Soups
Four-Blacks Soup
Traditionally used to nourish the blood and support healthy, dark hair
Why people make this soup
Bro Niu once shared a “Three-Blacks Soup” of black soybean, black sesame and southern dates for those prone to chronic hives. This “Four-Blacks Soup” adds black mulberry, and beyond its traditional roles in clearing free radicals, brightening the complexion and easing recurring hives, it is also associated with nourishing the blood and the liver and kidney, and supporting healthy, dark hair. In traditional thinking, “hair is the surplus of the blood” — when the blood runs thin, grey hair and shedding tend to follow, and a depleted qi-and-blood is what lets hives keep coming back. Those affected can take this soup, one batch every other day, until things improve.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Those wanting to nourish the blood and support glossy, dark hair, and those troubled by recurring hives linked to a run-down qi and blood.
- Gentle enough for young and old; enjoy as part of a varied diet.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Black soybean (qing ren hei dou): Traditionally used to tonify the liver and kidney and nourish the blood.
- Black sesame (hei zhi ma): Traditionally associated with nourishing the blood and supporting healthy hair.
- Mulberry (sang shen): Traditionally used to nourish and tonify the blood and clear free radicals.
- Southern dates (nan zao): Traditionally used to gently nourish the blood without being too warming.
Ingredients (3 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dry-fried green-kernel black soybean | 1 liang (~38 g) | Or unfried green-kernel black soybean |
| Black sesame (hei zhi ma) | 5 qian (~19 g) | |
| Mulberry (sang shen) | 5 qian (~19 g) | |
| Southern dates (nan zao) | 6 |
Method
- Soak and rinse the ingredients separately.
- Place everything into a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Simmer for about 40 minutes until reduced to 3 bowls. Serve.
Bro Niu’s tips
Bro Niu used a jar of ready-roasted black soybeans this time, but unfried green-kernel black soybean is fine too. This soup is gentle enough for young and old, and is traditionally associated with supporting the liver and kidney, nourishing qi and blood, and keeping hair moist and glossy.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (mo): Bro Niu, hello! For the dry-fried black soybean used in Four-Blacks Soup, can I dry-fry ordinary black soybean myself before simmering? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use ordinary black soybean; dry-fry a larger batch so you have some ready whenever you need it.
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Q (xVa): Bro Niu, hello. After a check-up the Chinese-medicine doctor said a teenager needs to build qi and blood, and the Western doctor said to supplement iron. What everyday family soups can we use often? The household ranges from 20 to 60 years old, so something everyone can enjoy. Bro Niu: Tasty qi-and-blood, iron-friendly soups include borscht — remember to add beetroot — and a lotus-root, red-kidney-bean, red-date and tangerine-peel soup with pork bone is also lovely. For an herbal version, use astragalus (bei qi) and codonopsis (dang shen) 5 qian each, goji (qi zi) 3 qian, black soybean 1 liang, 6 red dates and one tangerine peel in a chicken soup. The whole family can enjoy it.
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Q (Nicole): I keep getting breakouts on my chin and up to the cheekbone area. What can I make to drink? Thank you. Bro Niu: If it’s linked to a hormonal imbalance, you can use raw rehmannia (sheng di) 5 qian, mung bean 1 liang, job’s-tears (yi mi) 1 liang and 5 red dates in a young-pigeon soup; 8 bowls of water simmered 1 hour to 4 bowls, split over 2 days, 3 batches (about 6 days) and you should see results. This soup is neither cold nor drying — but do not take it during pregnancy or your period.
Published June 22, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
