Walnut, Longan, Red Date & Wheat Tea

Why people make this tea

Modern life — packed schedules, chronic stress, too little sleep — takes a real toll on the brain. Traditional Chinese food therapy holds that the heart and spleen are the seat of clear thinking and memory, and that nourishing them helps the mind stay sharp and calm. This recipe is Bro Niu’s everyday adaptation of the classical “Gan Mai Da Zao Tang” (Licorice, Wheat, and Jujube Decoction), a famous formula for calming the nervous system and supporting mood. Walnuts are among the most celebrated brain foods in both Eastern and Western traditions; longan flesh has been studied for its mild fatigue-fighting properties; and toasted wheat adds a gentle nutty sweetness while helping anchor a restless mind.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits most people, particularly those who feel mentally drained, struggle with light sleep, or have pale, tired-looking complexions
• Those with yin-deficiency heat (a TCM pattern characterised by feeling warm in the afternoons, night sweats, or a dry mouth) should not drink this in large amounts, as longan and red dates are warming; consider swapping red dates for southern jujubes (nan zao)
• Children sitting exams: replace longan with lily bulb (bai he, 1 liang / ~38 g) to reduce the warming nature

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Walnut kernels (he tao rou): Rich in phospholipids; traditionally considered a kidney and brain tonic; a handful a day (5–6 pieces) is recommended for ongoing brain support.
• Longan flesh (long yan rou): Traditionally nourishes heart and spleen, calms the mind, and is associated with supporting brain cells and reducing fatigue.
• Red dates (da zao): Strengthen the spleen and harmonise the body’s qi and blood; a key ingredient in classical calming formulas.
• Toasted wheat (chao xiao mai): Nourishes heart qi and calms the spirit; toasting enhances its aroma and makes it brew more effectively.

Ingredients (3 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Walnut kernels	1 liang (~38 g)	Roughly chop before cooking
Dried longan flesh (gui yuan rou)	5 qian (~19 g)	Available at Chinese grocery or herb shops
Red dates	6 pieces	Remove pits before cooking
Dry-toasted wheat grains	1 liang (~38 g)	Toast in a dry pan ~7 min, or use pre-toasted; cool and store in a glass jar
Water	6 bowls	~1.2 L

Method

1. Roughly chop the walnut kernels. Pit the red dates.
2. Combine all ingredients with 6 bowls of water in a pot.
3. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
4. Cook until the liquid reduces to 3 bowls (about 20–25 minutes).
5. Serve warm. You can eat the softened dates and walnuts as well.

Bro Niu’s tips

• To toast wheat at home: place raw wheat grains in a dry (un-oiled) pan over medium heat, stir for about 7 minutes until fragrant. Allow to cool completely before storing in a glass jar. For brewing as a tea, toasting is essential to draw out the flavour; for soups, raw wheat can be used directly.
• If you have toasted wheat in an oven, once cooled, store in a sealed glass jar at room temperature — no refrigerator needed.
• This tea also benefits those with neurasthenia or pale complexion. Keep to 2 servings per week.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (Heidi): Since retirement my memory has become noticeably worse — I forget things easily but my sleep and appetite are fine. What helps? Bro Niu: Try taking a B-complex vitamin daily and eat a small box of blueberries every day — they are excellent for memory. Drink this tea twice a week, and eat 5–6 walnut pieces daily for the brain.

• Q (Tiff D): My 18-year-old son tends to get mouth ulcers. He has exams next month — is this tea suitable for him? Bro Niu: This tea has longan, which is warming. Replace the longan with lily bulb (1 liang) and it will suit him well. Three servings a week.

• Q (Shirley): Why is this not suitable for people with yin-deficiency heat — is it because of the wheat? Bro Niu: It is mainly because red dates are warming. Simply swap the red dates for southern jujubes (nan zao) and people with yin-deficiency can drink it too.

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Published February 23, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.