Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Silkie Chicken Soup

Why people make this soup

When stress piles up, sleep fragments, and the heart races for no apparent reason, many Cantonese families reach for a soup featuring lotus seeds and lily bulb. The combination has a long history as food therapy for what practitioners describe as “heart fire” and “yin deficiency” — restless agitation, difficulty settling the mind at night, and a persistent low-level unease. What makes this version special is the use of fresh lotus seeds rather than dried ones: fresh lotus seeds are more fragrant, and — crucially — their bitter green embryo (the lian xin) is left in. That tiny core is prized for clearing heart heat and settling agitation, even though its flavour is noticeably bitter. The silkie chicken (a black-boned chicken variety) is considered tonic without being warming or drying — making it suitable for people recovering after illness, for children during growth periods, and for older adults looking to improve their overall constitution.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits people with poor sleep, palpitations, restlessness, and mental-emotional fatigue; also useful postpartum and during children’s development
• Suitable for all ages, young and old
• Caution: active fever, cold, or acute external illness — do not use this soup until the illness has resolved

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Fresh lotus seeds with embryo (xian lian zi, with lian xin): The fresh seeds are more fragrant and lighter than dried. Keeping the bitter green embryo adds heat-clearing and heart-calming properties — specifically associated with restlessness, palpitations, and poor sleep.
• Lily bulb (bai he): Mildly cooling; nourishes the lung and heart yin. Long associated in Chinese food therapy with easing anxiety, calming the spirit, and improving sleep quality.
• Conpoy / dried scallop (yao zhu): Adds umami depth and is traditionally associated with nourishing yin and enriching the broth.
• Red dates (hong zao): Nourish qi and blood; pair well with the calming ingredients.
• Silkie chicken (zhu si ji): A slow-growing breed with black skin and bones, valued in Chinese medicine for nourishing yin and blood without the warming excess of regular chicken. Appropriate for postpartum recovery, children, and the elderly.

Ingredients (5–6 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh lotus seeds (with embryo)	112 g	Rinse; keep the green core intact
Dried lily bulb	38 g	Rinse and soak briefly; or use 112 g fresh lily, add in last 20 min
Conpoy (dried scallop)	2 pieces	Soak and rinse
Fresh ginger	3 slices
Red dates (pitted)	6 pieces	Remove pits
Silkie chicken	1 whole	Clean, cut into pieces, and blanch

Method

1. Clean and cut the silkie chicken into pieces; blanch in boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain.
2. Rinse the lotus seeds; keep the green embryo in (do not remove it — it is important for the heart-calming effect).
3. Soak the lily bulb, conpoy, and red dates briefly; pit the red dates.
4. Combine all ingredients in a pot with 10 cups (about 2.4 litres) of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 2 hours until the liquid reduces to about 5–6 cups.
6. Serve the soup and eat the solid ingredients — lotus seeds, lily bulb, chicken, and dates.
7. (If using fresh lily bulb, add it only in the last 20 minutes of cooking, as it dissolves easily with prolonged heat.)

Bro Niu’s tips

Fresh lotus seeds are available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online, especially in season. If only dried lotus seeds are available, they work too but lack the fresh fragrance. Fresh lily bulbs are lovely but dissolve quickly — add them late. This is one of those soups Bro Niu recommends keeping in regular rotation for households with anyone dealing with chronic stress, poor sleep, or emotional fatigue.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Milo La): My sister (54) has menopausal palpitations and is taking medication but still struggles as soon as she stops. Is there a soup to help? Bro Niu: She can try: xiao mai mi (wheat grain) 1 liang, zhi gan cao (honey-fried licorice) 2 qian, fu shen (poria with pine root) 5 qian, red dates 5 pieces, lily bulb 1 liang, in 5 cups of water reduced to 2 cups. Take for 3–4 consecutive servings and see if there is improvement.

• Q (麦太): My son is nearly 8 years old, slightly thin, and has great difficulty falling asleep. Is there a soup for him? Bro Niu: You can use xiao mai mi (wheat grain) 1 liang, fu shen 5 qian, zhi gan cao 2 qian, red dates 6 pieces, and longan flesh 10 pieces, cooked as a sweet soup or light pork broth. This is suitable for the whole family and supports calming and blood nourishment.

• Q (Fongfong): My 9-month-old baby wakes 4–5 times per night. We have already tried several calming soups without improvement. Bro Niu: Try using lotus seeds with their embryo (1 liang), lamp grass (deng xin cao, 6 bundles), and lily bulb (1 liang), cooked in 4 cups of water down to 1 cup. Give the baby this for 3 consecutive days — it helps clear heart heat and calm the spirit.

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Published October 10, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.