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Cassia Seed Congee

(决明子粥 / Jue Ming Zi Congee)

 

Spring Medicinal Congee for Liver Nourishment

(春季养肝用药粥)**

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), it is said that “spring is the season to nourish the liver” (春宜养肝).
During spring, diet should prioritize liver health, emphasizing balanced nutrition and foods rich in protein and vitamins. Medicinal congee (yao zhou) can further support liver nourishment.

 

Cassia Seed Congee

(决明子粥 / Jue Ming Zi Congee)**

 

Ingredients

• 10 g roasted cassia seeds (炒决明子 / Chao Jue Ming Zi / Roasted Cassia Seeds)
• 50 g rice (粳米 / Jing Mi / Japonica Rice)
• Rock sugar to taste (冰糖 / Bing Tang)

 

Preparation

Lightly roast the cassia seeds until they turn slightly yellow, let them cool, and extract their decoction.
Cook the rice in this decoction. Once done, add rock sugar to taste.

 

Effects

This congee clears the liver, improves vision, and relieves constipation.
It is effective for:

• Red, irritated eyes
• Photophobia (light sensitivity)
• Excessive tearing
• Hypertension
• Hyperlipidemia
• Habitual constipation

 

Roasted Cassia Seeds (炒决明子)

Chao Jue Ming Zi is the roasted form of cassia seeds.
Roasting is a traditional pao zhi (herbal processing) technique that reduces the harsh cold nature of raw cassia seeds and minimizes gastrointestinal irritation, making it more suitable for specific symptoms.

 

How Roasted Cassia Seeds Are Prepared

1. Cleaning

• Quickly rinse fresh cassia seeds (yellow-green in color) to remove dust.
• Drain and dry thoroughly.

 

2. Roasting

• Place the seeds in a dry pan or herbal roasting pot.
• Stir constantly over low heat.

 

3. Heat Control

Roasting is complete when:

• A nutty aroma appears
• Small popping sounds occur
• The shells split slightly and turn brown or yellow-brown

 

4. Cooling

Remove from heat and allow to cool completely.

 

5. Cracking / Grinding

Because roasted seeds are more brittle:

• Gently crush or coarsely grind
  to allow better extraction of active components when brewed.

 

Note:

Do NOT burn the seeds — carbonization decreases efficacy and may irritate the stomach.

 

Functions & Actions of Roasted Cassia Seeds

Compared to raw cassia seeds, roasted ones are milder and easier on the stomach, making them widely applicable.

● Moistens the intestines & relieves constipation (润肠通便)

• Promotes digestive secretions
• Enhances intestinal peristalsis
• Especially effective for dry-heat constipation

 

● Clears the liver & improves vision (清肝明目)

Useful for liver heat/liver fire symptoms such as:

• Red, swollen eyes
• Blurred vision
• Eye fatigue

 

● Lowers blood pressure & lipids

• Helps reduce serum cholesterol
• Supports blood pressure regulation
• Useful for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, dizziness, and headache

 

How to Consume Cassia Seeds

1. Cassia Seed Tea (solo)

• 10–15 g roasted cassia seeds
• Steep in hot water for 10–15 minutes
• Can be re-steeped until color fades

 

2. Combined with other herbs

• Goji Berry + Chrysanthemum
  → Clears liver heat, brightens eyes
  → Ideal for eye strain from long computer use, hypertension
• With Green Tea
  → Enhances heat-clearing and lipid-lowering effects
• With Honey
  → Stronger moistening/laxative effect, good for constipation

 

Suitable For

• People with liver fire or liver heat
• Chronic constipation
• Hypertension, hyperlipidemia
• Eye strain (reading/computer work)

 

Contraindications & Precautions

• Spleen–stomach deficiency cold (脾胃虚寒)
• Qi & blood deficiency
• Those prone to diarrhea or loose stools
• Pregnancy: contraindicated
• Long-term use should be supervised by a TCM doctor

 

Rock Sugar (冰糖 / Bing Tang)

Rock sugar is produced by dissolving, refining, and recrystallizing white sugar, forming large crystalline chunks.
Its main component is sucrose.
It can be eaten directly or used widely in cooking, desserts, and tonic recipes.

 

Types of Rock Sugar

● White Rock Sugar (白冰糖)

• Highly refined, clear, pure
• Clean, smooth sweetness
• Common in teas, desserts, cooling beverages

 

● Yellow Rock Sugar (黄冰糖)

• Less refined, retains more natural cane constituents
• Pale yellow color
• Richer nutrients
• Used in soups, braises, herbal tonics

 

● Single-Crystal Rock Sugar (单晶冰糖)

• Industrially manufactured
• Uniform crystal size (often dodecahedral)

 

● Multi-Crystal Rock Sugar (多晶冰糖)

• Traditional slow crystallization
• Also called “large rock sugar”
• Made of fused smaller crystals

 

Functions of Rock Sugar (TCM Perspective)

In TCM, rock sugar is:

• Sweet (甘)
• Neutral (性平)
• Enters the spleen and lung meridians

 

● Tonifies qi & harmonizes the stomach

Helps with:

• Poor appetite
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth/throat

 

● Nourishes yin & moistens the lungs

Useful for:

• Dry cough
• Non-productive cough
• Blood-streaked sputum

Often paired with snow fungus, pear, fritillaria, and other tonics.

 

● Culinary Uses

Its clean sweetness makes it ideal for:

• Bird’s nest
• Snow fungus dessert
• Steamed pear
• Braised pork (for color and aroma)

 

Precautions

Because rock sugar is essentially sucrose, it requires caution for:

• Diabetic patients
• Obesity
• Coronary artery disease
• Hypertension
• Hyperlipidemia

 

Excessive intake may cause:

• Weight gain
• Elevated blood lipids
• Dental issues