Soups
Longan and Lily Bulb Soup
traditionally used to calm the mind and support restful sleep
Why people make this soup
When life keeps your mind racing long past bedtime, traditional Chinese food therapy has long turned to simple, nourishing brews rather than complicated remedies. This two-ingredient soup pairs dried longan flesh with lily bulb — two ingredients that have been used in Cantonese kitchens for generations to settle an overexcited nervous system. It is light, mildly sweet, and easy enough to make on a weeknight. Bro Niu recommends sipping it consistently over several days rather than expecting overnight results.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People who have trouble falling asleep, wake easily in the night, or feel mentally drained after poor sleep
- Adults and children alike (in reduced amounts for children)
- Pregnant women should not use longan flesh, as it is warming and may be too stimulating. A suitable substitute is fu shen (茯神, poria heart) at the same quantity (5 qian / ~19 g)
- Those with diabetes or high blood sugar should check with their doctor before consuming longan regularly, as it is relatively sweet
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Longan flesh (long yan rou / yuan rou): In traditional food therapy, longan is associated with nourishing the heart, calming anxiety, and easing mental fatigue. It is warming and sweet, and is thought to benefit the brain and nervous system.
- Lily bulb (bai he): Lily bulb is considered cooling and is traditionally used to clear unsettled heat from the heart, ease restless thoughts, and support a more settled emotional state. It is particularly associated with the kind of anxious wakefulness that comes with nervous exhaustion.
Ingredients (1 bowl)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried longan flesh (yuan rou) | ~19 g (5 qian) | Available at Chinese herbalists and some Asian supermarkets |
| Dried lily bulb (bai he) | ~38 g (1 liang) | Use the pale, dried variety from a herbalist |
Method
- Rinse longan flesh and lily bulb briefly under cold water.
- Place both ingredients in a small pot with 3 bowls of water (approximately 750 ml).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for 20 minutes until the liquid reduces to about 1 bowl.
- Drink the liquid and eat the cooked ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
Both men and women can enjoy this brew. Pregnant women should swap out the longan and use fu shen (poria heart, 茯神) at 5 qian instead — it provides calming benefits without the warming nature of longan. For best results, drink for a week consecutively; once symptoms improve, you can stop.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Laura): My mother is about 60, has slightly elevated blood pressure, and suffers chronic insomnia. Is this soup suitable for her? Bro Niu: As long as she does not have diabetes, she can drink this regularly. You might also look for a packaged “elderly sleep tea” at Chinese supermarkets — steep one sachet about two hours before bed. It is very gentle and affordable.
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Q (Connie): Can this soup be drunk every day? Bro Niu: You can drink it for a week in a row. Once the symptoms settle, take a break.
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Q (Carrie): I have had nervous exhaustion for many years — frequent dizziness, poor sleep quality, shortness of breath, and I also have high readings on all three markers (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol). What soups might help? Bro Niu: For nervous exhaustion, schisandra berry juice (五味子汁, wu wei zi) has shown helpful results in recent years — it is sold in individual packets at Korean supermarkets. For the combined issues of insomnia, dampness, and constipation, try a brew of poria (fu ling), white atractylodes (bai zhu), and hyacinth bean skin (bian dou yi) at 3 qian each, with柏子仁 (biota seed) at 5 qian and 4 figs, in 5 bowls of water reduced to 2 bowls. Take 3 to 4 doses and see if things improve.
Published September 5, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
