Soups
Wheat Grain, Black Bean, Lotus Seed and Nan Jujube Soup
Traditionally used to calm the heart and support restful sleep
Why people make this soup
Sleep trouble is one of the most common city complaints — trouble falling asleep, light sleep that wakes at the smallest sound, or waking early and not being able to drift off again. Over time it leaves you frazzled, foggy and off your food. In food-therapy terms, wheat grain is seen as a food that “settles the heart,” and Bro Niu pairs it here with black soybeans, lotus seeds and sweet nan jujube. The combination is traditionally used for that restless, anxious kind of sleeplessness tied to “the heart and kidneys not communicating,” and it makes a mild, comforting bowl.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Adults who feel mentally restless and have trouble settling at night.
- It is a gentle, mild soup. If your insomnia is severe or has lasted a long time, treat this as support only and please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Wheat grain (xiao mai mi): traditionally regarded as a food that nourishes the heart-qi and calms restlessness.
- Black soybeans (hei dou): associated with supporting the kidneys.
- Lotus seeds (lian zi): traditionally used to calm the spirit; the bitter green plumule (lian xin) is said to clear “heart fire.”
- Nan jujube (nan zao): sweet dates that support the spleen and nourish blood, also said to gently support the kidneys.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat grain | ~38 g (1 tael) | Rinse and soak |
| Black soybeans | ~38 g (1 tael) | Rinse and soak |
| Lotus seeds | ~38 g (1 tael) | Leave the plumule in for a stronger effect (slightly bitter) |
| Nan jujube | 8 | — |
| Rock sugar | to taste | Stir in at the end |
Method
- Rinse and soak the wheat grain, black soybeans, lotus seeds and nan jujube.
- Add 8 bowls of water and simmer about 2 hours, reducing to 3–4 bowls.
- Stir in rock sugar until dissolved. Eat the ingredients along with the soup.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is meant to support both the heart and kidneys. If your sleeplessness comes with night sweats, you can swap the wheat grain for “floating wheat” (fu xiao mai), which Chinese herb shops sell.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (May): We can’t use wheat with the bran — can I leave it out or swap it for something? Bro Niu: You can use about 38 g (1 tael) of lily bulb (bai he) instead. Lily bulb is traditionally used to clear the heart and calm the spirit.
- Q (Li): I bought something just labelled “wheat” — is that the same? Do lotus seeds need de-coring, and can I split the 3–4 bowls over two days? Bro Niu: Wheat is the same as wheat grain. Lotus seeds left un-cored are a little bitter, but the plumule clears heart fire and is also associated with lowering blood pressure, so it works better left in. You can split the batch over two days.
- Q (Lo): Do I need to pan-toast the black beans before cooking? Bro Niu: Dry-toasting the black beans adds a warming, tonifying quality — but if you tend to run hot, skip the toasting.
Published October 11, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
