Herbal & Flower Teas

Mulberry, Goji Berry, and Red Date Tea

traditionally associated with nourishing liver and kidney essence to support vision, blood health, and hair vitality

In short: Mulberry, Goji Berry, and Red Date Tea is a herbal & flower tea that traditionally associated with nourishing liver and kidney essence to support vision, blood health, and hair vitality. It is most often made for children's wellness, skin & natural beauty, liver wellness. Total time about 25 min. Key ingredients: mulberries, goji berries, red dates, rock sugar.

Prep
10 min
Cook
15 min
Total
25 min
Makes
1–2 cups
Mulberry, Goji Berry, and Red Date Tea

Why people make this tea

When fresh mulberries come into season — deep black, plump, and glossy — it is one of those rare moments when a delicious fruit also happens to be a respected food-therapy ingredient. Classical texts describe the mulberry as the “concentrated essence of the mulberry tree” and modern research confirms it is exceptionally rich in anthocyanins, iron, and vitamin C. In Chinese food therapy, mulberries are closely associated with the liver and kidneys — the two organs traditionally linked to eye health, blood vitality, and the condition of the hair.

Combined with goji berries (another classic liver-kidney tonic) and red dates (gently nourishing to qi and blood), this simple tea works on several fronts at once: supporting vision, enriching the blood, calming the nervous system, and even contributing to hair health over time. It takes only 15 minutes to prepare and tastes like a warm, lightly tart fruit punch. When fresh mulberries are not available, dried ones work perfectly well.

Method

  1. Rinse the mulberries, goji berries, and red dates. Pit the dates and cut them into coarse strips or score them — this helps release their flavor more fully in the short cooking time.
  2. Place all ingredients in a small pot with 900 ml of water.
  3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cook for approximately 15 minutes.
  4. Add rock sugar (or brown sugar) to taste and stir until dissolved.
  5. Serve warm. Drink the tea and eat the softened fruits.

Nourilo’s Tips

Choose only fully ripe, deep-black mulberries — the red or pink ones are unripe and should not be used, as they have a sharp astringent taste and are not suitable for this recipe. When buying red dates, look for whole, unpitted ones — pre-pitted or pre-sliced dates are often of lower quality. For the dates to release enough flavor in just 15 minutes, remove the pits and cut the flesh into coarse strips before cooking. If you have made a larger batch and want to store it, keep the liquid and the fruit solids separately in the fridge — they will keep for up to 3 days that way.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Mulberries · Randomized controlled trial, 24 participants · 2017
    Post-prandial self-monitored glucose was lower than placebo (18.2%), but A1C did not differ between mulberry leaf extract and placebo. Serum creatinine rose about 15% in the extract group.Limitation: Small pilot: only 17 of 24 enrolled participants completed the study, limiting statistical power.PubMed 28619294 · 3 more mulberries studies
  • Goji berries · Meta-analysis, 161 participants · 2012
    Compared with placebo (n=80), the goji juice group (n=81) reported greater improvements in several self-rated symptoms, including stress, mental acuity, sleep quality and overall well-being, under a random effects model.Limitation: Outcomes were self-reported symptom questionnaires, and several symptoms showed significant heterogeneity across the four pooled trials of a single branded juice.PubMed 22897500 · 3 more goji berries studies
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Goji berries: A few cases of raised INR (a bleeding-risk marker) have been reported in people taking warfarin after drinking concentrated goji tea or wine. If you take a blood thinner, check with your doctor. Source: Memorial Sloan Kettering — Lycium

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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Frequently asked questions

What is this tea traditionally used for?

This tea is traditionally valued for supplementing liver and kidney essence to support eye health, nourish the blood, improve complexion, and promote hair vitality, as part of a balanced diet.

Can I use dried mulberries if fresh ones are not available?

Yes. When fresh mulberries are not available, dried ones work perfectly well. The recipe calls for 38 g of fresh mulberries or 19 g of dried mulberries.

Which mulberries should I avoid using in this recipe?

Only fully ripe, deep-black mulberries should be used. Red or pink mulberries are unripe, have a sharp astringent taste, and are not suitable for this recipe.

How much does this recipe make and how long does it take?

The recipe yields 1–2 cups and takes approximately 25 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking.

How should I store any leftover tea?

Keep the liquid and the fruit solids separately in the fridge — they will keep for up to 3 days that way.

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