Steamed Mulberry Mistletoe, Lotus Seed and Egg Sweet Tea

Why people make this tea

Old Cantonese teahouses used to serve a mulberry-mistletoe, lotus-seed and egg sweet tea, but as flashier desserts took over, this faintly bitter classic slipped off the menu. Nourilo thinks that is a shame — mulberry mistletoe is cheap yet well loved in traditional kitchens, said to nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen sinew and bone, and settle the body. These days pharmacies sell a steamed version that loses the bitterness while keeping its gentle reputation, so the tea is mild enough for the whole family.