Herbal & Flower Teas
Black Mulberry, Goji and Longan Tea
Traditionally used to nourish the blood and support the eyes
Why people make this tea
Bro Niu prefers dried black mulberries to fresh ones — fresh mulberries spoil quickly, while the dried sort keep well and stay nutritious. Ripe black mulberries are traditionally valued to support the eyes, encourage graceful ageing and keep hair dark, and they carry plant compounds and vitamins long associated with everyday wellbeing. This little “mulberry, goji and longan tea” is steeped in minutes and is traditionally enjoyed to nourish the liver and kidney, replenish the blood and brighten the eyes.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Anyone wanting a sweet, gentle daily tea to support the blood and the eyes; also kind for those who feel run-down or tire easily.
- Pregnant women should leave out the longan (yuan rou) and use red dates or black dates instead.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Black mulberry (sang shen zi): Traditionally used to nourish liver and kidney, replenish blood, brighten the eyes and keep hair dark.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Long associated with supporting the eyes and overall vitality.
- Longan flesh (yuan rou): Traditionally used to nourish the blood and steady the mind (omit during pregnancy).
Ingredients (1 pot / 2 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried black mulberries | 1 tbsp | |
| Goji berries | 1 tbsp | |
| Dried longan flesh | 1 tbsp | Swap for red/black dates if pregnant |
Method
- Put all the ingredients in a pot and rinse once with boiling water.
- Pour in fresh boiling water, cover and steep for 15 minutes. Drink.
Bro Niu’s tips
Sweet and pleasant, suitable for young and old, and a kind choice for those who feel anaemic or run-down. Pregnant women should leave out the longan and use red or black dates in its place.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Xiao Ling): My eyes have been dry, slightly stinging and a bit puffy for two days; on waking it’s hard to open them. Any food-therapy to soothe them? Bro Niu: The eyes really matter — if it hasn’t settled in two days, see a doctor. Meanwhile you can simply cook mulberry leaf (sang ye) and chrysanthemum (ju hua) 3 qian each in 4 bowls of water down to 2, split over the day; adding xia ku cao 3 qian helps clear liver-heat. Take for 3 days.
- Q (May): I startle easily and my heart suddenly races; ECG and echo were normal. Any help? These days my mouth is also very dry. Bro Niu: It may be anxiety and overthinking speeding the heartbeat — relax, do things you enjoy, and don’t let outside pressures crowd in. For dry mouth, cook sha shen, yu zhu, mai dong 3 qian each with bai he 5 qian and 5 black dates in a lean-pork soup; day to day, a goji-chrysanthemum-American-ginseng tea is pleasant.
Published March 18, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
