Almond Milk, Snow Fungus and Papaya Sweet Soup

Why people make this sweet soup

Papaya is rich in papain (a digestive enzyme), beta-carotene, vitamin C and natural sugars. In traditional food therapy it is associated with supporting healthy digestion, nourishing the skin, easing high blood pressure, kidney and bowel conditions. This gentle, naturally sweet dessert soup has been a staple of Cantonese food therapy for generations. Combined with the collagen-like gelatinous properties of snow fungus and the lung-moistening, skin-nourishing associations of almond, this becomes a soup that supports the skin from the inside out — warming, pleasant, and beautiful in colour.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most people, including children and the elderly
• Pregnant women should avoid papaya — traditional food therapy notes that papaya juice is associated with stimulating uterine contractions
• Eating very large amounts of papaya may cause the skin to take on a yellowish tint due to its high beta-carotene content; enjoy in moderation

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Papaya (mu gua): Rich in papain, beta-carotene, vitamin C and minerals; traditionally associated with supporting digestion, nourishing skin, and supporting healthy blood pressure and kidney function; the papain enzyme is thought to help break down proteins and support gut health
• Snow fungus (xue er): Known as the “poor person’s bird’s nest” in Chinese tradition — its gelatinous, collagen-like polysaccharide content is traditionally associated with moistening the skin, nourishing lung yin, and supporting anti-ageing; mild and suitable for all ages
• Almond powder / apricot kernels (xing ren): Nourishes lung yin, moistens dryness, supports healthy skin; the combination of sweet (southern) and bitter (northern) kernels is classic
• Rock sugar (bing tang): Milder and less heating than granulated sugar; traditionally used in Cantonese sweet soups to nourish the lungs and moisten the throat

Ingredients (4 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Papaya	1 medium	Peel, remove seeds, cut into chunks
Almond powder	2 tablespoons	Mix with a little water to make a thin slurry before adding; or use 38 g whole almond kernels
Snow fungus	9 g	Soak until fully expanded; remove hard base; tear into pieces
Rock sugar	To taste	Add at the end
Water	7 bowls (~1.4 L)

Method

1. Soak the snow fungus in cold water for 30 minutes until fully expanded. Remove the hard base and tear into smaller pieces.
2. Peel and de-seed the papaya. Cut into large chunks.
3. Mix the almond powder with a little water to form a thin, smooth slurry; set aside.
4. Place the papaya and snow fungus in a pot with 7 bowls of water.
5. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 1 hour.
6. Stir in the almond powder slurry and rock sugar.
7. Simmer until the sugar dissolves completely, then serve warm or at room temperature.

Bro Niu’s tips

This sweet soup is suitable for the whole family. One gentle caution: papaya is rich in beta-carotene, and eating very large amounts over time can cause the skin to develop a mild yellowish tint — simply enjoy in moderation. More importantly, pregnant women should not eat papaya, as traditional food therapy notes that its juice may stimulate uterine contractions. If almond powder is not available, 1 liang (38 g) of whole sweet and bitter apricot kernels can be used instead — simply add them with the other ingredients at the start.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (ching, reader): I don’t have almond powder. Can I use whole sweet and bitter apricot kernels instead? Bro Niu: Yes, use 1 liang (38 g) of whole kernels — that works perfectly.

• Q (匿名, reader): I just had a cardiac procedure (stenting). What food therapy is suitable for recovery? Bro Niu: You can try fresh burdock root, shiitake mushrooms, snow fungus and red dates simmered with lean pork. This supports cardiovascular health and provides gentle nourishment.

• Q (Cindy, reader): My 86-year-old mother has frequent urge to defecate but passes very little each time. She is very distressed. What can help? Bro Niu: In older people this is often related to qi and blood deficiency. Try Chinese angelica root (dang gui) 5 qian, cistanche (rou cong rong) 5 qian, and 4 dried figs simmered with lean pork for 3 servings. Warm water throughout the day, plus black wood ear fungus, snow fungus and black sesame paste, are also helpful daily habits.

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Published June 19, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.