Spring Recipes

This recipe is suitable for those who often stay up late, work too much, and “burn the candle at both ends” which can result in a restless mind with sleep disturbance and possibly a difficult time focusing on the task at hand. In this recipe, Ling zhi is sweet and slightly bitter in taste, and slightly warm or neutral in temperature. It enters the Heart, Lung and Liver meridians and can replenish the Heart blood, calm the mind, and soothe the Liver. Ling zhi is helpful for restlessness, forgetfulness and physical and mental fatigue caused by Qi and Blood deficiency. Used long-term, it is supportive for the immune system and protects the body from everyday stress.

Zongzi are a traditional food during the Dragon Boat Festival. The story behind these dumplings started over a thousand years ago during the Warring States period, when there were seven kingdoms in China who were constantly battling for dominance.

Blooming flowers, green leafy trees, warmer weather, feelings of renewal and growth, and possibly...... dry, itchy, lackluster skin. The effects of cold and windy winter months followed by drier springtime weather can make our skin more vulnerable to peeling, itching and dryness. These 2 recipes will help battle dryness with delicious herb-infused food!

We tested 11 Plum Flower Chinese herbs to see if they could produce rich colors for egg dyeing. Check out our short video for results!

Mushrooms and fungus are well-known for having health benefits, and the cloud ear fungus (yun mu er) is no exception. Used in cooking since the 6th century, this ingredient benefits healthy blood circulation and tonifies yin with both cooling and moistening properties.

Many Chinese herbs come from plants traditionally used for their brilliant dyes. We wondered if they could be used to color Easter eggs because that's the kind of herb nerds we are at Mayway. See what happened...

Bitter melon stir fried with eggs is a very simple, common Chinese therapeutic food dish. In terms of its TCM functions, Ku Gua/Mormodica charantia/bitter melon clears heat, brightens the eyes, detoxifies, and alleviates thirst. Eggs, always a symbol of spring's rebirth, are a superb source of complete and easily-digestible protein, essential fatty acids and a large array of nutrients. Combined with bitter melon's ability to clear heat and heat-toxins, the eggs' ability to nourish Yin and Blood creates a dynamic clearing/nourishing combination.

Prepare your body for spring with this delicious herb meal! Pungent and sweet flavors nourish the body, invigorate the Liver, and increase the flow of Qi and Blood needed to fuel Spring’s expansive and vigorous Yang growth. Spring is the season of wind. 

Prepare your body for spring with this delicious herb meal! Pungent and sweet flavors nourish the body, invigorate the Liver, and increase the flow of Qi and Blood needed to fuel Spring's expansive and vigorous Yang growth. This tasty meal provides nourishment for those who are overworked and run down, for recovery from illness, or simply for maintaining good health.

Try this delicious new twist on an old breakfast favorite! We’ve substituted Gou Qi Zi (goji berries) for raisins and added walnuts to a traditional cinnamon bread. According to Chinese medicine, Rou Gui/Cinnamon bark warms and tonifies Kidney, Heart and Spleen Yang, warms and unblocks the channels and vessels, and encourages the generation of Qi and Blood. 

This delicious, light and simple pork and herb soup is an excellent recipe to prepare the body for spring. Spring is the season of wood and its associated organ the Liver. It is the season of activity after the long dormancy of winter, so it is time to nourish the body and increase the movement of Qi. The primary taste for spring is sweet to tonify Qi and Blood, regulate the Spleen and Stomach, and benefit and harmonize the Yin organs.