Fried Sour Jujube Seed, Lily Bulb and Heart-Wood Poria Tea

Why people make this tea

Surveys suggest that a surprisingly large share of urban working adults report symptoms consistent with what Chinese medicine calls “nervous weakness” — difficulty falling asleep, waking easily, mental fatigue, poor concentration, and a general sense of being wired yet exhausted. Nourilo often recommends this gentle three-ingredient brew as a first step: the ingredients are straightforward to find at most Chinese herb shops, the preparation is simple, and the combination has a long traditional history of use for calming the mind without sedating the body. It is especially well-regarded for menopausal women experiencing sleep disruption and nighttime anxiety.

Method

1. Rinse all three ingredients lightly.
2. Place all ingredients in a pot with 1.5 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil, then simmer over medium-low heat for about 40 minutes until reduced to approximately 600 ml.
4. Strain and serve. Drink one bowl in the early afternoon and one bowl 1–2 hours before bedtime.

Nourilo’s Tips

This brew is known to help shorten the time it takes to fall asleep and to extend the overall duration of sleep, making it especially useful for menopausal women. The wild heart-wood poria shown in the photo has a stronger effect, but regular poria spirit (fu shen) works too. You may also add lotus seeds and dried southern dates for added flavour and nourishing effect. Drink consistently for 5 days as one course; if beneficial, rest a few days and then repeat. If you work daytime hours and cannot take the afternoon bowl, simmer down to 300 ml and take it in the evening — the taste will simply be more concentrated.