Jing Balls

Jing is one of the three treasures of Traditional Chinese Medicine, along with qi/energy and Shen/spirit. Jing is essential for everyone, and plays an essential role in everything from fertility to how we feel and live day to day. To build the jing, we must build the kidney. Kidney is associated with the color black, and the essential kidney food other than lamb and beef and seaweed is black sesame. These black sesame jing balls are wonderful for building strength and restoring energy especially as we near the end of this mighty cold winter. You can use black sesame seeds, roast them gently on a pan then blend. Or I make it easier by using black sesame paste from either @edenfoods or @rooted.fare. Omit honey if using the latter as it has sweetener already.

1 cup black sesame paste (Hei Zhi Ma if ordering seeds from @kamwoherbs or any Asian herb shop)
2 tbsp black sesame powder
1 cup walnuts
8 fresh dates, pitted and soaked in hot water
1 tbsp honey
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp dried or fresh grated ginger

Add all ingredients to a food processor. Blend into a paste. Scoop out spoonfuls (I use an ice cream scoop) and form balls. Put on a plate, rest in fridge to solidify. Take out and enjoy. (Can also plop a ball into warm milk and stir for a delicious easy nightcap.)