Soups
Four-Red Longan Sweet Soup
traditionally associated with nourishing blood and supporting immune health
Why people make this soup
The idea behind this gentle sweet soup is beautifully simple: gather five ingredients that share a red or deep-red colour — adzuki beans, the papery skin of peanuts, goji berries, red dates, and longan — and let them work together. In traditional Chinese food therapy, red-coloured foods are associated with the heart and blood-building functions of the body. Bro Niu first came across this soup from a fellow student whose friend had undergone cancer surgery; they reported that the soup helped ease fatigue and low blood-cell counts during chemotherapy. The recipe originally referenced a professor from Beijing Satellite Health Channel who described a similar formula for immune support. Whether you’re recovering from illness or simply want a warming, naturally sweet pot of something nourishing, this soup is about as easy as it gets.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits: people who feel tired or pale, those with mild anaemia or low platelet counts, families wanting a gentle blood-nourishing tonic, and people undergoing chemotherapy who want nutritional support alongside their medical care.
- Cautions: this soup is warming; those with a very hot constitution or active infection may want to reduce the longan slightly. Always pair food therapy with proper medical care during cancer treatment.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Red adzuki beans (hong dou): Traditionally used to clear mild dampness-heat and nourish the spleen; rich in plant protein, iron, and folate.
- Peanut skin / red membrane (hua sheng yi): This papery red coating around the peanut is considered highly haemostatic in Chinese food therapy — traditionally used to support platelet function and stop bleeding. Studies have examined its effect on coagulation.
- Goji berries (gou qi zi): Nourish the liver and kidneys; associated with supporting healthy blood production and visual health.
- Red dates (hong zao): Tonify qi and blood, calm the mind; one of the most widely used blood-nourishing foods in Chinese cuisine.
- Longan flesh (yuan rou): Warm and sweet; traditionally used to nourish heart blood, calm the spirit, and support the spleen.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Red adzuki beans | 75 g | Rinse well |
| Peanut skin (red membrane) | 8 g | If unavailable, use 75 g red-skin peanuts instead |
| Goji berries | 15 g | Rinse gently |
| Red dates, pitted | 8 pieces | Pit before cooking |
| Longan flesh (dried) | 20 g | |
| Water | 8–10 bowls (~2–2.5 L) |
Method
- Rinse all ingredients; pit the red dates.
- Combine everything in a pot with 8–10 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Cook for about 30 minutes until the beans are just tender and the soup is a rich red colour.
- Serve warm. Eat the beans, dates, and longan alongside the broth — most of the nourishment is in the ingredients, not just the liquid.
Bro Niu’s tips
The whole family can enjoy this soup. If you cannot find loose peanut skin, simply use whole red-skin peanuts (about 75 g) — the red coat on the peanut is the part you want, so avoid blanched white peanuts. For anyone with anaemia or low platelet counts, Bro Niu recommends drinking this 3–4 times a week and eating some of the cooked ingredients each time. If you want extra blood-nourishing power, a few tablespoons of donkey-hide gelatin (e jiao) dissolved in the warm soup can be added.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (亚美): My daughter has mild anaemia. I heard red goji, red dates, and longan water is good — should I make it every day? Bro Niu: Food therapy is best done every other day or 3 times a week, not every single day. Once the body feels better, it’s good to let the body do its own work too. Once a week is fine for maintenance.
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Q (邓小姐): My husband’s platelet count is still very low after six rounds of chemotherapy, even after drinking peanut-skin water. Is there anything else? Bro Niu: Donkey-hide gelatin (e jiao) is excellent for building blood and raising platelets — studies show it can be effective. Buy from a reputable store, dissolve it yourself by steaming, and add 2–3 tablespoons of the liquid to warm soup. Take 4 doses per week for a month. Gelatin powder, if available, is more convenient — just stir it into hot soup.
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Q (亚丽): I have mild anaemia and I was making red-date, goji, and longan soaks, but I started getting acne. What should I do? Bro Niu: Longan can be warming and may cause break-outs if you’re prone to heat. Try replacing the longan with nan zao (southern jujubes) for a gentler effect. This four-red soup with adzuki beans and red dates instead is milder on the system — no need to worry about break-outs.
Published September 28, 2016 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
