Dried Lychee, Hyacinth Bean & Red Date Drink

Why people make this drink

Fresh lychees are celebrated for their sweetness, but eating too many — especially on an empty stomach — can cause a sudden dip in blood sugar because the liver cannot convert the high fructose load fast enough. Dried lychee sidesteps this problem while preserving the tonic benefits: traditionally it is used for anaemia, children’s bedwetting, and — notably — spleen deficiency with loose stools. In Chinese food therapy, a weakened spleen leads to poor intestinal function and persistently soft or watery stools even without a clear infection. Pairing dried lychee with hyacinth beans (a classic spleen-tonifying legume) and red dates gives a simple, aromatic drink that is genuinely warming and pleasant to sip.

Method

1. Remove the shells from the dried lychee (the core can be included).
2. Soak the hyacinth beans briefly and rinse.
3. Pit the red dates and rinse.
4. Place all three ingredients into a pot with 1.5 L of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then simmer for about 40 minutes until reduced to 600 ml.
6. Drink as a herbal drink; the cooked ingredients can also be eaten.

Nourilo’s Tips

This drink has a naturally clean, sweet fragrance, suitable for all ages. However, those with a yin-deficient or heat-prone constitution, sore or inflamed throat, or diabetes should avoid it. If you want to strengthen the spleen-tonifying effect, look for lightly dry-fried hyacinth beans (chao bian dou) rather than raw — the gentle roasting enhances their digestive properties.