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Sweet Soups & Desserts

Tangerine Peel, Apricot Kernel and Steamed Pear

traditionally used to dissolve phlegm and soothe a cough

In short: Tangerine Peel, Apricot Kernel and Steamed Pear is a sweet soups & dessert that traditionally used to dissolve phlegm and soothe a cough. It is most often made for respiratory & lung wellness, sleep & calm, everyday balance. Total time about 45 min. Key ingredients: aged tangerine peel, rock sugar.

By · Published under our editorial policy · Research library

Prep
15 min
Cook
30 min
Total
45 min
Makes
1–2 servings
Respiratory & Lung WellnessSleep & CalmEveryday Balance
Tangerine Peel, Apricot Kernel and Steamed Pear

Why people make this dish

Autumn is the season when Cantonese fruit stalls fill up with cool-weather pears and freshly picked mandarins destined to become aged tangerine peel. It is also the season when many people develop a stubborn cough that seems to cling on — especially after too many rich or fried foods, which can leave the throat feeling coated and phlegmy.

Steaming a pear whole and filling it with tangerine peel and apricot kernels is one of the most beloved old-fashioned remedies in Cantonese home cooking. The pear itself is cool and moistening — good for a hot, dry cough with thick phlegm. The aged tangerine peel is warming and moves qi downward, helping to transform and shift the phlegm. Together they balance each other, making this dish suitable for most cough types, hot or cold.

What studies say about the key ingredients

Traditional use is not the same as clinical proof. Here is the strongest human research we found for each ingredient, limitations included.

  • Tangerine peel · Randomized controlled trial, 72 participants · 2025
    The tangerine peel drink group showed significant reductions in body weight and triglycerides after the intervention compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Safety markers showed no adverse effects. Gut microbiota and serum metabolite profiles also differed.Limitation: Small pilot trial with only 55 of 72 participants completing. The fermented product is not the same as plain tangerine peel, and the control group is not described.PubMed 40225325

From the Nourilo Research Library. Findings come from specific doses, extracts and populations and may not apply to a home-cooked recipe.

Safety first — read before you cook

This is a traditional food, not a treatment. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist before making it a regular part of your diet if you:

  • are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are cooking for a young child;
  • take regular medicines — especially blood thinners, blood-pressure, diabetes or immune-suppressing drugs;
  • have a kidney, liver or heart condition, or a known food allergy.

Ingredient notes for this recipe

  • Apricot kernels: Raw apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which turns into cyanide after eating. EFSA estimates that half of one small raw kernel can exceed the safe level for a toddler. Use no more than the recipe states, never eat them raw, and do not serve them to young children. Source: European Food Safety Authority

Stop eating it and seek advice if you notice an allergic reaction or feel unwell. Safety notes reviewed 8 October 2026 · How we write safety notes

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