Fresh longan, wood-ear fungus & red date sweet soup
Sweet fresh longan and silky wood-ear fungus simmered with red dates and ginger — a warm tong sui that gently gets the blood moving.
- 40 min
- Serves 2
- Boil
- Easy
Why it suits you: Blood Stasis needs warmth and gentle movement, never anything icy — and air-conditioning and cold drinks in Major Heat slow circulation further. Wood-ear fungus harmonises the blood, longan and red dates nourish it, and ginger with a little brown sugar keeps you warm.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 30 min- 1Soak the wood-ear fungus in water for 30 minutes until it swells, snip off the hard base and tear into small pieces.
- 2Peel and stone the longan; tear the red dates open.
- 3Bring the water, wood-ear, red dates and ginger to the boil, then simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- 4Add the longan and cook for 5 minutes more, then stir in the brown sugar until dissolved. Drink warm, or pour into a flask for the office.
Cautions
- Wood-ear fungus can affect clotting — skip it if you take blood thinners, have heavy periods or any bleeding problem.
- Longan and brown sugar are sweet; if you watch your blood sugar, cut or skip the sugar.
Chef's tips
- No fresh longan? Use 15 g dried longan flesh and add it with the wood-ear.
- For a silkier drink, blend the finished soup until smooth and drink it warm.
The TCM view
Wood-ear fungus is sweet and neutral; it harmonises blood and eases dryness. Fresh longan is sweet and warm and nourishes the heart, spleen and blood. Red dates are sweet and warm and build qi. Ginger is pungent and warm and dispels cold, while brown sugar warms and moves blood. Warming but not drying, it nourishes blood while gently moving it.
