Herbal & Flower Teas
Prepared Mulberry-Mistletoe, Black Soybean & Red-Date Tea
Traditionally used to nourish the blood, support complexion and harmonise the body
Why people make this tea
Mulberry mistletoe is one of Bro Niu’s favourite budget-friendly nourishing herbs. New mothers, in particular, spend their days bending over to lift the baby and often end up with an achy back — and this is just the herb traditionally turned to for that. Paired with green-kernel black soybeans and rich, mellow southern dates, it becomes a mild, gently sweet tea traditionally taken to nourish the blood, brighten the complexion and harmonise the body. Because the prepared mistletoe is far less bitter, even children will happily drink it.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits those wanting a gentle blood- and complexion-nourishing daily tea.
- Mild in nature and traditionally suitable for pregnant women, new mothers and women in menopause.
- No special caution noted in the source; this is a gentle, balanced tea.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Prepared mulberry mistletoe (sang ji sheng): Traditionally used to nourish the liver-kidney, strengthen sinews and bone, ease wind-damp, support the complexion and calm the womb.
- Green-kernel black soybean (qing ren hei dou): High in protein, low in calories; traditionally associated with supporting the liver-kidney and helping manage cholesterol.
- Southern date (nan zao): Made from quality green dates by boiling, baking and sun-drying; fragrant and mellow, nourishing without being heating — a classic for nourishing blood and complexion.
Ingredients (3.5 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prepared mulberry mistletoe (zhi sang ji sheng) | ~40 g | — |
| Green-kernel black soybeans (qing ren hei dou) | ~40 g | — |
| Southern dates (nan zao) | 6 | Zhejiang-grown is best |
| Rock sugar (bing tang) | to taste | — |
Method
- Soak and rinse the ingredients.
- Simmer in 7 bowls of water for 1 hour, reducing to about 3.5 bowls.
- Stir in rock sugar until dissolved. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Using the prepared (zhi) mulberry mistletoe gives a soup with much less bitterness, so children won’t refuse it. This tea is mild and balanced — pregnant women, new mothers and women going through menopause can all enjoy it regularly.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): Can I add an egg? Bro Niu: Yes — add a hard-boiled egg and let it soak a moment before eating.
- Q (King king): A middle-aged woman needs a hysterectomy. How should she nourish herself afterward, and how long should she rest? Bro Niu: As I’ve mentioned before, once she can drink, sip radish-and-aged-tangerine-peel water in small mouthfuls to help clear the anaesthetic faster. When she can eat congee, make a dried-scallop and tangerine-peel congee. On the third day you can simmer stonefish or sea bass soup to help deeper wounds heal, 2–3 servings a week; adding astragalus, codonopsis and red dates is even better, or pair with chayote and carrot.
- Q (King king): So on the third day I can use astragalus, codonopsis, red dates with the fish, plus carrot and chayote — six ingredients together — to help recovery? Bro Niu: Yes, the herbs can be used from the third day, but keep the amounts small, ideally under 3 qian each. One carrot and one chayote is enough. Sea bass or stonefish soup helps wounds heal faster and supports immunity.
Published June 4, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
