White Dew · Tea break · Qi Deficiency
Longan, lotus seed & red date tong sui
Sweet longan, soft lotus seeds and red dates in a light, warming sweet soup to lift a flagging afternoon.
- 45 min
- Serves 2
- Boil
- Easy
WarmingStrengthens digestion & qiNourishes blood, calms mind
Why it suits you: Qi Deficiency means flagging in the afternoon with a so-so appetite. White Dew is the time for longan and red dates to build qi and blood, and lotus seeds strengthen digestion and calm the mind — warming and easy to digest, better than iced drinks or rich cake.
Method
Prep 5 min · Cook 40 min- 1Rinse the lotus seeds and soak for 30 minutes. Buy cored ones so the soup isn't bitter.
- 2Put the lotus seeds and 800 ml water in a pot, bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 minutes until soft and floury.
- 3Add the longan and red dates, cook for 10 minutes more, then stir in the sugar until dissolved.
- 4Drink warm, or pour into a flask and sip it slowly at 3–4 pm.
Cautions
- Longan is warming and sweet — go easy with a sore throat, mouth ulcers or high blood sugar, and feel free to skip the sugar.
Chef's tips
- For the office: boil the lotus seeds for 10 minutes, then pour into a thermal jar with the longan and dates and leave for 3 hours.
The TCM view
Longan is sweet and warm; it supports the heart and spleen, nourishes blood and calms the mind. Lotus seeds are sweet, astringent and neutral; they strengthen the spleen, steady loose stools and settle the heart. Red dates are sweet and warm and build qi. Together they tonify gently without heating — suited to low spleen qi and easy fatigue.
