Soups
Purple Chinese Yam, Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb and Longan Sweet Soup
traditionally associated with nourishing the blood, supporting restful sleep, and calming the mind
Why people make this soup
Purple yam gets its striking color from anthocyanins, the same class of plant pigments found in blueberries and purple sweet potato. These compounds are associated with antioxidant properties and are traditionally believed to support immune function, activate lymphocyte activity and protect the kidneys. Along with the calm-inducing effects of lily bulb and lotus seeds, and the blood-nourishing warmth of longan, this soup is the kind you might reach for after a long, draining week. The result is not just visually lovely but genuinely delicious — a light, beautifully coloured sweet soup that the whole family can enjoy.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and children; particularly appropriate for those who feel tired, anxious, sleep poorly or feel the mind is overworked
- Traditionally considered helpful for children with hyperactivity (attention difficulties) and for those with nervous exhaustion
- Children with an active fever should not drink this tonic soup — wait until recovery
- Regular white or fresh yam can substitute for the purple variety if unavailable
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Purple Chinese yam (zi huai shan): Contains anthocyanins and the same spleen-kidney nourishing compounds as regular Chinese yam. Traditionally associated with boosting immune function, reducing blood sugar, protecting the cardiovascular system and supporting the kidneys.
- Lotus seeds (lian zi): Gently nourishing to the heart, spleen and kidneys. Traditionally associated with calming restlessness, reducing anxious thoughts and supporting restful sleep. Use with the green inner core removed unless a stronger calming effect is desired.
- Lily bulb (bai he): A classic ingredient for calming the mind and easing emotional tension, dry coughs and restless nights.
- Dried longan flesh (yuan rou): Warm and sweet; traditionally associated with nourishing the heart blood and calming the spirit. A small amount adds richness and natural sweetness.
- Rock sugar (bing tang): Gentler than white sugar; considered less drying.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purple Chinese yam (zi huai shan) | 112 g | Peel (wear gloves — the sap can irritate skin); rinse; cut into rough chunks |
| Lotus seeds (lian zi) | 38 g | Soak briefly; remove green inner cores |
| Lily bulb (bai he) | 38 g | Soak or rinse if using dried; rinse if fresh |
| Dried longan flesh (yuan rou) | 19 g | Rinse briefly |
| Rock sugar | to taste | |
| Water | 6 bowls (approx. 1.5 litres) |
Method
- Peel the purple yam wearing gloves if possible — the sticky sap can irritate sensitive skin. Rinse the peeled yam and cut into rough chunks (note: the sticky mucilage that washes off is beneficial, so a brief rinse is all that is needed).
- Soak the lotus seeds briefly; remove green inner cores.
- Rinse the lily bulb and longan flesh.
- Combine all ingredients except the rock sugar in a pot with 6 bowls of water.
- Bring to the boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Add rock sugar to taste, stir until dissolved, and serve. Eat both the broth and the cooked ingredients.
Bro Niu’s tips
When peeling the yam, you may notice a sticky, slightly slippery sap on the skin. Rather than scrubbing it all away, a simple rinse is enough — this mucilaginous compound is believed in traditional food therapy to help protect the arteries. This sweet soup is suitable for the whole family, and is especially well suited to children with attention difficulties and adults dealing with nervous exhaustion or poor sleep. Purple Chinese yam is available at Chinese or Asian grocers; regular white yam can substitute if the purple variety is unavailable.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (朗朗妈妈): Which ingredient in this soup is most helpful for children with hyperactivity? What foods should I add regularly? Bro Niu: For children with hyperactivity, the most useful ingredients are lotus seeds, lily bulb, longan, eggs, soy milk, black beans, walnut flesh, red dates and lean pork. Regular rotation of these foods can help. Avoid foods containing methyl salicylate (such as tomatoes, apples, tangerines) as well as artificially coloured fruit juices, soft drinks and sweets, and condiments like black pepper — these can aggravate symptoms.
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Q (Sonia): My child has a fever — can she drink this sweet soup? Bro Niu: If she has a fever, she should not drink this nourishing soup, as it could help the pathogen hold on. Instead, simmer 5 qian of reed root (lu gen) with 1 liang of raw job’s tears (sheng yi mi), one cored pear and rock sugar in 5 bowls of water until reduced to 2 bowls. This can help clear heat and ease the fever. Take for 2 days and watch for improvement.
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Q (何太): My son has exams coming up. Is there a calming soup to help him manage exam stress? Bro Niu: Try simmering 1 liang of wheat berries (xiao mai mi), 5 qian of fu shen (poria with pine root), 2 qian of honey-fried licorice (zhi gan cao), 6 pitted red dates, 1 liang of lily bulb and 5 qian of longan in 8 bowls of water for 2 hours until reduced to 4 bowls. The family can share this; your son can drink 3 portions a week. It traditionally supports heart calm, mental steadiness and reduced stress.
Published December 3, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
