I've been making this simple tea for a few times already. Not sure if I had shared this before but all it needs are 3 ingredients - dried goji berries, dried red dates and dried chrysanthemum bulbs.
This sugar-less concoction is good for health especially if you want to maintain immunity. It's even more important these days what with the pandemic and Covid-19.
But it is also a pleasant brew - no boiling needed.
All you need is a handful of goji berries (washed and soaked for 5 minutes in water), 3-5 large dried red dates and a teaspoon of dried chrysanthemum flowers (these are the small heads of flowers, not the usual type for making chrysanthemum tea).
Put all the ingredients in a teapot and pour in boiling water. Let it sit for 10 minutes and voila, you have made yourself a healthy tea without sugar. It has a natural sweetness from the red dates and goji berries. And once you have drunk all the tea, you can continue adding more boiling water for a second brew. Once that's drunk up properly, I will eat the goji berries and red dates. I'm not too big a fan of eating chrysanthemum so that's the only part I discard.
Goji berries are full of benefits. They protect your eyes from degeneration and help you enhance your immunity. They're also beneficial for your spleen and liver - they detoxify while replenishing Blood and Qi. And they're easy to add to your diet. You don't have to boil them in soups just to get their goodness.
According to this research paper, "goji berries have been used to increase longevity and for the benefits to liver, kidney, and vision since ancient times" and they contain "riboflavin, thiamine, nicotinic acid, and minerals such as copper, manganese, magnesium, and selenium".
It also protects the heart and has anti-ageing effects and is particularly useful for people with diabetes. It also increases antioxidant levels in the body, improves energy levels, reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels. More research studies are found here.
Goji berries are neutral from the TCM point of view. They work to improve Yin deficiency by nourishing the Kidney, Liver or moistening the Lungs and Stomach.
How do you know if you have Yin deficiency? You feel burn-out and fatigued. Overwork is one of the culprits. But I also believe that today's working lifestyles make us all feel this more so than ever.
Another way I like taking my goji berries is to put a teaspoon into my hot pu-erh tea after meals. And yes, I eat the berries once I have finished drinking the Chinese tea.
I also found a great Chinese TCM herb database too while writing this blog post. Check this out here. (And I love how the website looks too - neat and pretty!)
p/s: I have been making the same old soup for a few months now - Watercress Soup - as it freezes well so there's not much to update in this aspect. I have also been busy with the business so not much experimenting in the kitchen. (Did I tell you I'm starting a podcast? Yes, I am!)
This sugar-less concoction is good for health especially if you want to maintain immunity. It's even more important these days what with the pandemic and Covid-19.
But it is also a pleasant brew - no boiling needed.
All you need is a handful of goji berries (washed and soaked for 5 minutes in water), 3-5 large dried red dates and a teaspoon of dried chrysanthemum flowers (these are the small heads of flowers, not the usual type for making chrysanthemum tea).
Goji berries are full of benefits. They protect your eyes from degeneration and help you enhance your immunity. They're also beneficial for your spleen and liver - they detoxify while replenishing Blood and Qi. And they're easy to add to your diet. You don't have to boil them in soups just to get their goodness.
According to this research paper, "goji berries have been used to increase longevity and for the benefits to liver, kidney, and vision since ancient times" and they contain "riboflavin, thiamine, nicotinic acid, and minerals such as copper, manganese, magnesium, and selenium".
It also protects the heart and has anti-ageing effects and is particularly useful for people with diabetes. It also increases antioxidant levels in the body, improves energy levels, reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels. More research studies are found here.
Goji berries are neutral from the TCM point of view. They work to improve Yin deficiency by nourishing the Kidney, Liver or moistening the Lungs and Stomach.
How do you know if you have Yin deficiency? You feel burn-out and fatigued. Overwork is one of the culprits. But I also believe that today's working lifestyles make us all feel this more so than ever.
Another way I like taking my goji berries is to put a teaspoon into my hot pu-erh tea after meals. And yes, I eat the berries once I have finished drinking the Chinese tea.
I also found a great Chinese TCM herb database too while writing this blog post. Check this out here. (And I love how the website looks too - neat and pretty!)
p/s: I have been making the same old soup for a few months now - Watercress Soup - as it freezes well so there's not much to update in this aspect. I have also been busy with the business so not much experimenting in the kitchen. (Did I tell you I'm starting a podcast? Yes, I am!)
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| Watercress for watercress soup |
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