Toasted Sour Jujube Seed, Biota Seed and Red Date Soup

Why people make this soup

Life in the city runs fast, and a lot of people lie awake with a busy, tense mind. Leaning on sleeping pills can become a habit, so Bro Niu likes to start with food therapy, which tends to come with fewer downsides. Sour jujube seed and biota seed are both classic calming foods, and they taste good cooked into a soup or congee — a comforting way to help wind the night down.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• People with mild, stress-related sleeplessness who want a gentle, food-based approach
• Also traditionally suited to those with palpitations, forgetfulness from “blood deficiency,” or dry, sluggish bowels
• One reader at 15 weeks pregnant asked, and Bro Niu said this is fine in pregnancy
• If it doesn’t agree with you, stop; if sleeplessness is serious or persistent, see a doctor

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Sour jujube seed (suan zao ren): a classic calming food, traditionally associated with settling the heart-mind; toasting it is said to make it gentler and more effective
• Biota seed (bai zi ren): traditionally calms the spirit and moistens the bowels
• Red dates (hong zao): warming and traditionally building to the blood
• Honey (feng mi): soothing and sweet, stirred in at the end

Ingredients (about 2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Sour jujube seed	~11 g (3 qian)	Dry-toasted
Biota seed	~11 g (3 qian)	Dry-toasted
Red dates	8	Pitted
Honey	to taste	Stirred in when serving

Method

1. Dry-toast the sour jujube seed and biota seed in a pan (no oil) until fragrant — about 5 minutes. Pit the red dates.
2. Put everything in a pot with 5 bowls of water and simmer 1 hour, down to about 2 bowls.
3. Stir in honey to taste. Take once in the morning and once in the evening; 3 days makes one course.

Bro Niu’s tips

Dry-toasting the seeds first is said to deepen the effect. This soup is also traditionally suited to people with palpitations and forgetfulness from blood deficiency, or with dry, sluggish bowels. For long-term poor sleep, you can take it about 3–4 times a week.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (scy): When using sour jujube seed and biota seed, should they always be toasted first for better effect? Dry pan, no oil? How long? Bro Niu: Dry-toast the sour jujube seed and biota seed in a pan for about 5 minutes to strengthen the effect.

• Q (chun chun): I’m 15 weeks pregnant and often sleep poorly — can I drink this? Bro Niu: Yes, this is fine during pregnancy.

• Q (qing): I just finished the 3-day course and it helped my sleep a little. Can I keep going? My sleep is chronically poor — hard to fall asleep and I wake many times a night. Bro Niu: You can keep drinking this for a while, about 3–4 times a week.

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Published March 2, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.