Soups
Longan, Walnut, Nan-Jujube and Wheat-Berry Soup
Traditionally nourishes the mind and supports restful sleep
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu often reminds older friends that the brain, like the body, needs to stay active — pick up something new to learn, play a board game, even a round of mahjong all keep the mind working. Alongside that, he likes eating brain-friendly foods: whole grains, beans, nuts like walnuts, dark leafy and colourful vegetables, fresh fish and berries. This particular soup is traditionally used to nourish the mind, steady the mood and support sleep.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Older adults who want to keep the mind sharp; also good for younger people who feel scattered, dizzy or forgetful
- Mild and fragrant — suitable for young and old
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Dried longan flesh (yuan rou): traditionally used to nourish the heart-blood and calm the mind
- Walnut kernels (he tao rou): long associated in food therapy with supporting the brain
- Nan-jujube (nan zao): traditionally used to nourish blood and settle the spirit
- Wheat berries (xiao mai mi): associated with calming the mind and easing restlessness
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried longan flesh | ~19 g (5 qian) | rinsed |
| Walnut kernels | ~38 g (1 liang) | rinsed |
| Nan-jujube | 5 | rinsed |
| Wheat berries | ~38 g (1 liang) | rinsed |
Method
- Rinse all the ingredients.
- Cook in 7 bowls of water for 1 hour, reducing to 3–4 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is clean and fragrant, fine for young and old. It is also traditionally seen as helpful for younger people who often feel foggy, dizzy or whose memory has slipped.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (L L): My 15-year-old daughter’s eczema flares from exam stress — face, inner elbows and behind the knees break out and the skin flakes white. Any soup to help? Bro Niu: Try dan shen ~11 g, wheat berries ~38 g, honey-fried gan cao ~8 g, fu shen ~19 g and 5 nan-jujube in 8 bowls of water for 1 hour down to 4 bowls; drink over 2 days, two batches (4 days). It traditionally helps ease stress and settle the mind. Separately, a mung bean, job’s-tears and lily-bulb sweet soup for the whole family is associated with clearing heat and soothing rashes.
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Q (Xiao Ke): My digestion and energy are poor. A Chinese-medicine doctor said my middle burner is blocked, hot above and cold below, easily damp with deficient fire; my stools are loose, my liver and kidney are weak so my neck and shoulders ache. He says fix the spleen and stomach first, but the medicine keeps relapsing. Any everyday food therapy? Bro Niu: Si shen tang is the gentlest for the spleen and stomach while clearing damp: shan yao, lotus seed, fu ling and qian shi (each ~19 g), 1 piece chen pi, 2 ginger slices, ~300 g lean pork, 8 bowls of water down to 4. Drink over 2 days; the whole family can have it, 2–3 batches a week. Day to day, a red date and millet congee supports the spleen and stomach. Get the digestion right first, then tackle the rest.
Published April 21, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
