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. Bro Niu 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.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Anyone who tires easily, feels a touch of chest tightness, or simply wants a warming, nourishing sweet tea; it is also traditionally favoured by women in early pregnancy and after childbirth.
• If you have a genuinely irregular, too-fast or too-slow heartbeat, this is supportive only — please see a doctor to find the underlying cause first.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Steamed mulberry mistletoe (zhi sang ji sheng): traditionally used to nourish the liver and kidneys, strengthen sinew and bone, and steady the body; the steamed form is less bitter.
• Lotus seeds (lian zi): long associated with calming the spirit and supporting the heart.
• Red dates (hong zao): traditionally used to nourish the blood and add natural sweetness.
• Eggs (ji dan): add nourishment and make the tea smooth and satisfying.

Ingredients (2–3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Steamed mulberry mistletoe	~38 g (1 tael)	Rinse and soak
Fresh lotus seeds	~75 g (or ~38 g dried)	Remove green core
Red dates	6	Pitted
Eggs	2–3	Hard-boiled, shelled
Rock sugar	to taste	Add at the end

Method

1. Hard-boil the eggs, then peel.
2. Rinse and soak the mulberry mistletoe; remove the cores from the lotus seeds; pit the red dates.
3. Simmer the mistletoe, lotus seeds and dates in 7 bowls of water for about 40 minutes, reducing to 2–3 bowls.
4. Add the peeled eggs and rock sugar; once the sugar dissolves, serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is smooth, fragrant and nourishing — fine for young and old. It is traditionally regarded as helpful for those who tire easily or feel chest tightness, and is a favourite for pregnant and postpartum women.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Josie): I’m 13 weeks pregnant and have frequent headaches lately. Is there a soup that could help? I’m in Australia and can’t get your book. Bro Niu: (Answered directly to her.) My book is out of print and only turns up occasionally on second-hand book sites.
• Q (YK): How can I regulate ovulation-phase bleeding? And can someone with uterine fibroids eat deer-foetus paste? Bro Niu: With uterine fibroids, avoid foods high in hormones such as deer foetus, any foetal products, bird’s nest, seahorse or hashima. For ovulation bleeding, it’s best to see a doctor to find the cause. You can also simmer 1 bundle of fresh imperata root, 3 fresh lotus-root nodes and 1 snow pear in water for 20 minutes — this helps cool the blood and ease bleeding.

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Published August 20, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.