Mulberry Schisandra Wheat-Grain Tea

Why people make this tea

Bro Niu has a soft spot for wheat-grain porridge — as a child, a bowl of it at the tea-house was a rare and cosy treat, said to settle the mind, brighten the complexion and strengthen the spleen. You won’t find it in restaurants today, but it’s easy to make at home. Here he turns the same grain into a tea, adding schisandra to boost qi and encourage saliva and mulberry to nourish the blood and calm the mind — a comforting brew for those who feel nervously worn out or struggle with sleep.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Those who feel run-down, easily exhausted, or have trouble sleeping; also helpful for those who sweat in their sleep (night sweats).
• Nursing mothers should not use wheat grain, so this tea is not for them.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Mulberry (sang shen zi): Traditionally used to nourish and tonify the blood, brighten the eyes and calm the mind.
• Schisandra (wu wei zi): Traditionally used to boost qi, encourage saliva, tonify the kidney and quiet the heart.
• Wheat grain (mai mi): Traditionally regarded as calming the mind and strengthening the spleen.

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Mulberry (sang shen zi)	2 tbsp	Rinsed
Schisandra (wu wei zi)	1 tbsp	Rinsed
Wheat grain (mai mi)	2 tbsp	Rinsed

Method

1. Rinse all the ingredients.
2. Place into a pot with 6 bowls of water.
3. Simmer for about 45 minutes until reduced to 3 bowls. Serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is fragrant with a gentle tartness and is also very helpful for those who sweat during sleep. Remember: nursing mothers should not use wheat grain.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (reader): Bro Niu, hello. If I eat wheat grain, red beans or other beans, I get an uncomfortable, bloated stomach afterwards — does that mean my digestion is poor? What can I eat to help? Bro Niu: Beans do tend to cause bloating, so when cooking bean soups, soak them in clean water for at least half an hour first and pour that water away — it removes some of the gas-causing substances on the bean skins. Then add a piece of tangerine peel (chen pi) to help with the qi, and it will be much better. Give it a try.

• Q (reader): Thank you Bro Niu. If I soak the beans overnight, would that be not so good? Bro Niu: Soaking beans overnight is fine; but fungi such as wood ear should not be soaked too long.

• Q (Christine): Bro Niu, I drink about 5 litres of water a day, yet I often have a dry, thirsty mouth and water retention. How can I improve this? Bro Niu: You can use American ginseng slices 1 tbsp, ophiopogon (mai dong) 1 tbsp and sliced astragalus (bei qi) 1 tbsp steeped as a tea; refill until light, for 3–4 days — traditionally used to encourage saliva, ease dryness and reduce dry mouth and puffiness.

---

Published June 15, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.