Lily, Suanzaoren and Longan Tea

Main Ingredients

• Dried lily bulb 10g
• Stir-fried Suanzaoren (Spiny Date Seed) 10g
• Dried longan pulp (arillus) 3-5 pieces
• Water 600ml
• Poria (Fuling) 5g
• Red dates 2-3 pieces
• Honey a little

Steps

1. Suanzaoren: Crush the stir-fried Suanzaoren (crushing helps release active compounds and is key to extracting flavor). Dried lily: Rinse clean. If using dried lily, soak in warm water for 10-15 minutes beforehand. Longan: If using whole longan, shell and pit them, reserving the pulp. If using pitted longan, rinse directly. Poria (if using): Rinse and break into small pieces. Red dates (if using): Rinse and remove the pits (date pits are drying in nature; removing them results in a purer taste).

   

2. Place all prepared ingredients into a health pot or regular pot. Add 500-600ml of water. Health pot: Select the “Fruit Tea” or “Wellness Tea” mode and brew for 15-20 minutes. Stovetop: Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 15-25 minutes.

   

3. Turn off the heat and strain the tea (or drink without straining). Add a little honey to taste if desired. Longan provides natural sweetness, so additional sugar is generally unnecessary.

   

4. Best consumed warm, 1 hour before bedtime. Recommended 2-3 times per week; avoid overconsumption.

   

TCM Notes

Lily bulb: Sweet in taste, slightly cold in nature, acts on the Heart and Lung meridians. Known to nourish yin, moisten the lungs, and calm the mind, effective for Yin-deficiency related restlessness, palpitations, insomnia, and mental confusion. Suanzaoren (Spiny Date Seed) : Sweet and sour in taste, neutral in nature, acts on the Liver, Gallbladder, and Heart meridians. Known to nourish the heart, calm the mind, stop sweating, and promote fluid production, a key herb for restlessness, insomnia, and palpitations. Modern research shows it has sedative, hypnotic, and anti-anxiety effects. Stir-fried Suanzaoren is recommended for better calming effects. Longan (dried arillus) : Sweet in taste, warm in nature, acts on the Heart and Spleen meridians. Known to tonify the heart and spleen, nourish blood, and calm the mind, especially suitable for forgetfulness, insomnia, and palpitations caused by heart-spleen deficiency and qi-blood deficiency. Poria (Fuling) (if used): Sweet and bland in taste, neutral in nature, acts on the Heart, Spleen, and Kidney meridians. Known to promote diuresis, drain dampness, strengthen the spleen, and calm the mind, enhancing the overall calming effect. Synergistic effect: Together, lily calms the mind, Suanzaoren promotes sleep, and longan nourishes blood — achieving the combined effects of calming the mind, nourishing yin, moistening dryness, and supplementing qi and blood. Effective for insomnia, excessive dreaming, and palpitations caused by heart-spleen deficiency and Yin-blood deficiency.

Suitable for：Those with insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, or light, easily disturbed sleep Those with restlessness, anxiety, and nervous tension Those with heart-spleen deficiency, qi-blood deficiency, pale complexion, palpitations, and forgetfulness Mental workers with brain fatigue, high stress, and anxiety Those with menopausal insomnia and neurasthenia General population as a daily calming wellness tea

Not suitable for：Those with excess heat, Yin deficiency, and Fire excess: Longan is warm in nature; those with heaty constitution, prone to上火 (excessive internal heat), dry mouth, bitter taste, or sore throat should avoid overconsumption Those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold and cold-damp constitution: Lily is slightly cold in nature; this tea is cooling; those with frequent diarrhea, cold sensitivity, or stomach cold should avoid Those with excessive phlegm-dampness: Longan is sticky and may aggravate dampness Diabetic patients: Longan is high in sugar; strictly control portion size Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children under 14: Consult a doctor before consumption or avoid Those with colds, fever, excess heat with fire stagnation, or spermatorrhea: Should suspend consumption Menstruating women (with cold constitution) : Lily is cold in nature; those with cold sensitivity or dysmenorrhea during menstruation should avoid Those allergic to any of the ingredients