To Replenish Blood Chi

Sesame and mushroom tea

this recipe replenishes blood chi and softens and smoothes the skin. You will need black not golden seseme seeds. Use wood ear dried mushrooms, which are black on one side and beige on the other. Do not confuse them with clud ear mushrooms, which are much smaller, black on one side, and white on the other. Wood ear mushrooms are much more nourishing then cloud ears. Wood ear mushrooms and black seseme seeds are available in Chinese markets.

1 small teapoon black seseme seeds
2 sq. in (5 sq cm) piece of dried wood ear mushroom
tea of your choice
3 cups (850ml) water

Put the seseme seeds and piece of wood ear mushroom into a mortar and grind them together with a pestle. Alternatatively, you can quickly whiz them in a food processor. Put the mixture into a pot and the the tea (tea leaves)of your choice. Bring water to boil and pour it over all the ingredients. Let sit for 2-3 minutes before drinking. Afterward you may eat the reside with a spoon if desired