Peach gum, longan and red date sweet soup
Soaked peach gum turns glassy and jelly-soft, simmered with dried longan and red dates into a sweet, warming dessert soup.
- 55 min
- Serves 4
- Simmer
- Easy
Why it suits you: In blood stasis, blood flows poorly, showing as a dull complexion, purplish lips and, in women, more period pain. Peach gum harmonises the blood, while longan and red dates warmly nourish qi and blood, and eating it warm helps the blood move. It's a better summer afternoon treat for this constitution than ice cream or cold drinks.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 40 min- 1Soak the peach gum in water for 12 hours until fully swollen and soft. Pick out any dark specks, rinse and tear into small pieces.
- 2Bring the water to the boil, add the red dates and peach gum and simmer gently for 30 minutes until the gum is soft and silky.
- 3Add the longan and rock sugar and simmer for 10 minutes more until the sugar dissolves. Best eaten warm.
Cautions
- Peach gum is not for pregnant women or those with heavy periods; longan is warming, so eat less if you run hot or have damp-heat.
Chef's tips
- Soak the peach gum until completely swollen, or the centres stay hard; freeze any extra soaked gum in bags.
The TCM view
Peach gum is sweet, bitter and neutral, harmonising blood, boosting qi and easing urination. Dried longan is sweet and warm, nourishing the heart and spleen, nourishing blood and calming the spirit. Red dates are sweet and warm, supplementing the middle and nourishing blood. Rock sugar moistens and harmonises. Together they nourish and harmonise blood and warm the vessels without drying.
