From vegoutmag.com
By Avery White
A centuries-old Chinese dessert might just be the skin-boosting ritual your beauty routine’s been missing—without a single drop of dairy
I’ll admit it: I used to breeze past anything labelled “red bean” on menus.
It sounded more like something you’d find in a hearty stew than a dessert. But one afternoon at a friend’s house in San Francisco’s Sunset District—where the fog rolls in like a cosy blanket over rows of Chinese bakeries and herbal apothecaries—I had my mind changed by a humble little bowl of red bean soup.
Sweet, warm, delicately flavoured. Comforting in a way that felt both nostalgic and new.
And the kicker? It’s completely vegan. No dairy, no gelatine, no processed nonsense.
Even more surprising? It's packed with skin-loving benefits that rival any pricey serum sitting on your bathroom shelf.
Let’s break it down.
What’s actually in red bean soup?
Traditional Chinese red bean soup (called hong dou tang in Mandarin) is made with just a few ingredients: adzuki beans, water, and some form of natural sweetener like rock sugar or dates. Sometimes, recipes include dried tangerine peel or lotus seeds for added flavour or texture.
That’s it.
It’s usually served warm, but you can also chill it for a summer-friendly version. It’s gluten-free, oil-free, and plant-based by design—not as a workaround.
And despite its simplicity, this unassuming little dessert carries a surprising amount of beauty-boosting potential.
So... how does it help your skin?
Let’s start with the adzuki bean, the star of the show.
These tiny red beans have been used in East Asian medicine for centuries. They're rich in antioxidants, especially polyphenols, which help protect your skin from environmental stress and premature aging. Think UV exposure, pollution, that too-long stare at your phone in bed. All of it.
As noted by dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, “Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals—unstable molecules that damage collagen and lead to wrinkles.” In other words, adzuki beans don’t just taste good—they’re fighting your skin’s battles from the inside out.
But it’s not just about antioxidants.
Adzuki beans are also a fantastic source of zinc, a mineral that's crucial for skin repair and inflammation reduction. Zinc deficiency has been linked to acne and dull complexion, so getting more of it through whole foods like adzuki beans is a quiet act of skincare that doesn’t require a 10-step regimen.
Then there’s fibre. A cup of cooked adzuki beans packs around 17 grams of it. Why does that matter? Because gut health and skin health are deeply connected. When your digestion is off, it often shows up on your face: breakouts, redness, irritation.
As Dr. Nigma Talib has said, “Skin issues often begin in the gut.” And fibre—especially from legumes—helps balance gut bacteria, supports detoxification, and keeps things moving (you know what I mean). That glow people talk about? It’s often just a reflection of what’s working well inside.
The subtle magic of simplicity
There’s something oddly refreshing about a dessert that’s not trying to outshine itself with sprinkles or edible gold dust.
In a world of overcomplicated food trends (looking at you, charcoal-infused smoothie bowls), red bean soup offers a kind of stillness.
It doesn’t spike your blood sugar like cakes or cookies. It doesn’t come with the emotional crash that follows ultra-processed snacks. It nourishes, quietly.
And that calm shows up in your skin.
Blood sugar spikes are often overlooked in skincare conversations, but they’re key. High glycaemic foods can trigger inflammation and oil production—major contributors to acne and accelerated aging. Adzuki beans, with their low glycaemic index and high fibre, help regulate that balance.
I started eating red bean soup once or twice a week during the colder months. Not religiously, not as some “miracle” fix. Just as a small act of care.
A few weeks in, I noticed my skin looked... calmer. More even-toned. I wasn't breaking out around my jawline the way I sometimes do after sugar-heavy desserts. Coincidence? Maybe. But when something this simple checks so many boxes, I don’t need a double-blind study to keep a spoon in my hand.
More than a dessert: a quiet ritual
Making red bean soup doesn’t require any culinary degree or special tools. But it does take time.
The beans need to be soaked, then simmered low and slow until they’re tender. It’s the kind of kitchen task that pairs well with a good podcast or that audiobook you’ve been meaning to finish.
And I’ll say this: there’s something undeniably grounding about cooking a recipe that generations have made before you, especially one that asks nothing more than your presence and patience.
Maybe that’s part of the skin benefits too—lowering stress, slowing down, returning to nourishment that doesn’t scream for attention.
Because we all know stress wreaks havoc on our skin. Cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, can increase oil production and inflammation. By simply creating a quiet food ritual—something nourishing and repetitive—you’re reducing that internal noise.
How to make it (without overthinking it)
There are dozens of variations, but here’s the version I stick with:
1 cup dried adzuki beans (soaked overnight)
6 cups water
1–2 tablespoons of coconut sugar or maple syrup (or a few chopped dates)
Optional: a sliver of dried tangerine peel or a pinch of sea salt
Simmer everything on low heat for about an hour, stirring occasionally. The beans should be soft but not mushy.
You can leave it thin and broth-like, or blend a portion for a creamier texture. Serve warm in the winter or chilled in summer with a splash of almond milk.
If you’re not into sweets, leave out the sugar entirely and enjoy it savoury-style with a bit of miso or tamari. It works both ways.
Why this matters more than it seems
When I was working corporate, I used to think of self-care as something I had to schedule. Like a calendar invite. 3 p.m., meditate. 6 p.m., gym. 8 p.m., sheet mask.
Now, I see it differently.
Sometimes, self-care is just eating something that makes you feel good afterward—physically, emotionally, and even aesthetically.
Sometimes, it’s rediscovering ancient food wisdom that doesn’t come in a bottle or tube. And sometimes, it’s about remembering that beauty isn’t about adding more. It’s about stripping back to what actually supports you.
Red bean soup reminds me of that every time.
No trends. No magic. Just quiet, nutrient-rich nourishment that shows up on your face a few days later.
I’d say that’s worth simmering for.
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