What is best to steep with mulberries for drinking?

Generally speaking, there is no absolute "best" combination for soaking mulberries in water. High-quality pairings commonly include wolfberry (goji berries), chrysanthemum, red dates (jujubes), longan, and honey. Detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Wolfberry: Mulberries nourish yin and enrich the blood, while wolfberries tonify the liver and kidneys and benefit essence and vision. When used together, their effects of nourishing yin and enriching blood are enhanced. This combination is suitable for individuals with yin deficiency of the liver and kidneys, helping to relieve symptoms such as dizziness, tinnitus, blurred vision, and soreness in the lower back and knees. The taste is pleasantly sweet, offering both nutritional benefits and good flavor.

2. Chrysanthemum: Mulberries clear heat and promote body fluid production, while chrysanthemum clears the liver, improves vision, and dispels wind-heat. When combined, they offer superior effects in clearing heat and relieving dryness. This pairing can help alleviate dry mouth, throat discomfort, and is especially suitable for summer consumption. It effectively reduces internal heat while nourishing yin fluids, preventing excessive dryness that may result from cooling therapies alone.

3. Red Dates (Jujubes): Mulberries nourish the blood and enhance complexion, while red dates strengthen the spleen and stomach, nourish the blood, and calm the mind. Together, they work synergistically to boost blood-nourishing effects. Suitable for those with qi and blood deficiency, this combination helps improve sallow complexion, fatigue, and insomnia. With a warm, sweet, and mellow flavor, it balances the slight tartness of mulberries, making the drink more palatable.

4. Longan: Mulberries nourish yin and enrich the blood, while longan tonifies the heart and spleen and calms the spirit. This combination balances yin-nourishing and warming tonic properties. Ideal for individuals with deficiency of both the heart and spleen or insufficient qi and blood, it helps relieve palpitations, poor memory, frequent dreaming, and easy waking during sleep. Gentle and nourishing, it is suitable for daily wellness use.

5. Honey: Mulberries clear heat, moisten dryness, and promote fluid production to quench thirst, while honey strengthens the digestive system, moistens dryness, and enhances flavor. When combined, their ability to relieve dryness is improved. This mixture can help ease lung-heat cough and constipation due to intestinal dryness. The sweetness of honey counteracts the sourness of mulberries, resulting in a smoother-tasting beverage, ideal for consumption during dry seasons.

When preparing mulberry-infused water, use either fresh ripe mulberries or dried ones, adjusting the quantity according to individual constitution. Individuals with spleen-stomach deficiency and cold should avoid excessive consumption to prevent the cooling nature of mulberries from irritating the gastrointestinal tract.