Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Longan Sweet Soup

Why people make this sweet soup

Sometimes life gets stressful in entirely ordinary ways — parents anxiously preparing for school admissions, adults managing work pressure, teenagers facing exams. Chronic low-grade anxiety, restless nights, and that frazzled, depleted feeling are the kinds of everyday struggles this gentle sweet soup has been made for in Chinese households for generations. In traditional food therapy, lotus seeds, lily bulb, and longan together are said to nourish the heart and spleen — the organ systems associated with housing the spirit and governing blood. The result is a dessert that is genuinely pleasant to eat, simple to prepare, and soothing in a very real sense. A bowl before bed is a small but meaningful act of self-care.

Method

1. Soak and rinse the lotus seeds and dried lily bulb. Rinse the longan flesh.
2. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 1.8 L of water.
3. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
4. Cook for 45 minutes until the lotus seeds are tender.
5. Add rock sugar, stir until dissolved, and serve warm or at room temperature.

Nourilo’s Tips

This sweet soup is one of those recipes Nourilo recommends keeping in rotation — it is suitable for all ages, tastes good warm or chilled, and has no ingredients that are hard to find or expensive. For pregnant women, swapping the longan for south jujube dates (nan zao) gives a similarly warming and blood-nourishing result that is safe throughout pregnancy.