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.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for a wide range of people — those with eye strain or screen fatigue, women after menstruation or childbirth, anyone with a pale complexion or thinning hair, and those experiencing poor sleep or mild nervous exhaustion
• Nutritionally beneficial for those with low iron or mild anemia (though diagnosed anemia requires medical management)
• Those with weak digestion or frequent loose stools should drink this in smaller amounts and less frequently — mulberries are moistening and cooling
• Unripe (still red) mulberries should not be used; wait for them to be fully black and ripe
• Children should not eat large quantities of fresh mulberries due to the tannins interfering with iron and calcium absorption, but a moderate amount of this tea is fine
• Brown sugar can be used in place of rock sugar — Bro Niu confirms this is fine

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Mulberries (sang shen zi): Sweet and cooling; in traditional Chinese food therapy, deeply associated with nourishing liver and kidney yin, supporting blood, moistening the intestines, and benefiting the eyes; modern research aligns with this — anthocyanins support retinal health and microcirculation
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): Sweet and neutral; one of the most widely used tonic ingredients for supplementing liver and kidney essence, supporting visual acuity, and contributing to overall vitality
• Red dates (hong zao): Gently supplementing to qi and blood; calm the nervous system, add natural sweetness, and improve the palatability of the tea

Ingredients (1–2 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh mulberries	1 liang (~38 g)	Deep black, fully ripe; or use 5 qian dried
Goji berries	4 qian (~15 g)	Rinse briefly
Red dates, pitted	8 pieces	Pit and score or cut into strips for better flavor release
Rock sugar (or brown sugar)	To taste	Add at the end
Water	3 bowls

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 3 bowls 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.

Bro Niu’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.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Amy): I live in the United States and cannot find fresh mulberries. Can I use dried ones from a Chinese herb shop? I work long hours at a computer and my eyes become dry and painful in the afternoons. Will this tea help? Bro Niu: Dried mulberries work perfectly for this recipe. This tea is designed to supplement liver and kidney essence, which supports visual comfort — it is very appropriate for your situation. Use 5 qian of dried mulberries in place of 1 liang fresh.

• Q (anonymous): Can I make a bigger batch and store it in the fridge? Should I keep the fruit and liquid separately? Bro Niu: Yes, you can store this tea in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep the fruit and the liquid in separate containers — it stores better that way.

• Q (nfc_babe): Can I use brown sugar instead of rock sugar? Bro Niu: Yes, brown sugar is fine. No problem with using it in this recipe.

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Published March 5, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.