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Tangaek — Decoctions · Fruits

蓮薏 Yeonbap Sim (연밥 심)

Yeonui is the green plumule at the heart of a lotus seed — the lotus embryo. It is intensely bitter, so it is normally picked out before the seed is eaten. Steeped on its own, this is what is sold today as lotus-heart tea.

Original, read line by line 東醫寶鑑 · Tangaek — Decoctions vol. 2

  1. 的中有靑爲薏. 味甚苦, 食之令人霍亂. 《本草》

    The green part inside the lotus seed kernel is ui (薏). Its taste is intensely bitter, and eating it brings on gwallan (霍亂, sudden vomiting and diarrhea). 《Boncho (本草)》

    HomiclubThis is the green embryo set in the middle of a split lotus seed, also called yeonjasim. Cooks usually pick it out before eating the seed, and it is gathered separately and steeped as yeonjasim tea.

  2. 薏, 蓮心也. 治心熱, 及血疾作渴, 幷暑月霍亂. 《局方》

    Ui is the heart of the lotus seed. It treats simyeol (心熱, heart heat), thirst arising from blood disorders, and gwallan in the hot months. 《Gukbang (局方)》

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This is a cultural and historical record from a classical text, not a claim about any food’s effects. Nothing here is a health supplement or intended to prevent or treat disease. Consult a medical professional about health concerns. · Text: Korean Medicine Classics DB · Reading: Homiclub