Cold Dew · Tea break · Balanced
Black sesame paste with goji berries
A low-sugar, velvety black sesame paste topped with goji berries — a warm, moistening bowl for dry Cold Dew afternoons.
- 15 min
- Serves 2
- Simmer
- Easy
NeutralNourishes yin, eases drynessSupports liver & kidneys
Why it suits you: A balanced constitution just needs to follow the season. Cold Dew air turns dry, and black sesame and goji nourish yin and ease dryness; eaten hot it also warms you, and with little sugar it sits lightly as an afternoon snack.
Method
Prep 5 min · Cook 10 min- 1Rinse the goji berries and soak them in a little warm water. Whisk the rice flour with 100 ml of the water into a smooth slurry.
- 2Heat the remaining 400 ml water with the sugar over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then whisk in the sesame powder.
- 3Turn the heat to low and slowly pour in the slurry, stirring all the time, then cook for 3–5 minutes until it bubbles and turns thick and smooth.
- 4Serve topped with the goji berries, or pour into a pre-warmed flask to take to the office.
Cautions
- Sesame is a common allergen — skip this if you are allergic, and pause it while you have diarrhoea.
Chef's tips
- Black sesame powder is sold in supermarkets and grain shops; choose unsweetened, ready-toasted powder. Keep stirring so it does not go lumpy or stick.
The TCM view
Black sesame is sweet and neutral; it nourishes the liver and kidneys, builds essence and blood, and moistens the intestines. Goji berries are sweet and neutral and nourish liver and kidney yin. Rice flour settles the stomach and a little slab sugar adds gentle warmth. Moistening, served hot and never cold — right for Cold Dew.
