Walnut, Black Sesame, Red Bean and Black Rice Sweet Soup

Why people make this sweet soup

Many women who work long hours, study late, or tend toward a physically weaker constitution can experience irregular periods, lighter-than-usual flow, or menstrual cramping. In traditional Chinese food therapy, these patterns are often linked to what practitioners call “blood deficiency” or “kidney deficiency.” Bro Niu recommends this warming, gently sweet soup especially in the days before and after menstruation — it combines some of the most time-honoured blood-nourishing ingredients into a single comforting pot. If your constitution runs cold and you find that icy drinks make symptoms worse, this warming soup is a practical and delicious way to support yourself throughout the month.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Well suited to women with lighter periods, menstrual pain, pallor, dizziness, or aching lower back associated with a cold or deficient constitution
• Suitable for most family members as a general nourishing sweet soup; not limited to women
• Those with a hot constitution or active infection should exercise moderation
• Not intended to replace medical evaluation for significant hormonal or structural gynaecological concerns

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Walnut kernels (he tao ren): Traditionally considered warming and nourishing to the kidneys and brain; associated with supporting reproductive vitality
• Black sesame seeds (hei zhi ma): Traditionally associated with nourishing liver and kidney yin, supporting dark hair, and lubricating the intestines; considered very suitable for blood-deficient patterns
• Red adzuki beans (hong dou): Widely used in Chinese cooking to support blood building and mild water metabolism; adds a natural sweetness
• Black rice (hei mi): Also called “longevity rice” in traditional usage; associated with kidney nourishment and blood enrichment; contains anthocyanins that give it its deep colour
• Red dates (hong zao): A foundational tonic ingredient in Chinese food therapy — broadly associated with blood nourishment, spleen support, and calming the mind
• Poria mushroom (fu ling): A mild, widely used herb that supports the spleen and calms the mind; helps balance richer ingredients
• Brown sugar (hong tang): In traditional use, brown sugar is considered warming, promoting circulation and easing cold-type menstrual discomfort

Ingredients (2–3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Walnut kernels	5 pieces	rinse and soak briefly
Black sesame seeds	1 tablespoon	rinse
Red adzuki beans	2 tablespoons	rinse and soak
Red dates	6 pieces	rinse
Black rice (or black glutinous rice)	2 tablespoons	rinse and soak
Poria strips (fu ling)	4 strips	rinse
Brown sugar	to taste	add at the end
Water	7 bowls	approximately 1.4 litres

Method

1. Rinse and briefly soak all ingredients — the red beans and black rice benefit from 30–60 minutes of soaking for a smoother result.
2. Place all ingredients except the brown sugar into a pot with 7 bowls of water.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
4. Cook for about 30 minutes until the beans are tender and the liquid is fragrant and slightly thickened.
5. Add brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
6. Serve warm, ideally in the days before or after menstruation.

Bro Niu’s tips

This soup is designed to warm the womb and nourish the blood. It is particularly well suited to the days before and after your period. It also benefits people who look pallid, suffer from frequent lower back ache, dizziness, tinnitus, or have to wake often at night for the bathroom. The whole family can enjoy it as a general tonic. Black glutinous rice or deep purple-black rice can be used interchangeably. If you prefer, brown sugar can be replaced with dark cane sugar (black sugar). This sweet soup makes 2–3 servings and is not just for menstrual support — it nourishes the five organ systems and makes a lovely everyday dessert.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (m): Can I substitute millet for the black rice? Bro Niu: Yes, millet can be used in place of black rice without a problem.

• Q (Bobby): Is black rice the same as black glutinous rice, or is it the deeply coloured red variety from Taiwan? And if I have no menstrual symptoms, can I still use this soup as a post-period tonic? Bro Niu: Black glutinous rice or deep purple-black rice both work fine. Beyond regulating periods, this soup also nourishes all five organ systems, so the whole family can enjoy it. It is also excellent as a tonic before or after menstruation even without specific symptoms.

• Q (Candy): My thirteen-year-old daughter has had her period for one and a half years, but for the past two months it seems to come around every fifteen days, with a lighter flow. Is there a food remedy to help? Bro Niu: Stress and academic pressure can sometimes affect the cycle — do pay attention to whether she has been under strain recently, and offer her encouragement. This walnut sesame sweet soup can help with its tonic effect. You could also brew some rose-flower and longan tea for her three times a week: one tablespoon each of dried rose buds and longan flesh, steeped in boiling water for seven to eight minutes.

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Published February 5, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.