Soups
Three Black Soup (Black Soybean, Black Sesame and Black Dates)
Traditionally associated with strengthening immune defences and reducing the frequency of allergic skin reactions
Why people make this soup
Urticaria — commonly known as hives — is a common skin allergic reaction that is not contagious. The acute form typically appears after exposure to a triggering substance: a particular food, medication, insect sting, pet dander, latex, or chemical. But the picture becomes more complicated with chronic urticaria, where the immune system becomes dysregulated and begins reacting to a wider and more unpredictable range of triggers — or even attacking the body’s own cells. Stress and sleep deprivation are also recognised as factors that can lower the threshold for flares.
From a traditional Chinese food-therapy perspective, recurring hives often reflect underlying qi and blood deficiency, meaning the immune system lacks the stable foundation it needs to maintain a measured response. The approach Bro Niu recommends is not to suppress the reaction from outside, but to gradually strengthen the internal terrain — and for this, he turns to three of the most nourishing “black” foods in the Chinese food tradition.
While acute hives can sometimes be helped by external washes — camphor wood chips (zhang mu sui) simmered in water, or honeysuckle flower (tu yin hua) decoction — this Three Black Soup is best used for ongoing, between-flare-up strengthening, ideally over several weeks.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for most adults and older children; particularly appropriate for those with recurring or chronic hives, especially where underlying qi and blood deficiency is a contributing factor
- Very mild in nature — generally suitable for most body constitutions
- Can be taken preventively (every other day for 1–2 months) to help maintain a calmer immune response
- Those who have just experienced an acute flare can take this soup during recovery
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green-kernel black soybeans (qing ren hei dou): The green-kernel variety is considered superior to regular black soybeans for nourishing yin and blood; traditionally associated with supporting kidney function, clearing internal heat, and calming allergic tendency
- Black sesame seeds (hei zhi ma): Deeply nourishing for yin, blood, and liver/kidney essence; rich in calcium, iron, and antioxidants; classically used for dry skin, hair health, and immune support
- Black dates / southern dates (hei zao / nan zao): Dates in general contain compounds (cyclic AMP and other bioactives) thought to reduce histamine-mediated allergic cell activity; Bro Niu notes that all date varieties — red, black, and southern — share this quality, making them a useful everyday food for allergy-prone individuals
Ingredients (2 bowls / 1 dose)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green-kernel black soybeans (qing ren hei dou) | ~37 g (1 liang) | Soak in water for 1–2 hours before cooking; rinse well |
| Black sesame seeds (hei zhi ma) | ~18 g (5 qian) | Rinse briefly |
| Black or southern dates (hei zao / nan zao) | 6 pieces | No need to remove the pit; rinse and use whole |
Method
- Soak the black soybeans for 1–2 hours; rinse and drain.
- Rinse the black sesame seeds and dates.
- Place all three ingredients in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Bring to a full boil over high heat for 20 minutes.
- Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook for a further 40 minutes, until reduced to approximately 2 bowls.
- Divide into 2 bowls and drink morning and evening (1 dose per day). Take for 4–5 consecutive days for acute use; or every other day for 1–2 months for preventive support.
- Eat some of the solid ingredients — black soybeans and sesame — along with the soup for additional benefit.
Bro Niu’s tips
Dates of all kinds — red dates, black dates, and southern dates — are believed to contain compounds that help the body’s allergic cells react less intensely. For people prone to any kind of allergy, making dates a regular part of the diet is a simple and practical habit. If black or southern dates are not available, red dates (8 pieces) can be substituted. This soup is gentle enough for long-term use — there are no side effects with regular consumption. Eat some of the soup ingredients rather than discarding them.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (陈太): Do the black dates need to have the pits removed? And is the daily dose meant as one bowl in the morning and one in the evening? Bro Niu: No need to remove the pits from the black dates. The 2 bowls should be split across the day — one in the morning and one in the evening.
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Q (reader): Should the Three Black Soup be drunk during an active flare, or only after recovery? Bro Niu: This soup is most effective as a preventive measure after recovery — take it 2 times per week for 1–2 months to help reduce the frequency of future flares. It is a nourishing formula without side effects, suitable for sustained use.
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Q (Linda): I am currently having a hives flare. Can I drink this soup? Will it help the itch? Might it make the reaction worse? Bro Niu: Hives are most often triggered by contact with or ingestion of an allergen — the most important step is to track what you ate or came into contact with on the day of the flare, and eliminate that trigger. The Three Black Soup is safe to drink during a flare — take 3 doses. It will not make things worse.
Published December 22, 2021 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
