TCM Hemp Seed Wine: A Collab with Zoey Gong and Ming River
Photography by Monica Lo
While working on my Cannabis in Ancient Asia Keynote for the Asian Art Museum, I had the amazing opportunity to get to know the illustrious Zoey Gong, RD of Table81. She was kind enough to translate some old texts on cannabis and hemp usage in ancient China for my presentation. While my main focus is on the cannabis plant, Zoey has been modernizing Traditional Chinese Medicine cuisine through her extensive knowledge of all Chinese herbology.
Zoey Gong moved to the US from Shanghai when she was 16 years old, only to find herself severely ill with two breast tumors, skin rashes, amenorrhea, and joint pain after eating an all-American diet for a mere six months. Determined to make a change, she began to heal herself with a plant-based diet focused around Chinese plants and herbs. With her background in clinical nutrition and Chinese medicine, Zoey specializes in Chinese medicinal cuisine and holistic treatments to help her clients reach their wellness goals. Zoey also started Table81, a dinner series focused on modernizing traditional Chinese medicinal cuisine–working to marry western nutrition with the nourishing qualities of eastern traditions.
I’m excited to collaborate with Zoey on this medicinal wine recipe made with Ming River Baijiu and toasted hemp seeds which is suitable for those with dry, dull skin during the colder seasons*. Zoey explains, “while you might think Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) must forbid the consumption of alcohol, medicinal Wine (药酒) is actually a big part of TCM food therapy. The Chinese characters for wine (酒) and medicine (醫) even share commonalities.”
The history and recipes for Chinese medicinal wines and spirits are abundant and these infusions are generally made by soaking complementary herbs in Chinese alcohol for a long period of time. Today, we’re speeding the process up by gently heating the infusion using the sous vide method.
If you’re also fascinated with modern Traditional Chinese Medicine cuisine, please follow Zoey on Instagram.
Hemp Seed Wine
Recipe by Zoey Gong, RD
Makes 750 ml
Dosage: Drink 1/3 oz at room temperature once or twice a day on an empty stomach, followed by food*
Usage: For those with dry, tough, dull skin
Tasting Notes: Velvety amaretto, toasted sesame, with notes of brown sugar and tropical fruits like pineapple.
Ingredients:
• 750ml Ming River Baijiu
• 1 oz goji berries
• 1 oz hemp seeds, toasted
• 1 oz black sesame seeds, toasted
• 1 oz chamomile, dried
• 1/3 oz sweet apricot kernel, roughly crushed
• 1.75 oz dried rehmannia root, washed in cold water
Directions:
1. Set sous vide water bath to 60ºC (140ºF.)
2. Add all ingredients into a gallon-sized, freezer-safe zip-sealed bag and seal using the water-displacement method.
3. Sous vide for 2 hours.
4. Remove from water bath and allow to cool to room temperature before opening the bag.
5. Strain out the solids and discard. Pour the infused liquid back into the Ming River Baijiu bottle. Store in a cool, dark place.
Disclaimer:
*If you have liver conditions, stomach ulcers, alcohol allergies, or throat inflammation, please refrain from alcohol, including medicinal ones. The information provided in or through this website should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Please seek the advice of a Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or a medical professional with any questions you may have regarding any medical conditions. Practice of any kind using any information and material on this website is entirely at your own risk.
