4 Dates Health Drink

Red Dates or jujuba fruits, 

commonly known as Chinese dates, 

is a popular traditional herb 

used in China long ago, 

both for food and health. 

TCM believe that it helps to prevent anemia 

and

 improve the complexion because of it’s iron content.

 As it is high in fibre it helps in overall health, 

improve bowel movement and strengthen the immunity and liver function. 

Both black dates and blue dates are good for the skin and hair.  

Blue dates are more expensive and they are longer 

whereas the black dates are rounded as shown in the photo.

The candies or honey dates is used to sweeten the drink.

To make 2 to 3 cups of this nutritious drink

You will need:

4 red dates

2 black dates

2 blue (nan) dates

2 honey dates

4 cups water

1) cut the dates in half. Some will advise to remove the seeds before boiling. 
2) Put everything into a slow cooker to boil for 2 hours. 
3) When done, Use the back of the spoon to press the dates to squeeze out the nutrients if you are not eating the pulp. 
4) Strain and drink either warm or chilled. 
5) You will be surprised how nice is the taste of the drink! You will love it.

 Drink

Discard

Bentong Ginger Drink Paste

Bentong Ginger Drink Paste

文冬姜紅枣茶

This is a ready to mix and drink Tea Paste.  The herbal ingredients can be obtained from the local Chinese Medical Shop. Genuine Bentong Ginger may not be easily available though it is known for its potency. 

If you are interested, here is the recipe:

125g bentong ginger, cleaned & cut

20 pieces red dates, clean & seeds removed

50g dried longan

50g wolfberry, washed

1 cup water

200g organic brown sugar

1. Blend together Ginger, red dates, longan & water
2. Pour into a pot and cook over low to medium heat 
3. Stir often and cook until quite dry
4. Add sugar and continue cooking until it thickens
5. Add wolfberry & allow to cook awhile
6. Let cool before storing 

To drink:

Just add 1 or 2 heaped tea spoon into hot water, stir and drink.

3 HERBAL DRINKS

 3 HERBAL DRINKS

黃耆、杞子、紅枣湯

This herbal drink can be prepared easily.
It is beneficial in strengthening the immune system,
helps in digestive system and
improve vision.

Note:
Do not drink if you have flu, fever or sore throat
as the astragalus slices can be heaty too.

Huang Qi Drink 

5g Huang Qi (Astragalus)

10g wolfberry

10g red dates, seeds removed

500ml boiling water

Rinse all ingredients & put into 500ml of boiling water
and allow to simmer for 1/2 an hour

REFRESHING SOURSOP JUICE

SOURSOP

紅毛榴槤

福州話：”破布榴槤”

My late grandmother had a soursop tree in her backyard.

Every time when she came from Sitiawan to visit us,

she would bring along some soursop for us.

She called it,"puay wo liu lian" in Hockchiew.

I do not know why it is called "durian in rags"

Do enlighten me if you know the reason.

Soursop has been found to be a superfruit!

It is great for the eyes,

 can treat infections

and

is a potential cancer fighting food,

These recent findings

 has contributed to the soaring price of this once humble fruit

commonly found in most homes.

Grandma just cut the fruits into slices to eat,

now I prefer it juiced instead.

How about you?

Soursop Juice

100g soursop pulp, seeds removed

250g cold water

sugar to taste, optional

1. blend all 3 together and you will have a refreshing drink

RICE TEA

Fried Rice Tea

is brewed in a flask 
by simply pouring boiling water

over the fried rice grains, 
and let steep in the flask for 10min before drinking. 

It is cheap and easy to prepare.

Many elderly, my mom is one of them, 
drank this Tea during Confinement after childbirth.

They believe that fried rice tea

does wonders to the body.  

It helps to keep the womb warm, 
improve the immune system, 
wash off body fats, 
quench thirst 
and 
drain body fluid.

As drinking plain water is not advised during confinement, 
Rice tea is a good alternative
 to red dates drink
 which can be quite monotonous at times.

A good remedy to ward off chills in the body. 
For coughs having white bubbly saliva, 
try this rice tea.

Toasted Ginger slices may be added to enhance its effectiveness.

It is easy to prepare.

You need only

1 cup white rice or unpolished rice grains

Method

1. rinse rice grains under running water, shake off excess water.
2. Fry at low heat in a hot pan or kuali until dry.
3. After frying 10min or so, the grains turn golden and it is ready.
4. Let cool before storing in a glass bottle until required.

Note: 

If Ginger is preferred, fry the shredded old ginger until quite dry, 

add the strained rice and fry until the rice grains turn slightly brown

HERBAL DRINK FOR EYES

Eyes

nowadays need to work extra hard for us.

As such they get tired easily.

With so many electronic devices,

like handphones, tablets, laptops and desk top computers etc.

it is really taxing on our eyes!

I have consulted several

Chinese Sinseh,

and they recommended brewing a cup of this herbal drink regularly

for your eyes.

The herbs are easy to get.
If you like to give it a try, just follow the list below:

 Herbal Drink For Eyes

1 tsp Black Goji Berries 黑枸杞

6 Chrysanthemum Buds 胎菊

1 Dendrobium Nobile 石斛

2 Red Dates 紅棗

Method:

1) put Chrysanthemum, dendrobium and red dates in a cup

2) rinse the herbs by pouring boiling water over it and drain immediately

3) Pour 1 cup fresh boiling water over the herbs, cover and leave for a minute

4) rinse Black goji berries with water, drain

5) add gojiberries into the cup and steep together with the herbs for 15-20min

6) sieve and remove the herbs, drink the clear drink

Note:

If you only have some black gojiberries,

go ahead and steep one or two teaspoon of it 

with a cup of  warm water.

WARM GINGER DRINK

GINGER

works wonder in our human bodies.

It keeps the body warm
especially for:
a) ladies during confinement, after child birth
b) habitual running nose and cold
c) ladies' general health
d) remove water retention in the body

This is easy to prepare
and can be kept in the fridge for 4 weeks or more.

In the morning,
use a dry spoon, scoop 1 Table spoon of the ginger juice
into 1 cup of hot or warm water.
Add some raw sugar to taste and drink.

It will eliminate the dampness in the body.
Sugar is added to maintain the warmth in the body
so it must not be omitted.

It comes in handy 
when you need some ginger for your cooking
or when you run out of fresh old ginger,
simply scoop a teaspoon or two into whatever you are cooking.

Warm Ginger Drink

1/2 kg old bentong ginger

1) scrape the skin of the ginger, cut into small pieces

2) juice it 

3) bring the juice to a boil

4) remove from heat and allow to cool

5) pour into a glass bottle and refrigerate.

Note:

1. do not drink with honey, may cause stomach upset

HERBAL WATER KEFIR

Introducing to you 2 herbal Water Kefir Drink

for both your guts and your eyes!

These are very refreshing! 

(1) Wolfberries/Gojiberries & Osmanthus buds

(2) Wolfberries/Gojiberries & Chrysanthemum buds

Wolfberries or Gojiberries

has long been used to improve eyesight,

strengthen vision and moisten dry eyes.

Osmanthus Buds 

besides complementing Gojiberries with the same function,

it also helps to improve skin complexion!

One stone kills 2 birds!

Chrysanthemum Buds 

is good for treating blurred vision, dry and sore eyes,

especially for those working in front of computers.

How about incorporating some of these Chinese herbs into Water kefir

instead of boiling and steeping them in hot water?

Simply add some into Water Kefir during 2F,

and you will have a health drink

for your guts and your eyes

and 

improved complexion!

MILK KEFIR

MILK KEFIR

is Kefir grains cultured in Fresh Milk.

Its taste comes from the milk you use.
So, you will get what you feed the Milk Kefir grains.

Fruit juices
or freshly cut fruits
can be added for varieties in flavour

These probiotic drinks are similar
if not better than Yogurt Drink sold in the Supermarkets

If left to ferment further, you will get a thicker version, yogurt

If longer still, the milk will separate from whey
and
you will get cheese instead, if given time to drip....

Milk separates from Whey

Dripped 1 day in fridge, you get cheese!
Whey is the green colour water on the right.

I am yet to find out the uses of Whey

Haha, looks interesting?

To culture Milk Kefir

1 tsp milk kefir grains 

500ml fresh milk

1) add milk kefir grains to fresh milk

2) cover with a cloth secured with rubber band

3) leave at room temperature for 1 night

4) next day, chuck in fridge for another day or two

5) strain the grains & transfer the grains to freshly prepared milk

6) the remaining milk is chilled as drink. Fruit can be added here.

Note:

1) if milk kefir is left in an aircond room with constant temperature

     you will get a smooth texture of tau huey

To make Kefir Cheese

1) leave the milk kefir in fridge until it separates into milk & whey as shown above

2) strain & remove the grains, pour the milk kefir into a muslin cloth lined container

     to drip. Leave overnight in the fridge.

3) the thick mass is Kefir cheese which you can use to make spread or baking

Enjoy

WATER KEFIR

WATER KEFIR

Shared by Joyce Ng (Facebook) from Singapore

Just for sharring! 

Benefits of drinking water kefir and using it on your skin

Drinking Water Kefir can help you achieve your optimal health, strengthen your immune system, and help to prevent diseases of all kinds. Most importantly, it restores good digestion - the key to health and longevity. When your body is out of balance, unfriendly opportunistic bacteria and yeasts can take over - producing irritable and bad digestion, food allergies, headaches, flu, skin rashes, and other more serious disorders. 

Water kefir is something you and your family can drink and use on your skin every day.

Inhibits the growth of unfriendly bacteria and yeasts, and helps beneficial probiotic microorganisms to colonise and thrive in your digestive tract, and throughout the test of the body (skin, eyes, bladder, vagina, nose, throat, etc).Contributes to a healthy immune system.Reduces inflammation.Helps with the digestion of food and micronutrients. 

The KEY for health and longevity is good digestion, and a balance of good bacteria are the essential starting point.Heals, or reduces the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome IBS)including bloating, indigestion, flatulence, diarrhoea/constipation, nausea, low energy, muscle aches and pains.Heals intestinal dysbiosis and SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth).Increased energy and overall feeling of good health.Can stop unhealthy food cravings, especially for sugars and sweet foods.

Skin complexion and overall condition improves. Brown liver spots / age spots can fade, as can skin tags, moles, warts etc. It can ease or cure many skin conditions, such as psoriasis,eczema and acne.Hair and nails look healthier, and are strengthened and improved.

Liver cleansing, as in traditional Chinese medicine, thus easing aches and joint pains, and benefiting the eyes.Glandular ( endocrine) system (adrenals, thyroid, pituitary, ovaries) benefits. Women have healthier periods, some women have periods start again after early menopause.

A tranquillising effect on the nervous system has helped many who suffer from sleep disorders and insomnia, depression, ADHD and autism

(1) How To Culture?

First of all, we need to know that Kefir grains love mineral

and do not like chlorine

As such, you will need to get : 

a) raw sugar (which is rich in mineral)

b) bottled mineral water (no chlorine)

No specific brand

To Start

This is 1F 

First Fermentation, sugar water & grains

2F here,

Second Fermentation with added fruits

Notes:

1) 2F can be done in fridge, but need longer hours

2) If you want fizzi drink. do 2F in long neck bottle & leave at room temperature 

    Be careful though, the gas may burst the bottle if you do not open the cover 

    to let out the gas at least once a day!

3) Short term storage:

    Water Kefir Grains wii hibernate in 1F in the fridge, so the grains will stay at the bottom.

    Do not throw away your grains. It is not dead!

4) long term storage 2-4 weeks in fridge, 2F with more sugar 

PRESERVED CALAMANSI DRINK

Calamansi is

from the Citrus family

and 

it is rich in Vitamin C

It is good for throat & respiratory illness.

As such, these fresh calamansi are then preserved

and 

made available at any time

in 

either hot or cold drink

One can also order a glass from the coffee shop

and they call it Kumquat,

which is another yellowish species

Instead of the usual preservation in salt,

these are preserved in sugar solution 

and

 they call it

Honey Kat Drink!

This is an interesting way of preserving calamansi -

with salted sour plum

embedded inside the calamansi

and 

then soaked in sugar solution for a month or so before using.

If you are curious, here is the simple method:

Preserved Calamansi Drink
300g fresh calamansi
100g sour plums
3/4 cup sugar

1. boil some sugar solution (needs to be quite sweet, as preservative),

    and leave aside to cool

2. boil a pot of hot water and pour over the cleaned calamansi, soak the fruits for 5 min

3. drain

4. slit the calamansi & remove the seeds, collect the juice

5. put 1 sour plum into the calamansi & close back

6. place the calamansi into a clean & dry bottle

7. pour the juice back to the bottle

8. add the sugar solution once it is completely cooled

9. leave in fridge to mature before consuming (about 1 month)



ALOE VERA DRINKS

2 Ways of cooking Aloe Vera Refreshing Drink

1) Honey Lemon or Lime 

2) Longan Honey Dates

Honey Lime Aloe Vera 

Longan Honey Dates Aloe Vera

Matured Aloe Vera Plant, watch out the torns!

Aloe Vera cut into 2" chunks and peel off skin

Aloe Vera pieces are brought to a boil twice:

1st time to remove stickiness, drained
2nd time to remove the smell if there is any

When you are ready to cook,
add drained aloe vera pieces & knotted pandan leaves to cold water,
bring to a boil.

For honey lime
once boiled, remove from heat, add sugar/honey & squeeze in the lime juice

Otherwise
add dried longan, honey dates or red dates & boil together.
Finally, add sugar to taste

CHRYSANTHEMUM TEA

Chrysanthemum Flower

is used in ancient Chinese medicine

It is a natural coolant

that helps in lowering the body temperature

besides quenching thirst

and 

detoxifying the body

Some believe that it helps to strengthen the immune system
yet others 
say that it improves the complexion 

Chrysanthemum Tea

50g chrysanthemum flowers

1 litre water

honey 

1. bring to boil the flowers & water

2. brief simmer for 5 min, let cool

3. strain & sweeten with honey

1st Steep

2nd Steep

You may also add boiling water to chrysanthemum buds and wolfberry
as shown in the 2 pictures above
and leave aside to steep

It is a remedy for tired eyes
and it will also clear stickiness in the eyes
of elderly

LEMONGRASS DRINK

Lemongrass Drink

Lemongrass

is a detoxifying ingredient

which

helps in digestion and combat body heat

It is also a remedy for fever

and 

it is anti inflammatory

I have taken this recipe from http://www.noobcook.com/lemongrass-tea/

Ginger

has been added to get rid of wind in the body whereas 

pandan leaves 

add fragrant to the drink

This is indeed a Refreshing Drink

Lemongrass Drink

150g lemongrass, smashed

5 pandan leaves, knotted

3 slices ginger

2 litre water

80g rock sugar/ honey

juice from 1 lemon, optional

1. bring to boil lemongrass, pandan leaves, ginger and water

2. continue to simmer for 20-30 min

3. discard lemongrass, pandan leaves & ginger, and add rock sugar, let cool

4. add lemon juice and honey (if used), to taste

5. serve either warm or chilled