Fresh Lotus Seed, Tangerine Peel and Red Bean Sweet Soup

Why people make this sweet soup

Bro Niu prefers fresh lotus seeds to dried ones — they taste so much better, the only fuss being that you have to remove the little green core. Don’t toss those cores, though: they make a pleasant tea later. Add well-aged tangerine peel and red beans (a pantry staple Bro Niu keeps on hand for their blood-nourishing reputation) and you get a soothing dessert soup that moistens the skin, calms the mind and helps bring a rosy glow to the face.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits adults and children alike who want a light, naturally sweet, nourishing dessert.
• If you are watching sugar intake, keep the added sugar minimal.

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Fresh lotus seeds (xian lian zi): Traditionally associated with calming the mind and supporting restful sleep.
• Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Adds fragrance and is traditionally used to support digestion and “move” qi so the beans sit lightly.
• Red beans (hong dou): A classic blood-nourishing food in home cooking, lending body and natural sweetness.

Ingredients (3–4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Fresh lotus seeds	~2 liang (~75 g)	Cores removed
Dried tangerine peel	1 piece	Soaked until soft
Red beans	~2 liang (~75 g)	See tip on freezing
Brown or rock sugar	to taste

Method

1. Remove the cores from the fresh lotus seeds. Soak the tangerine peel until soft.
2. Bro Niu’s shortcut for the beans: soak them in water for a few hours, drain, then freeze. When cooking, drop the frozen beans straight into vigorously boiling water — the rapid contraction-then-expansion helps them split open and soften quickly.
3. Put all ingredients in a pot with 6 bowls of water and cook down to 3–4 bowls.
4. Add brown sugar or rock sugar, stir until dissolved, and serve.

Bro Niu’s tips

This sweet soup is gently sweet and suits young and old. For a stronger calming effect, add about 1 liang (~38 g) of dried lily bulb (bai he) and cook it together.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Priscilla): I am 51 and my periods stopped 9 months ago. My complexion and lips look dull and grey. Is there a food-therapy that can help? Bro Niu: At 51 with no period for 9 months, this usually means menopause has set in. For dull lips and complexion, focus on nourishing qi and blood: you can stew lean pork or chicken with about 3 qian each of astragalus (bei qi) and codonopsis (dang shen) plus a few black or red dates. A “four-red soup” of red beans and red-skinned peanuts (1 liang each) with goji and red dates also supports the blood. Take about three times a week until things improve.

• Q (Christine): If dried longan flesh has turned dark and a bit sticky, can I still eat it? Bro Niu: Sticky longan has already gone off — try to keep spoiled food out of your body, so just throw it away. Buy it and store it in the fridge.

---

Published December 22, 2024 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.