Soups
Green Olive Radish Water Chestnut Fig Soup (Qing Lan Qing Luo Bo Ma Ti Wu Hua Guo Tang)
Traditionally clears heat and soothes the throat
Why people make this soup
Green Chinese olives (qing lan) are a seasonal treat — they start out a little sour and astringent, but chew them and the taste turns sweet — and they are traditionally valued for a sore, swollen throat and feverish thirst. Pairing them with green radish makes the old “Green Dragon White Tiger” soup that people once relied on to soothe the throat in flu season. Add water chestnut, traditionally good for clearing children’s “heatiness,” and figs, said to help a sore throat and hoarse voice, and you have a refreshing, heat-clearing soup the whole family can enjoy.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People with a sore, swollen throat, hoarseness or feverish thirst; suitable for all ages.
- Also enjoyed by those with bronchitis (see tips, with meat added).
- A gentle, refreshing soup with no strong cautions noted in the source.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Green Chinese olive (qing lan): Sweet after chewing; traditionally associated with soothing a sore, swollen throat and feverish thirst, and is high in calcium.
- Green radish (qing luo bo): Traditionally clears lung and stomach heat.
- Water chestnut (ma ti): Traditionally clears the “dry fire” of the liver, lungs and stomach — especially valued for children.
- Dried fig (wu hua guo): Rich in vitamins and minerals; traditionally associated with soothing a sore throat and hoarse voice and supporting resilience.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green Chinese olives | 15 | Rinsed, lightly crushed with the back of a knife |
| Green radish | 1 | Peeled, chunked |
| Water chestnuts | ~300 g (half a jin) | Peeled, rinsed |
| Dried figs | 5 | Rinsed, halved |
Method
- Rinse the olives and lightly crush them with the back of a knife.
- Peel and chunk the green radish; peel and rinse the water chestnuts; rinse the figs and halve them.
- Simmer all ingredients in about 7 cups of water for 1 hour, until reduced to 4 bowls.
Bro Niu’s tips
This soup is fragrant with a faint tang. Adding some meat — lean pork or partridge — makes it tastier still, and it is then also good for people with bronchitis.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (阿布 / A Bu): Can I drink this soup for a sore, swollen throat and cough during pregnancy? Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink this soup during pregnancy — take it for three days running.
- Q (reader): Can I add job’s tears to this soup to dispel dampness? Bro Niu: Yes, job’s tears can be added to the soup ingredients — it supports the spleen and dispels dampness.
Published June 20, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
