Mulberry Tea (Sang Ji Sheng Tea) with Lotus seeds ~ 莲子桑寄生茶

 

Sang Ji Sheng or Taxilli twig is also known as mulberry mistletoe. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recommends this tea as it has many health benefits, like lowering blood pressure, strengthening bones and tendons, increasing coronary blood flow, suppressing tumour growth amongst many others. This Sang Ji Sheng tea is an inexpensive but healthy tea and you can serve it as a dessert or to enjoy at any time of the day.  The concoction of Sang Ji Sheng tea is easily available from Chinese medical shops.  Some of the coffee shops here do have this tea on their menu but homemade is more authenic and affordable. You can also take a peep  'here'  if  you are keen to know more about this tea.

Mulberry Tea (Sang Ji Sheng Tea) with Lotus seeds  ~   莲子桑寄生茶

Ingredients

• 100 gm Mulberry tea
• 10 seedless red dates
• 40 gm lotus seeds 
• 1.1/2 to 2 slices piece sugar or to taste
• 4 hardboiled eggs
• 6 to 7 cups of water

Method

1. Wash and soak the lotus seeds in hot water.   They will  puff up.  Remove the green stems if any.
2. Sieve and rinse the mulberry tea till water is clear.  Boil it for a minute or two in hot water.
3. Rinse the mulberry tea, strain and place in a cloth soup bag, secure it tightly.
4. Boil water in a pot with 7 cups of water, add in red dates and the soup bag.  Boil on high heat for about 10 mins.  Add in the lotus seeds.  Continue to boil for about 30 mins. on medium heat.  Add in the hardboiled eggs.   Continue to boil for another 30 mins. or so.  Check to see whether the lotus seeds are soft.  If not, boil again for another 10 mins.
5. Once the lotus seeds are soft, add piece sugar to taste.  Continue to boil for another 10 mins. or so.  Remove the soup bag.
6. Dish out to serve.
7. Yield :   4 to 5 servings.