Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb, Longan and Goji Berry Soup

Why people make this soup

There is a particular kind of tiredness where your body is exhausted but your mind refuses to stop — thoughts racing at 2am, heart pounding for no clear reason, a vague sense of dread you cannot name. Chinese food therapy calls this pattern a disturbance of the heart-mind (xin shen), and has been addressing it with lotus seeds, lily bulb and longan for centuries. The clever detail in this recipe is that Nourilo keeps the green embryo inside the fresh lotus seeds. It is slightly bitter, and that bitterness is precisely where the calming effect on racing thoughts and palpitations comes from in the traditional logic. Most commercial lotus seeds have the embryo removed — here, it stays in. Combined with the gentle, slightly sweet lily bulb and the blood-nourishing warmth of longan, this is a soup that tastes light and pleasant while quietly doing serious work on the nervous system.

Method

1. Rinse the fresh lotus seeds. If using fresh lotus seeds with the embryo, leave the green centre intact.
2. Separate the lily bulb into individual petals and rinse gently.
3. Rinse the longan flesh and goji berries.
4. Place the lotus seeds and longan flesh in a pot with 1.5 L of water. Bring to a boil.
5. Once boiling, add the lily bulb and goji berries. Simmer for a further 15 minutes.
6. Taste and adjust — serve lightly salted as a savoury soup, or add a small amount of rock sugar for a sweet version.

Nourilo’s Tips

This soup has a wonderfully delicate, clean flavour. It can be enjoyed savoury or sweet depending on your preference — both are traditional. Regular consumption is associated with supporting brain function, stabilising the mood, and a gentle anti-ageing effect on the skin. Those with dry, hard stools should reduce or omit the lotus seeds and add a few dried figs or sweet apricot kernels to keep the bowels moving. Dried lily bulb (38 g) and dried lotus seeds (38 g) can be used when the fresh versions are not available — dried lily should be soaked first.