In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), warmth, rest, and nourishment are essential for healing and renewal—especially after childbirth. But even outside the postpartum period, everyone can benefit from a soothing, energy-replenishing treat like this Nourishing Sweet Sticky Rice Dessert.

Inspired by the classic Eight Treasure Rice often served at weddings to symbolize prosperity and good fortune, this version combines glutinous white and purple rice with black sesame, red dates, dried longan, goji berries, and walnuts. Each ingredient is known in TCM for restoring qi (energy), supporting circulation, and gently strengthening the body.

Lightly sweet, nutty, and chewy, this dessert is naturally gluten-free, vegan, and full of nourishing goodness—perfect for postpartum recovery, cozy self-care, or anyone craving a wholesome, comforting bowl.

TCM Postpartum Sweet Sticky Rice Dessert

💮 TCM Benefits at a Glance

Glutinous rice: Strengthens the spleen and warms the stomach.
Black sesame: Nourishes blood and promotes healthy hair and skin.
Goji berries: Supports liver and kidney health; replenishes jing (essence).
Red dates (jujubes): Tonifies blood and calms the mind.
Dried longan: Helps with fatigue and boosts circulation.
Walnuts: Strengthen kidneys and support postpartum recovery.

Looking for more traditional Chinese recipes? Check out these posts:

ube, walnut, black sesame rice dumpling zongzi — Ube, Walnut, Black Sesame Zongzi

muah chee peanut mochi — Ube, Walnut, Black Sesame Zongzi

TCM Postpartum Sweet Sticky Rice Dessert

A warm and nourishing sweet sticky rice dessert inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Made with glutinous white and purple rice, black sesame, red dates, goji berries, dried longan, and walnuts, it’s lightly sweet, chewy, and naturally gluten-free and vegan—perfect for postpartum recovery or as a wholesome, comforting treat for any time of year.

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Course Dessert

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 2 rice bowls

Equipment

1 rice cooker
2 rice bowls (10oz)

Ingredients

2/3 cup glutinous sweet rice
1/3 cup glutinous purple rice
2 tbsp black sesame seeds
2 tbsp goji berries
2 tbsp dried longan
5 dried red dates
1/4 cup walnuts
2 tbsp yellow or white rock sugar
pinch sea salt

Instructions

In a rice cooker, combine the white and purple glutinous rice. Rinse several times until the water runs clear.
Add black sesame seeds, goji berries, dried longan, red dates, walnuts and rock sugar (optional) to the rice cooker. Pour in water as you would when cooking rice, then let everything soak for about 1 hour.
Turn the rice cooker on and cook as usual. When it finishes, let it rest for 10 minutes, covered, to finish steaming.
Fluff the rice mixture, then portion it into two 10-oz rice bowls. Gently pack the mixture down, flip each bowl onto a plate, and lightly tap or shake to release. You’ll get a beautiful dome-shaped rice dessert.
The gentle sweetness and nutty aroma make this a soothing treat—especially comforting for new mothers during postpartum recovery.

Keyword gluten-free, postpartum, vegan

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