Tonic Drinks & Waters
Mung Bean, Poria and Pearl Barley Herbal Drink
Traditionally used to support liver detox, reduce internal heat and clear damp-heat
Why people make this drink
In traditional Chinese medicine, the liver’s “window” for detoxification and blood cleansing is believed to occur between 11 pm and 2 am. Habitual late nights — staying up past midnight — are thought to disrupt this process, gradually burdening the liver over time. The signs that often appear: bad breath, persistent acne, irregular periods, nasal sensitivity, dark under-eye circles, low energy and dull complexion. This drink is designed as a gentle, everyday remedy for those patterns. Mung bean is one of the most respected “liver-cleansing” ingredients in Cantonese food culture, particularly valued for helping the body eliminate metallic toxins. Paired with poria (which resolves dampness and calms the mind), yi mi barley (which reduces water retention and has traditional anti-inflammatory associations) and a small amount of raw licorice root (a classic detoxification herb), this becomes a four-ingredient brew that punches well above its simplicity.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most people, including children, as a refreshing summer drink.
- Particularly useful for those who stay up late regularly, have acne or skin breakouts linked to heat, or feel sluggish and heavy in warm weather.
- Also helpful for those taking medications over a period — the combination of mung bean and raw licorice has traditional associations with neutralising drug residues.
- Pregnant women should replace pearl barley (yi mi) with flat beans (bian dou) or moth beans (mei dou), as yi mi is traditionally contraindicated in pregnancy.
- During menstruation, reduce mung bean and yi mi quantities by half if the person runs cold; add dried tangerine peel if needed.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Mung beans (lv dou): Cooling and sweet; one of the premier detoxifying foods in Chinese tradition. Particularly associated with clearing metallic and chemical toxins from the liver. A summer staple.
- Poria / fu ling (Poria cocos): Neutral; resolves dampness, promotes fluid metabolism, strengthens the spleen and calms the mind. Whether sliced, in cubes or as whole pieces, the effect is identical.
- Pearl barley / coix seed (yi mi, Coix lacryma-jobi): Cooling; reduces water retention, clears heat, and has studied anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. Use raw (untoasted) yi mi for this recipe. Note: avoid in pregnancy.
- Raw licorice root (sheng gan cao): Sweet and neutral; a classic herb for counteracting toxins, including from medications. Use raw (sheng), not honey-roasted (zhi), as the detoxifying action belongs to the raw form.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mung beans | ~75 g (2 liang) | Soak and rinse |
| Poria (fu ling) | ~19 g (5 qian) | Rinse; any form (sliced, cubed, loose) works equally |
| Pearl barley (yi mi) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Soak and rinse; omit if pregnant — use flat beans instead |
| Raw licorice root (sheng gan cao) | ~8 g (2 qian) | Use raw, not honey-roasted |
Method
- Soak and rinse all ingredients separately.
- Place all ingredients into a pot with 7 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 1 hour until reduced to 3–4 bowls.
- Drink the liquid warm or at room temperature. The cooked beans and barley can also be eaten or added to a soup with pork shank.
Bro Niu’s tips
This drink is cooling, refreshing and naturally slightly sweet — wonderful on a hot day. It is gentle enough for children and the elderly. In summer, it is a useful regular for preventing heat rashes in children and stress-related breakouts in adults. The cooked pork shank (zhu zhan) can be added for a more substantial meal — simmer together and eat the meat. If you find it too cooling for the family, add two pieces of dried tangerine peel (chen pi) when cooking; the peel adds a mild warmth. To avoid the cooling nature being too strong during menstruation, reduce the mung bean and yi mi by half and add chen pi.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): Is this drink too cooling? How can it be made less cold for children? Bro Niu: You can add two pieces of dried tangerine peel (chen pi) when cooking — chen pi has a mildly warm nature that balances the cooling ingredients.
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Q (reader): Can this be taken during menstruation? Bro Niu: Yes, but reduce the mung bean and yi mi to half the usual amount since they are cooling. You can add some tangerine peel.
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Q (Ivy Ung): Can I use “you xin fu ling” (wild poria with the inner core) instead of regular poria? Bro Niu: Wild poria with the inner core has a heart-calming, mind-settling quality — yes, you can use it here.
Published May 31, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
