Fresh Lotus Seed, Lily Bulb & Snow Pear Sweet Soup

Why people make this sweet soup

Come July and August, many people notice their sleep deteriorates — they lie awake feeling vaguely restless, the room feeling stifling even with the fan on. In traditional Chinese dietary therapy, this kind of heat-driven sleeplessness is linked to what practitioners call “heart fire” rising. Fresh lotus seeds, available at Asian grocers in the height of summer, have long been valued for their ability to settle this kind of agitation and bring a quiet calm. Paired with lily bulb, which is similarly associated with soothing the mind and moistening the lungs, and snow pear, which adds moisture and natural sweetness, the result is a light, pleasant dessert soup that is far more enjoyable to take than a pill. The combination is also traditionally considered supportive after a few too many drinks, with the pear and lily believed to help the liver recover.

Method

1. Halve each fresh lotus seed and remove the green embryo if you prefer a milder flavour (or leave it in for extra clearing effect).
2. Separate the lily bulb into individual petals and rinse.
3. Wash the snow pears thoroughly, leave the skin on, cut into chunks and remove the cores.
4. Combine all ingredients except the rock sugar in a pot with 2.1 L of water.
5. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 minutes until reduced to about 1.2 L.
6. Add rock sugar, stir until dissolved, then serve.

Nourilo’s Tips

The lotus seed embryo has a pleasant bitterness that is particularly beneficial for people with heart fire, nervous restlessness, elevated blood pressure, or nervous exhaustion — those are the people who should definitely keep the embryo in the soup. If you are just looking for a refreshing summer sweet soup and prefer milder flavour, removing it is fine.