Soups

Snow Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Fresh Lotus Seed Dessert Soup

traditionally used to nourish the spleen, support skin health, and calm the mind

In short: Snow Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Fresh Lotus Seed Dessert Soup is a soup that traditionally used to nourish the spleen, support skin health, and calm the mind. It is most often made for digestive wellness, skin & natural beauty, sleep & calm. Total time about 130 min. Key ingredients: lily bulb, lotus seeds, red dates, rock sugar.

Prep
70 min
Cook
60 min
Total
130 min
Makes
1.2–1.5 L
Snow Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Fresh Lotus Seed Dessert Soup

Why people make this dessert soup

You may have heard of “snow lotus seeds” sold at a premium with claims that they are seeds from the rare Tianshan snow lotus flower. In fact, they are soap pod seeds (zao jiao mi) — the seeds of a locust tree variety (Gleditsia sinensis) — a genuinely useful ingredient in its own right, just not a luxury botanical. Once the market corrected itself and prices dropped, these seeds became a popular everyday ingredient. They are rich in plant protein and contain a natural gel that becomes silky-soft when cooked, which makes them prized for their skin-nourishing properties.

Combined with dried lily bulb (which traditionally calms the heart and eases anxiety), fresh lotus seeds (which settle and strengthen the digestive system and calm the spirit), and red dates (which support blood and energy), this dessert soup is a classic autumn and winter preparation — warm, nourishing, and well-suited to the dry, cool weather that tends to leave skin parched and sleep disrupted.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Lotus seeds · Randomized crossover trial, 10 participants · 2019
    Lotus seed meals had a low glycemic index (GI 21–51 across the lotus seed and adzuki bean meals), while several other starchy foods did not differ significantly from rice. Lotus seed's in vitro hydrolysis index was also lower than that of other test foods.Limitation: Only ten healthy participants and acute single-meal tests, so findings may not apply to people with diabetes or to long-term intake.PubMed 30875961
  • Red dates · Meta-analysis, 483 participants · 2025
    Jujube was associated with significantly lower BMI and triglycerides, and lower fasting blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. LDL and total cholesterol fell only in some subgroups. HDL, AST and ALT did not change significantly.Limitation: The authors state the overall quality of the evidence is limited, and results varied significantly by dose, treatment duration and disease type.PubMed 40399274 · 3 more red dates studies

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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