Nourilo

Herbal & Flower Teas

Longan Goji Berry Tea

traditionally associated with nourishing blood, calming the mind, and supporting vision

By · Registered Nutritionist & TCM Practitioner

Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 min
Makes
1–2 cups
Sleep & CalmBlood NourishmentEye WellnessEveryday Balance
Longan Goji Berry Tea

Why people make this tea

Fresh longan season is one of those brief, special windows in the Cantonese food calendar. The flesh is delicate and almost translucent, naturally sweet, and far more vibrant than the dried version used in most teas. When Nourilo spotted fresh longans at the market, he remembered a tip he had encountered: fresh longan flesh paired with goji berries, cooked into a simple tea, is traditionally said to be particularly beneficial for various types of declining vision. He tried it and found it genuinely pleasant — the sweetness of the longan is balanced by the faint earthy quality of the goji, and the stone adds a subtle additional dimension from the seed’s own properties.

This tea is primarily a blood-nourishing, mind-calming drink. Longan is warming by nature, so it should be used in moderation — not daily over long periods — and avoided altogether by those with heat or inflammatory signs.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is the longan stone left in during cooking?

The stone is not discarded because it has its own food-therapy value — it is traditionally used to regulate qi and relieve pain mildly. There is no safety concern with cooking it in the tea.

Is this tea suitable for people who tend to run hot or have signs of internal heat?

No. Longan is warming by nature and should be avoided altogether by those with heat or inflammatory signs. Those who run hot or have a thick tongue coating are advised to substitute the longan with about 38 g of dried lily bulb, cooked the same way for 15 minutes.

What is this tea traditionally associated with?

This tea is a classic pairing in Cantonese food therapy, traditionally associated with nourishing blood, calming a restless mind, and supporting eye health and mental clarity.

How much does one batch make, and how long does it take?

One batch yields 1 to 2 cups and serves 1 person. It takes about 5 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to simmer, for a total of around 20 minutes.

Should this tea be made with fresh or dried longan, and can you eat the fruit?

This recipe specifically calls for fresh longan, whose flesh is more delicate and vibrant than the dried version. After simmering, you drink the tea and eat both the longan flesh and the goji berries.

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