Introduction: In the “Huangdi Neijing · Shengqi Tongtian Lun,” it is mentioned that “Yangqi, like the sky and the sun, if lost, will shorten life without being noticed, therefore the movement of the sky should be bright with sunlight.” This means that just as Yangqi is related to the sky and the sun, a depletion of Yangqi will unintentionally reduce lifespan, thus the movement of the sky is inseparable from the sun’s irradiation. For individuals to maintain health, Yangqi is essential; insufficient Yangqi can also shorten lifespan. Therefore, during the dog days of summer, it is essential to prevent coldness and nourish Yangqi.
During the dog days of summer, many individuals may damage their Yangqi due to seeking coolness, such as taking cold showers, prolonged exposure to air conditioning, consuming iced drinks, and eating cold-natured foods, all of which harm Yangqi. Once Yangqi is compromised, the body’s cold dampness cannot be dispelled, leading to various ailments. In the dog days of summer, many people prefer lighter spicy foods and opt for fruits or fruit snacks. Therefore, today I introduce “longan,” the most nourishing fruit for Yangqi, eating it frequently during the dog days of summer can keep you spirited and healthy without dampness, coldness, full of vitality throughout the season.
Every year during the dog days of summer, longan is abundant in the market with super affordable prices. In our local area, medium-sized longan is 10 yuan for 3 jin. Whenever I come across visually appealing and cheap longan, I buy 50 jin, dry them all to make longan dried fruits. Eating a handful daily can keep us energetic throughout the dog days of summer. There are two methods of drying longan: one is drying them whole, and the other is extracting the longan flesh for drying. I will now share both drying methods with you, so you won’t miss out on enjoying them.
First drying method: Whole drying
Ingredients: 20 jin fresh longan, 10g salt
Preparation method:
Step 1: Place the purchased longan and salt in a basin, soak the longan for 10 minutes, then remove them from the water.
Step 2: Boil water in a pot, add the longan into the pot when the water boils, cover the pot, continue boiling for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat.
Step 3: Place the cooked longan on a sieve, then sun-dry for about a week until the longan flesh inside turns black, ensuring there is no moisture left before bottling. If not fully dried, longan dried fruits can easily become moldy and spoil!
Second drying method: Drying longan flesh
Ingredients: 20 jin longan
Preparation method:
Step 1: Wash the longan thoroughly, peel them to remove any dirt or impurities, discard the peel and remove the core.
Step 2: Prepare several sieves, arrange the peeled longan flesh on the sieves, sun-dry for 2-3 hours, then flip the longan flesh and continue sun-drying. To prevent mold and spoilage, make sure to sun-dry both sides evenly.
Step 3: Longan dried fruits need 3-4 days of sun-drying to be completely dried. Therefore, in the following days, under good weather, they need to be sun-dried daily. It’s best to flip them every half-day. Once fully dried, store them in sealed bottles. The drier the drying process, the less likely longan dried fruits will mold and spoil.
Remember to eat “longan” during the dog days of summer, the most nourishing fruit for Yangqi, free of dampness and coldness. Don’t miss out on enjoying it! If today’s article has helped you, please follow and like. This is the greatest support for me. Stay tuned for more cooking tips and health advice from Master Hu. Thank you for watching.
