Milk Thistle Seed Shui Fei Ji 500g Dried Silybum Marianum Seeds for Herbal Tea and Decoction

Milk Thistle Seed, known in TCM as Shui Fei Ji (水飞蓟), is the dried ripe seed of Silybum marianum, also called St. Mary's thistle or holy thistle. These whole dried seeds are traditionally valued in herbal practice and are commonly prepared as tea, decoction, or ground for culinary use. In TCM terms the seed is considered cool in nature with a bitter taste. Store refrigerated and consult a qualified practitioner before regular use.

Key Selling Points

• Whole dried milk thistle seeds sold as a 500g bag of raw edible botanical
• Botanical source is Silybum marianum, known in Chinese as Shui Fei Ji 水飞蓟
• Traditionally associated in TCM with a cool nature and bitter flavor
• Dried and processed without further refining, suitable for tea or decoction
• Versatile raw herb for home herbal tea, soups, and traditional preparations

Quality & Sensory

The seeds are typically small, oblong, and dark brown to mottled gray-brown with a hard outer coat and a faintly nutty, slightly bitter aroma. When simmered or steeped, the liquor typically shows a light amber tone with a mild, earthy, gently bitter taste.

Technical Specifications

Usage Scenarios

• Simmer as a traditional herbal decoction
• Steep crushed seeds as a daily herbal tea
• Grind into powder for congee or culinary blends
• Combine with other herbs in seasonal soup preparations

Traditional Uses

In traditional herbal practice, milk thistle seed has long been prepared by crushing or grinding and simmering in water to make a bitter tonic tea, often taken in spring and autumn. Folk use commonly pairs it with herbs such as dandelion root or goji berry in decoctions. In TCM it is traditionally associated with clearing heat and supporting the liver channel, and it is also used in congee and daily wellness drinks.

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