Why 8 Treasures
Today, you’ll often find the 8 Treasures soup/porridge/congee served at a Chinese meal or banquet. Why? The 8 Treasures is a paragon for food as medicine. The concept isn't a fixed recipe (meaning: you’re not eating the same 8 treasures year round) but a philosophy of using eight different ingredients to support the body’s needs over a period of time.
My perspective is that it’s better to eat a variety of foods consistently to support what my body needs. I wanted a framework that I could follow regularly. So I intentionally created a rotating set of “Eight Treasure” soups that align with the seasons and menstrual phases that I could consume 3-4 times a week.
Before I go into more detail about why the number eight, here’s why this system works.
The treasures are accessible
Besides all the health benefits you’ll read about later, I really appreciate how this framework I created sets me up for success in all the ways: health, saves time & energy, prevents flavor fatigue, and it’s an easy framework to maintain.
Health
I’ve always wanted to consume a variety of beans for its health benefits without the sugar or spices in a way that’s tasty enough for me. It’s worth mentioning that when you first get started, you don’t have to use all 8 treasures.
When I first started, I didn’t eat the 8 treasures. I used 5 ingredients: black soy bean, adzuki beans, lotus seed, goji berries, and red dates. And I ate it 3-4 times a week and after a month, I saw the improvements on my tongue (it was less scalloped); I felt less bloated; I didn’t have to do a cleanse; I didn’t have to fast; I just ate my treasures regularly.
Saves time & energy
All I needed was the initial investment and the subsequent steps barely require additional effort. I just need an Instant Pot, some ramekin and jars. I can meal prep my sun drys into the ramekin for the week. Then, I can soak my beans and seeds overnight. It’s one less meal prep that I have to figure out. The cooking time never changes and it overall reduces my decision fatigue.
Variety to prevent flavor fatigue
I didn’t want my tongue to get flavor fatigue. It’s just so great to have variety, depending on the season and cycle so that I am not eating a winter bean in the summer.
Easy framework to maintain
Where do I get all my rice, beans and seeds? Weee, of course. And it helps to have little ramekins/jars/bowls to hold your sundry goods. In fact, it’s best that you get those containers and jars before you purchase your sundry goods.
If it’s good enough for an empress, it’s good enough for me
In short, while the 8 treasures are now a common meal, they were at one point part of an exclusive cuisine served in the palace. Black rice was once called forbidden black rice because black rice was highly nutritious and the emperors and empresses reserved their limited supply for themselves. Consuming it was forbidden for commoners. So, if it’s good enough for an empress, it’s good enough for me.
Now, let’s take a closer look at why the number 8.
1. 8 Treasures come from a classical 8 ingredient herbal formula
The idea of “Eight Treasures” has been around for many centuries in Chinese culture. The classic herbal formula Eight Treasure Tea Decoction (Ba Zhen Tang 八珍汤). This formula was used to tonify Qi and Blood, especially in women with fatigue, anemia, and postpartum depletion.
The food version, 8 Treasures soup/congee/porridge, developed later as a culinary expression of the same philosophy.
They follow the same idea:
enjoyable to eat on a regular basis
support daily health
harmonize Energy and Blood
2. Eight ingredients balance the Five Elements and organ systems
A well‑constructed Eight‑Treasure formula typically includes items that nourish:
Qi
Blood
Yin
Yang
Essence (Jing)
By combining eight items with complementary natures, the formula can:
strengthen weak organs
harmonize systems
balance warming + cooling
avoid overstimulation
Eight ingredients offer enough variety for broad, whole‑body tonification without overwhelming digestion.
3. Combining 8 ingredients layer on the therapeutic actions
One or two tonic foods might work on a single organ. Meanwhile, eight ingredients can support all five major systems:
Spleen (digestive strength)
Liver (Blood and Qi flow)
Kidney (Yin, Yang, Essence)
Heart (Shen)
Lung (Yin, dryness)
This creates a synergistic effect greater than any individual item.
4. Eight represents harmony
From TCM’s worldview health comes from balance. It doesn’t believe that a single food should dominate. And lastly, strength grows from variety.
An 8 Treasure blend supports:
long-term vitality
gradual accumulation of Energy and Blood
balanced digestive load
steady nourishment that doesn’t overwhelm the body
It matches the principle that mild, consistent tonification is better than strong, fast tonics.
5. (Bonus)The number eight symbolizes abundance and prosperity
Last but not least, in Chinese culture:
“Eight” (八, ba) sounds like “wealth/prosper” (發, fa).
An Eight‑Treasure mixture is believed to bring:
good fortune
harmonious flow
balanced nourishment
It is not just food—it carries auspicious meaning.
