Tonic Drinks & Waters
Kudzu Root, Mung Bean, Coix Seed and Hyacinth Bean Drink
traditionally used to clear internal heat, support skin clarity, and ease acne and blemishes
Why people make this drink
Hong Kong’s go-go lifestyle means a lot of people are burning the candle at both ends — late nights, high stress, and not enough time to eat well. This pattern, along with spicy or greasy food, can lead to what traditional Chinese wellness describes as accumulated internal heat or “hot toxins” — showing up as muscle aches, mouth ulcers, itchy skin, and breakouts. Kudzu root (fen ge) has been used in Chinese food therapy for centuries: it is traditionally prized for clearing this kind of internal heat, relaxing stiff muscles, and supporting the body’s natural detox processes. This combination drink is especially helpful for those who stay up late, smoke, or drink alcohol.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Well suited to those with acne, skin blemishes, pimples, or skin cysts; also those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or coronary heart disease
- Suitable for most adults and older children; a mildly cooling preparation
- Pregnant women should not use coix seeds (yi mi) — substitute with red adzuki beans (chi xiao dou)
- Those menstruating should pause during their period and resume after
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Kudzu root (fen ge, Pueraria lobata): Every part of this plant has traditional uses — the flower for relieving alcohol effects, the root for clearing heat and relaxing muscle tension. Rich in isoflavones, it is associated with supporting cardiovascular health and easing neck and shoulder stiffness. Well suited to people who overwork or drink.
- Mung beans (lu dou): A classic cooling food in Chinese cuisine, associated with clearing heat, detoxifying, and supporting skin health.
- Coix seeds / Job’s tears (sheng yi mi): Traditionally used to drain dampness, clear heat, support healthy skin, and ease inflammatory skin conditions. Note: cooling in nature; omit in pregnancy.
- Roasted hyacinth beans (chao bian dou): Warming and strengthening to the spleen; roasting reduces their cooling nature, making the overall drink more balanced. They help counterbalance the coolness of mung beans and coix seeds.
- Honey dates (mi zao): Natural sweetener that adds flavour and balances the somewhat earthy taste of the herbs.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kudzu root (fen ge) | ~300 g | Peel away outer skin and fibrous layer; cut into chunks |
| Mung beans (lu dou) | 75 g (2 liang) | Soak and rinse |
| Raw coix seeds (sheng yi mi) | 37 g (1 liang) | Soak and rinse (omit if pregnant) |
| Roasted hyacinth beans (chao bian dou) | 37 g (1 liang) | Soak and rinse |
| Honey dates (mi zao) | 2–3 pieces | — |
| Water | 8–9 bowls (~1.3 L) | — |
Method
- Remove the outer skin and fibrous coating from the kudzu root, rinse well, and cut into chunky pieces.
- Soak the mung beans, coix seeds, and hyacinth beans separately in water for 30 minutes, then drain and rinse.
- Place all ingredients in a pot with 8–9 bowls of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a low simmer.
- Simmer for 2 hours until the liquid reduces to 3–4 bowls.
- Serve warm or at room temperature; eat both the soup and the softened beans and kudzu.
Bro Niu’s tips
This drink is light, gently fragrant, and pleasant — suitable for everyone in the family from older children upward. It also supports healthy blood pressure, blood lipids, and heart function, so it is a genuinely useful everyday preparation. If you cannot find fresh kudzu root, dried kudzu (fen ge gan) works too — use about 75 g (2 liang) of the dried version. For a 6-person batch, simply double the kudzu to 600 g and keep the other ingredients the same.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Amy): Can a woman who is 6 weeks postpartum drink this soup? Will it be too cooling? Bro Niu: Both mung beans and coix seeds are cooling in nature, so the combination may be too cold for a postpartum body. I would suggest substituting red adzuki beans and hyacinth beans instead — that version is gentler and more appropriate.
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Q (Jenny): My husband has had large, pus-filled abscesses since childhood — his father and brother have the same issue. The boils are very large and drain slowly for a long time. What soup or tea can help? Bro Niu: Try fresh tu fu ling (smilax root) — 2 liang — with mung beans, raw coix seeds, and red adzuki beans (each 1 liang), 1 dried tangerine peel, and 2 honey dates, cooked with lean pork or ribs in 9 bowls of water for 2 hours until reduced to 4 bowls. The whole family can drink it. One to two times a week supports clearing heat and damp-heat toxins.
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Q (Melody): Is this soup cooling? Can it be drunk regularly? My daughter just got her period but has a lot of acne on her forehead and face. Bro Niu: This soup is mildly cooling — generally fine for most people. During menstruation, pause and resume after the period ends. Your daughter can otherwise drink it regularly for the acne.
Published October 29, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
