Congee & Porridge

Mulberry, Hawthorn and Glutinous Rice Congee

Traditionally nourishes the liver and supports those with fatty-liver concerns

In short: Mulberry, Hawthorn and Glutinous Rice Congee is a congee & porridge that Traditionally nourishes the liver and supports those with fatty-liver concerns. It is most often made for digestive wellness, children's wellness, liver wellness. Total time about 1 hr 20 min. Key ingredients: hawthorn, glutinous rice, rock sugar.

Prep
10 min
Cook
1 hr 10 min
Total
1 hr 20 min
Makes
2–3 servings
Mulberry, Hawthorn and Glutinous Rice Congee

Why people make this congee

Fresh mulberries are just coming into the market, though the peak is still a month or two off. Nourilo likes them because they’re cheap when in season and are traditionally associated with nourishing the liver and brightening the eyes. This mulberry, hawthorn and glutinous rice congee is his pick for those with fatty-liver concerns, and for the dizziness, blurry vision, restless sleep, ringing ears, achy lower back or early greying that traditional thinking links to liver-and-kidney depletion.

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
  • Hawthorn · Randomized controlled trial, 41 participants · 2025
    Skin hydration scores improved more with hawthorn fruit than with placebo (p<0.05). Changes in other skin phenotypes and leukocyte telomere length were similar between groups. Genotype-specific effects were reported.Limitation: Small trial in which 36 completed follow-up; the genotype subgroup analyses are based on very few participants and are exploratory.PubMed 40573097 · 2 more hawthorn 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

  • Hawthorn: Can cause dizziness, nausea or digestive upset, and may interact with heart medicines. Little is known about its safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. Source: NIH NCCIH — Hawthorn

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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