help support skin moisture and slow premature ageing, according to traditional practice.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Fresh mulberries (sang shen, Morus alba): Rich in anthocyanins, vitamin C, and zinc; traditionally associated with nourishing liver and kidney yin, calming the spirit, supporting vision, moisturising the intestines, and nourishing the blood.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi, Lycium barbarum): Rich in zeaxanthin and antioxidants; traditionally associated with nourishing liver and kidney yin, supporting clear vision, and replenishing the blood.
Ingredients (~3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh mulberries (xian sang shen) | ~30 berries | Rinse gently before using |
| Goji berries (gou qi zi) | 2 tablespoons | Rinse briefly |
| Water | 5–6 bowls (~1.2–1.5 litres) | Reduces to ~3 bowls |
Method
- Rinse the fresh mulberries gently; rinse the goji berries briefly.
- Place both ingredients in a pot with 5–6 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for about 20 minutes until the liquid reduces to roughly 3 bowls.
- Drink the tea and eat the cooked berries.
Bro Niu’s tips
Fresh mulberries are in season from around April to June — enjoy them while they last. You can also preserve them as mulberry wine: steam fresh mulberries, let them cool completely, then submerge in rice wine (mi jiu) for one month. A small glass each day may support dark, lustrous hair and smooth, hydrated skin over time. Fresh mulberries are available at Asian grocers and some farmers’ markets during the season; dried mulberries can be used outside the season — about 5 qian (~19 g) per serving works well.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (anonymous): If using dried mulberries, how much should I use? Bro Niu: About 5 qian of dried mulberries per serving is right.
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Q (Ann): Can dried mulberries be used for making mulberry wine instead of fresh ones? Bro Niu: Yes, dried mulberries work fine for wine — but steam them first and let them cool completely before soaking in the wine. This reduces the risk of spoilage.
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Q (May, about ear ringing): Is tinnitus really incurable? I have been seeing a Chinese medicine practitioner for a month and a half with no improvement. Bro Niu: Tinnitus should be treatable in many cases — but it can arise from different causes: liver fire rising, phlegm-fire stagnation, kidney essence deficiency, or weak spleen-stomach function. Getting a clear diagnosis of which pattern applies to you is important. For poor circulation specifically, try simmering huang jing (Solomon’s seal rhizome, 5 qian), black soybean (hei dou, 1 liang), mulberry fruit (sang shen), goji berries (each 3 qian), and longan flesh (yuan rou, 5 qian) — take 4 to 5 consecutive doses and see if there is any improvement.
Published April 4, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
