Soups
Loquat Leaf, Dragon Tongue Leaf, Tangerine Cake and Snow Pear Soup
Traditionally associated with clearing lung heat, relieving cough and preventing autumn dryness
Why people make this soup
As summer gives way to autumn, the air gradually dries and the lungs — which are considered particularly vulnerable to dryness in Chinese medicine — need some extra care. This soup has been shared in Bro Niu’s community for years because it works on multiple fronts: loquat leaf clears lung heat and calms the stomach, dragon tongue leaf (a southern Chinese herb available fresh or dried at Chinese herb shops) clears phlegm and eases wheezing, and the preserved tangerine cake adds a citrus-oil warmth that helps move stagnant qi in the chest. Snow pear brings natural sweetness and moisture. Together, these five ingredients make a soup that tastes genuinely good and is widely recommended for both preventing and easing autumn coughs, as well as for clearing lingering heat-related phlegm after a summer cold. The whole family can drink it.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for the whole family including children and the elderly; also safe during pregnancy.
- Best for heat-related coughs with phlegm, dry throat, or coughing after a fever.
- For cold-type coughs (white phlegm, aversion to cold, worse at night): Bro Niu suggests replacing the snow pear with apple (same quantity, cored) to make the soup slightly warmer in nature.
- For diabetics: soak the preserved tangerine cake briefly in hot water to wash off sugar before use; reduce to 1 piece.
- Bitter apricot kernels (bei xing) are mildly toxic — use only the stated amount (11 g / 3 qian). Do not exceed this.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Loquat leaf (pi pa ye): A key herb for clearing lung heat and descending lung qi; also calms stomach-related nausea and vomiting. Available dried at Chinese herb shops.
- Dragon tongue leaf (long li ye, Sauropus spatulifolius): Fresh or dried, this southern herb is associated with clearing the lungs, stopping coughs and calming wheezing. Fresh leaves are sometimes available at Asian grocers in summer; dried versions are available year-round at herb shops. To prepare dried dragon tongue leaf: soak in water for 30 minutes, discard the soaking water, then cook.
- Preserved tangerine cake (ju bing): A whole preserved tangerine; in food therapy it breaks down phlegm-accumulation and moves stagnant chest qi. Cut it in half or into pieces before adding to the pot.
- Bitter apricot kernel (bei xing): A classic Chinese herb for calming coughs and relieving asthma; mildly toxic in large amounts, so keep to the stated dose.
- Snow pear (xue li): Moistens the lungs, clears heat and reduces fire; provides natural sweetness to balance the slight bitterness of the herbs.
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loquat leaf (dried) | 19 g | Rinse well; available at herb shops |
| Dragon tongue leaf (dried) | 19 g (or 38 g fresh) | Soak 30 min, discard water; fresh also works |
| Preserved tangerine cake | 2 pieces | Cut into pieces |
| Bitter apricot kernel (bei xing) | 11 g | Do not exceed this amount |
| Snow pear | 2 medium | Washed, cored, cut into chunks (keep skin) |
Method
- Rinse all dried herbs briefly.
- If using dried dragon tongue leaf, soak in water for 30 minutes then drain and discard the soaking water.
- Core the snow pears and cut into chunks; keep the skin on.
- Cut the tangerine cakes into pieces.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 6–7 bowls (about 1.5–1.65 L) of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes until reduced to 3–4 bowls.
- Serve warm. Drink as a family; the whole pot can be consumed across one day.
Bro Niu’s tips
- This soup is suitable year-round — not just in autumn. Bro Niu says it can be drunk in any season: “If there is lots of phlegm, use just 1 tangerine cake; for a hoarse voice, add a quarter of a luo han guo (monk fruit).”
- For a cold-type cough with white phlegm that is worse at night: swap the snow pear for apple (cored, keep skin). The warmer nature of apple suits cold conditions better.
- For a child’s stubborn lingering cough that has not resolved after other treatments, Bro Niu suggests adding some crushed xinyi hua (magnolia flower) to the pot alongside the other herbs to help drain mucus.
- This soup is mild enough for children as young as 14 months (give half a bowl).
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Yumi): I had a cold and coughed for a while. Now I have a tickly throat and cough that won’t stop, with a little yellow phlegm in the morning and a slightly hoarse voice. Can I use this soup? Bro Niu: Yes — use loquat leaf and dragon tongue leaf (19 g each), 1 tangerine cake, 1 cored snow pear, and 5 bowls of water cooked down to 2 bowls. Drink 3 consecutive servings.
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Q (Emily): I started with a cold and now have a persistent cough day and night — I can’t sleep. The phlegm is white and transparent. Can this soup help? Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink this soup. White phlegm indicates a cold-type cough — swap the snow pear for apple (peeled and cored) to warm it up slightly. Try 2 servings first and see if it helps.
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Q (May): Can someone with diabetes use the tangerine cake? Bro Niu: Soak the tangerine cake briefly in hot water to remove some of the sugar before using. One piece should be fine. Luo han guo (monk fruit) is a good herb for regulating blood sugar, so it can be added without concern.
Published August 12, 2017 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
