Soups
Hai Yu Zhu (Solomon's Seal), Pear, Apple and Water Chestnut Sweet Soup
traditionally used to moisten the lungs, nourish yin, relieve dry skin, and support healthy blood pressure
Why people make this soup
When autumn arrives, cooler, drier air can leave the skin feeling rough, the throat scratchy, and the bowels sluggish. Traditional Chinese food therapy calls this seasonal pattern “autumn dryness” (秋燥), and addresses it with ingredients that moisten and nourish from the inside out. This soup does exactly that. The key ingredient, hai yu zhu, is classified as a type of huang jing (Polygonatum), sharing similar nourishing properties with the more commonly known yu zhu, but with a more fragrant, mellow flavour. Combined with juicy snow pears, apples, and crisp water chestnuts, the result is a naturally sweet, clear soup that needs very little preparation and tastes wonderful. Bro Niu recommends it for the whole family through the autumn and winter months — it is particularly helpful for those with a tendency toward sallow complexion or sluggish circulation.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for all ages — adults, children, and elderly alike
- Particularly helpful for: dry skin, dry cough, dry or scratchy throat, constipation in autumn
- Also associated with supporting healthy blood pressure and blood fat levels
- Pregnant women can also drink this soup
- If you have a wet cough with yellow phlegm, it is still suitable as long as the cough is heat-related (daytime cough, thick sticky phlegm)
- Water chestnut (crystal pear) can be substituted for snow pear if snow pear is not available
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hai yu zhu: A form of Solomon’s seal (a relative of huang jing) that is used in Chinese food therapy to clear heat, nourish yin, generate body fluids, moisten dryness, and support the lungs. It is also traditionally associated with regulating blood circulation, lowering blood fat, and reducing blood pressure. It cooks up fragrant and mellow, with no astringent aftertaste.
- Snow pear (xue li): Moistens the lungs, clears heat, and supports the generation of fluids. A classic autumn fruit for cooling and hydrating.
- Apple: Supports digestion, provides fibre, and adds gentle sweetness and acidity.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): Cooling, crisp, and hydrating. Traditionally supports clear, healthy urination and helps dispel heat.
- Rock sugar: A gentle sweetener that supports the lungs; preferred over refined white sugar for this type of soup.
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hai yu zhu | ~19 g (5 qian) | Soak and rinse; available at Chinese herbalists |
| Snow pear | 2 medium | Scrub the skin clean; core; cut into chunks (keep skin on) |
| Apple | 2 medium | Scrub the skin clean; core; cut into chunks (keep skin on) |
| Water chestnuts | 6 pieces | Peel |
| Rock sugar | to taste | Add near the end of cooking |
Method
- Soak and rinse the hai yu zhu.
- Scrub snow pears and apples thoroughly; remove cores and cut into large chunks (the skin is kept on for extra flavour and nutrition).
- Peel the water chestnuts.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 7 bowls of water (approximately 1.75 litres).
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
- Add rock sugar and stir until dissolved.
- Serve; eat the pears, apples, and water chestnuts alongside the soup.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is light and nourishing — suitable for young and old alike, and pleasant to drink regularly throughout autumn and winter. It is also helpful for people with sallow complexions, sluggish blood circulation, or elevated blood pressure. Keeping the skin on the pears and apples during cooking draws out more flavour and nutrients. If you cannot find snow pear, crystal pear or water pear (水晶梨) works as a substitute.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (reader): My granddaughter just started school and is having frequent urination — she did not have this before. Is there a food therapy approach? Bro Niu: Children can have emotional stress just like adults, even if they cannot express it. She is probably not yet adjusted to the new environment — more talking and reassurance can help enormously. In the meantime, a sweet soup of white gingko nuts (bai guo), euryale seeds (qian shi), and tofu skin (fu zhu) can support bladder control. Gingko and euryale both have a gentle astringent effect on urinary function.
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Q (婷子): Can I use water pear (crystal pear) instead of snow pear? My family accidentally bought the wrong kind. Also, we have coughs with phlegm — can we still drink this? Bro Niu: Crystal pear is fine as a substitute. For phlegm and cough: as long as it is a daytime cough with heat signs (yellow, sticky phlegm or throat discomfort), this soup is suitable.
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Q (wai): Is this soup safe to drink during pregnancy? Bro Niu: Yes, this soup is suitable for pregnant women.
Published September 20, 2018 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
