Hello! It’s been a long, long time since my last recipe/travelogue, here’s what happening recently:
Back in Singapore – we are now back in Singapore for good! Packing up to ship almost 3 years of our lives back home was total mess and madness. The packers did the packing for us (for insurance purposes) so now I have no idea where is stuffed where (the boxes are only numbered, not labeled!) The stuff (including most of my photography props, bakeware and cookware) are currently on the way back to Singapore, but as we won’t be unpacking them until we moved into our new home, I won’t be baking or cooking much until then.
Our new home – we got our keys to our HDB! As I’m not working at the moment, I’ve been going around searching for my perfect kitchen sink, perfect oven, perfect hob and perfect hood (basically the kitchen is my territory so I get to decide what I want hehe). Furniture and appliances aside, X and I have yet to decide on who to engage to renovate our house. I’m hoping we can make the decision by end of December and start the renovations and move in next year!
Looking for a job – now that we are back for good, it’s time for me to get back in the workforce. Job hunting is definitely a pretty tedious chore, but hopefully something good comes along they way soon.
So anyway, with all those stuff that’s happening (plus a huge bout of laziness), updating the blog was out of my mind for quite some time. But today I’m back! With a recipe that I made and photographed while I was still back overseas – Red Date Longan Tea with Goji Berries.
Dried red dates (also known as jujubes) and goji berries (also known as wolfberries) are some of the most popular health foods in Asian cuisine. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, red dates can help protect the liver, lower cholesterol levels and boost the immunity system while goji berries are rich in antioxidants and vitamins, help reduce blood glucose, and high in protein and fibre. Both red dates and goji berries can be used in sweet and savoury recipes, making them extremely versatile and good to have around in the pantry!
Red Date Longan Tea is a sweet and delicious drink that can be enjoyed hot, warm, at room temperature and even cold. As dried longans are pretty sweet, there is no need for additional sugar. Red dates and dried longans are the only must-haves for this recipe, I only added the goji berries because I happened to have them on hand, You can even add ginger if you like!
As mentioned before in my Green Bean Soup post, heatiness and coldness are Traditional Chinese Medicine terms. Consuming too much heaty foods tend to make people fall sick, usually developing sore throat and cough with sticky phlegm. Consuming too much cooling foods may cause fatigue. In this case, red dates and longan are heaty foods. To lower the heatiness of the Red Date Longan Tea, the seeds of the red dates should be removed, and less longans can be used. If you really find the drink not sweet enough, you can add in brown sugar to taste.
Besides being a delicious tea, Red Date Longan Tea is also good for skin complexion – so ladies (and gentlemen alike), drink up!
Step-by-Step Photos
Red Date Longan Tea with Goji Berries
INGREDIENTS
- 60 grams seedless red dates
- 1.5 litres water
- 30 grams dried longans, rinsed and drain
- 15 grams goji berries, rinsed and drain
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut red dates into small pieces and soak in water for at least one hour, preferably overnight.
- Transfer red dates with the soaking water into a pot. Add in longans. Cover the pot, bring to a boil and simmer for 25 minutes. Add in the goji berries and simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Strain the tea. Add sugar (preferably dark brown sugar) if needed. Serve hot, warm, at room temperature or cold.
NOTES
- Variation: Add one or two ginger slices in Step 2 and simmer together with the red dates and dried longans.
- It's important to use seedless red dates to reduce the heatiness of the drink. Longans are also heaty, so use less or drink less of the tea if you are feeling heaty.
Me says
How long can red date drink sit out in room temperature for after boiled into a bottle?
Jasline (FoodieBaker) says
Hi generally I will try to finish thea within the same day it is made. It should be able to last for one or two more days longer if stored in the refrigerator.
Mike Yarmish says
Interesting approach. Let me try it at home and get back to you with results. Thank yyouuuuuu Denise 🙂
ling says
hello! if i soak the red dates in water overnight, should i put them in the fridge or out in the open?
Jasline N. says
Hi Ling, if you are going to cook it in the morning, you can just leave it in the counter overnight, covered. If not you can soak it in the fridge.
Karen says
I purchased 2lbs of longan when I was in Thailand recently. I’m hooked on the tea now! I’d like to try the addition of goji and red dates. I can find goji, but I’m not sure where to find red dates and more longan in the US. Are they items I should get online or look in an Asian market? Thanks.
Jasline N. says
Hi Karen, you should try an Asian market first to see if it’s cheaper to get there or online! 🙂
lijiuan mak says
Followed your recipe and made a pot for myself. It taste great! However, I forgot and threw away the red dates soaking water. Does the soaking water enhance the taste of the tea?
Jasline N. says
Hi Lijiuan, the soaking water will have some red date flavour/essence, thats why I recommend boiling the soaking water together. 🙂
Betterwithlots says
that actually looks so yummy and healthy! thanks for sharing
Raymund says
I never knew you can make tea out of those ingredients and I have all of them at home. Ok
I am making one now
Lme says
I had the red dates in water for 24 hours and this wasn’t placed inside the fridge.. I’m now wondering if it’ll go bad?
Jasline N. says
Hi Lme! Do you find the dates and the soaking water smelling weird? If not I think it should be ok!
Lme says
Thanks for the tip and getting back so quickly! They smell exactly like red dates and are boiling in the pot right now ;D
Jasline N. says
You are welcome! Hope you like the drink!
Emma says
Wow you have been so busy, no wonder you’ve had no time for blogging. Good luck with everything and I look forward to more when you have the time. I hope you had a great Christmas and you have a very happy and productive New Year!
Karen says
A nice cup of your tea will be nice while you contemplate your new kitchen design. I wish you all the best in the New Year.
Cam says
I hope you’ll find some good job. Singapore s a beautiful country. I wish I was there again. Have a good Christmas time.
Jasline N. says
Aww thanks so much Cam, you are so sweet! Have a good Christmas holiday! 🙂
Helen W says
Beautiful images and lovely recipe! Why do you soak the jujube fruit for an hour before boiling?
Jasline N. says
Thank you Helen! Soaking helps to soften the jujubes so they cook faster 🙂