Walnut, Longan, Red Date & Wheat Tea

Why people make this tea

Modern life — packed schedules, chronic stress, too little sleep — takes a real toll on the brain. Traditional Chinese food therapy holds that the heart and spleen are the seat of clear thinking and memory, and that nourishing them helps the mind stay sharp and calm. This recipe is Nourilo’s everyday adaptation of the classical “Gan Mai Da Zao Tang” (Licorice, Wheat, and Jujube Decoction), a famous formula for calming the nervous system and supporting mood. Walnuts are among the most celebrated brain foods in both Eastern and Western traditions; longan flesh has been studied for its mild fatigue-fighting properties; and toasted wheat adds a gentle nutty sweetness while helping anchor a restless mind.

Method

1. Roughly chop the walnut kernels. Pit the red dates.
2. Combine all ingredients with 1.8 L of water in a pot.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
4. Cook until the liquid reduces to 900 ml (about 20–25 minutes).
5. Serve warm. You can eat the softened dates and walnuts as well.

Nourilo’s Tips

• To toast wheat at home: place raw wheat grains in a dry (un-oiled) pan over medium heat, stir for about 7 minutes until fragrant. Allow to cool completely before storing in a glass jar. For brewing as a tea, toasting is essential to draw out the flavour; for soups, raw wheat can be used directly.
• If you have toasted wheat in an oven, once cooled, store in a sealed glass jar at room temperature — no refrigerator needed.
• This tea also benefits those with neurasthenia or pale complexion. Keep to 2 servings per week.