Longan, Red Date, Goji Berry and Peach Resin Sweet Soup

Why people make this soup

During an extended period of stress and low mood, eating something genuinely nourishing and delicious is one of the most practical acts of self-care there is. Bro Niu put this sweet soup together for exactly that reason. Peach resin — the translucent amber droplets that ooze from peach tree bark — has earned the nickname “people’s bird’s nest” for its gelatinous, collagen-rich texture. It is far more affordable than bird’s nest, widely available in Chinese herb shops, and when soaked overnight swells into a beautiful jelly-like mass. Combined with longan for its traditional heart-calming properties, red dates and goji berries for blood nourishment, and rock sugar for gentle sweetness, this becomes a dessert that feels like a treat and functions like a tonic.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for people experiencing mental stress, difficulty falling asleep, palpitations, forgetfulness, or a sense of anxiety and unease
• Also associated with supporting the skin and aiding bowel regularity in dry conditions
• Fine for the whole family as a warming dessert in cold or dry weather
• Caution: pregnant women should not eat this dish (peach resin is not recommended during pregnancy)
• Caution: people with kidney disease should avoid peach resin

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Peach resin (tao jiao): A solidified tree resin; high in plant-based gelatinous compounds; traditionally associated with moistening the intestines, nourishing the skin, and calming the spirit; often compared to bird’s nest for texture and skin-nourishing properties
• Dried longan flesh (yuan rou): One of the classic herbs for nourishing the heart and spleen; traditionally used to calm anxiety, support memory, and ease palpitations
• Red dates (hong zao): Nourish the blood and calm the mind; one of the most universally used food-therapy ingredients
• Goji berries (gou qi zi): Nourish the liver and kidney yin; add colour and a gentle sweetness
• Rock sugar (bing tang): Preferred over white sugar in food therapy for its mildly cooling and moistening quality

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried longan flesh	~19 g	Rinse
Red dates	6 pieces	Pit and rinse
Goji berries	~11 g	Rinse
Peach resin	~38 g	Soak in cold water for 10 hours or overnight; remove any impurities; rinse well
Rock sugar	to taste	Add at end

Method

1. Soak the peach resin in cold water for at least 10 hours (overnight is ideal). The resin will swell significantly — pick out any bark or dark debris, then rinse well.
2. Rinse the longan, goji berries, and dates; pit the dates.
3. Place all ingredients except the rock sugar in a pot with 7 bowls of cold water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 40 minutes until roughly 4 bowls remain.
5. Stir in rock sugar to taste and simmer until dissolved.
6. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Bro Niu’s tips

Peach resin is very hard before soaking — do not try to rush the soaking time; overnight is best. Once soaked, it can be stored in the fridge for a day or two if needed. This sweet soup is particularly nice in cold or dry weather. For those who want to prepare in advance: once the resin has been soaked, it can be refrigerated and used as needed.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (reader): Can the soaked peach resin be stored in the fridge for later use? Bro Niu: Yes, soaked peach resin can be kept in the fridge — just do not store it for too long.

• Q (Nic): My husband had a bad cough a few weeks ago. The cough is now gone but his voice is still hoarse. What can help? Bro Niu: Try simmering 10 green olives (qing gan), half a golden monk fruit (jin luo han guo), 1 liang mixed apricot kernels, and 1 green radish with lean pork — this supports the throat and helps restore the voice.

• Q (pigletviki): I am 20 weeks pregnant and having vivid dreams that cause uterine contractions. Can I drink this soup? Bro Niu: Uterine contractions must be checked by a doctor urgently. For frequent vivid dreams, try wheat grain (xiao mai mi) 1 liang, poria with pine (fu shen) 5 qian, honey-fried licorice (zhi gan cao) 2 qian, lily bulb (bai he) 1 liang, and red dates 5 pieces — simmer as a soup or sweet broth. This soup (longan and peach resin) is not suitable for pregnant women.

---

---

Published February 1, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.