Congee & Porridge
Pine Nut and Hemp Seed Congee
Traditionally used to moisten the intestines and ease dryness-type constipation
Why people make this congee
Constipation may not be a serious illness, but it really wears down daily life — and it tends to show up in older folks who are weak in qi, or in people recovering from illness or childbirth, where dryness and depleted fluids leave the intestines parched. Bro Niu’s point: if it isn’t a hot, excess-type problem, you shouldn’t reach for harsh, cold-natured purgatives, or you can make things worse. Nourishing seeds and nuts like walnut, sesame, pine nut and hemp seed gently moisten the bowels while also building you up.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Best for dry, fluid-deficient (“yin-deficient”) constipation; also gentle for people who are short on sleep, prone to dryness with irritability, or run-down.
- Use hemp seed in modest culinary amounts. If constipation is severe or lasts many days, see a doctor rather than relying on food alone.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pine nuts (song zi ren): sweet and warming, traditionally said to moisten the lungs and lubricate the intestines.
- Hemp seeds (huo ma ren): a classic gentle bowel-moistening seed, used here in a small culinary amount.
- White rice (bai mi): the soft congee base that carries the nourishment and is easy on the stomach.
Ingredients (2–3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pine nuts | ~37 g (1 liang) | rinsed |
| Hemp seeds | ~19 g (5 qian) | tie in a small cloth bag |
| White rice | ~75 g (2 liang) | rinsed |
Method
- Rinse the pine nuts. Place the hemp seeds in a small cloth bag (they have a hull and are hard to pick out otherwise).
- Cook the bag of hemp seed and the pine nuts together with the rinsed rice into a congee, about 1 hour.
- Remove the hemp-seed bag and serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
The hemp seeds go in a cloth bag because the husks would otherwise mix into the congee and be impossible to pick out from the pine nuts. The congee is gently nourishing and is also soothing for people who are short on sleep, dry with irritability, or constipated.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Rita Yuen): Can I use sesame in place of hemp seed? Bro Niu: Yes, you can substitute sesame — it is even more fragrant.
- Q (reader): Can people with diabetes eat this congee, and how long should I wait after Western medicine? Bro Niu: People with diabetes can eat this congee. Hemp-seed tea is also fine — just don’t add sugar. Take it about 2 hours after Western medication.
- Q (CC): Can pine nuts be eaten daily as a snack, and how much is suitable? Bro Niu: Pine nuts are sweet and warming, traditionally said to moisten the lungs and intestines. About 1–2 tablespoons a day is plenty; don’t buy too much at once or they can turn rancid.
Published September 18, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
