Lychee and red date tea
In-season lychees simmered briefly with red dates and goji berries into a fragrant, naturally sweet tea that restores energy when the summer heat leaves you drained.
- 30 min
- Serves 2
- Simmer
- Easy
Why it suits you: Summer Solstice heat makes you sweat, and for a Qi-deficient constitution, already short of energy, heavy sweating brings breathlessness and fatigue. Lychees are in season now and are sweet and warm, nourishing qi and blood; with red dates to strengthen the spleen, this warm tea tops up energy without resorting to cold drinks.
Method
Prep 10 min · Cook 20 min- 1Stone and halve the red dates and rinse the goji berries. Peel and stone the lychees, keeping any juice.
- 2Put the water and dates in a pan, bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes until the dates release their sweetness.
- 3Add the lychees and goji berries, simmer for 3 minutes, then turn off the heat and leave for 5 minutes. Drink warm, with the fruit.
Cautions
- Lychees are warming: keep to about ten a day, and take less if you are prone to sore throats or have diabetes.
Chef's tips
- Dried lychees work too: soak them first and simmer them the same way. They are sweeter, so no sugar is needed.
The TCM view
Lychee is sweet, sour and warm, supporting the spleen and liver, nourishing blood and generating fluids. Red dates are sweet and warm, boosting qi, nourishing blood and calming the mind; goji berries are sweet and neutral, nourishing the liver and kidneys. Together they replenish qi and blood and ease thirst — ideal when summer sweating depletes a Qi-deficient constitution.
