Licorice, Wheat Berry, Poria Cocos, Lily Bulb and Red Date Soup

Why people make this soup

Hong Kong life is busy and high-pressure, and the toll on mental and emotional wellbeing is real. Symptoms like difficulty falling asleep, muscle tension, headaches, irritability, poor memory, anxiety, and unexplained sadness are all too common. This soup is a food-therapy adaptation of Gan Mai Da Zao Tang — one of the oldest classical Chinese herbal formulas, recorded in the Han dynasty text Jingui Yaolue — updated for everyday home use by swapping the decoction format for a nourishing, drinkable soup. In Chinese medicine, this formula is associated with calming the heart, steadying the emotions, and easing what practitioners describe as “restless spirit.” Nourilo particularly recommends it for menopausal women and new mothers who find themselves unexpectedly tearful or emotionally fragile.

Method

1. Rinse all ingredients. Pit the red dates. Soak the wheat berries and lily bulb for 10–15 minutes.
2. Add all ingredients to a pot with 2.4 L of water.
3. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a medium-low simmer.
4. Cook for 1.5 hours until you have approximately 1.2 L of liquid.
5. Serve and drink; carrot and lean pork can be added if a heartier soup is desired without reducing effectiveness.

Nourilo’s Tips

The photo in the original article shows wild fu shen with a small pine root fragment in the centre — this is the “zoned” or “heart-bearing” variety, which is considered particularly effective for calming the spirit. If you cannot find it, standard poria cocos (cloud poria / fu ling) from any Chinese herb shop is a fine substitute. The soup has a light, slightly sweet aroma and is gentle enough for regular use over one to two months. Those sensitive to gluten may substitute millet (xiao mi) for the wheat berries. Nourilo also notes that adding a little ophiopogon root (mai dong) is fine for those who experience mouth dryness alongside poor sleep.