Dried Lychee Red Date Tea

Why people make this tea

When summer arrives, fresh lychees disappear from the market almost as fast as they appear. Bro Niu enjoys buying dried lychees out of season — they have a concentrated sweetness and, in traditional food-therapy terms, are considered to have even stronger nourishing properties than the fresh fruit. Paired with red dates, which are one of the most well-known blood-building ingredients in Chinese food therapy, this becomes a simple, pleasant daily tea.

Dried lychee is rich in iron and copper, making it traditionally associated with replenishing blood. It is also thought to support cognitive function and brighten the complexion over time. Women who feel physically depleted, pale, or who are recovering from illness or surgery may find this tea a gentle daily habit.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Particularly suited to women; also suitable for men and the elderly
• Beneficial for those who are pale, easily fatigued, blood-deficient, or recovering from illness or surgery
• Best consumed along with the soaked fruit — the nourishment is partly in the solids
• Not suitable for those with yin deficiency heat signs: burning palms, night sweats, or a feeling of internal heat
• Not suitable for people with diabetes (naturally sweet; may affect blood sugar)

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Dried lychee (li zhi gan): Sweet and warm; traditionally associated with replenishing qi and blood, nourishing the brain, and moistening and brightening the skin; considered more potent than fresh lychee for food-therapy purposes; contains iron and copper
• Red dates (hong zao): One of the most universally used blood-nourishing ingredients in Chinese food therapy; sweet and warm; support qi, nourish blood, calm the spirit, and harmonise the formula; slicing them helps release more of their colour and flavour into the tea

Ingredients (1 pot / 1–2 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried lychee	7–8 pieces	Shell and remove the stone before steeping
Red dates	5	Pit and slice; this releases more flavour into the tea

Method

1. Shell the dried lychees and remove the stones.
2. Pit the red dates and slice them.
3. Place all ingredients in a teapot or heatproof cup.
4. Pour a small amount of boiling water over the ingredients to rinse; discard the rinse water.
5. Add fresh boiling water to fill the pot; cover and steep for 10 minutes.
6. Pour into cups and drink warm. Eat the softened lychee and date pieces along with the tea.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is warm and mildly sweet — a comforting daily drink, especially on cooler days. It is best enjoyed with the soaked fruit eaten alongside. The warm and tonifying nature of both lychee and red dates means that people who already run warm (hot palms, night sweats, thirst) should avoid this one. Diabetics should also skip it as both ingredients are naturally high in sugar.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (reader): I am 48 years old, and my period has not come for two months. Am I entering menopause? Bro Niu: The best way to find out is a blood test for hormone levels. At 48, early menopausal changes are not unusual. Steamed sea cucumber regularly is a traditional recommendation — it nourishes both kidney yin and kidney yang and is believed to support hormonal balance. You can simmer it with chicken or lean pork.

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Published March 5, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.