Dried Persimmon and Black Fungus Soup

Why people make this soup

Dried persimmon comes in different varieties — the familiar round, flat domestic cakes and a softer, sweeter variety shaped like a chicken’s heart — and both are worth trying. The softer kind is especially popular with children. In tradition, dried persimmon is regarded as supporting the upright qi and as gentle on the lungs and spleen, and it has long been used to ease coughs, chronic intestinal upset and the bleeding of hemorrhoids. Today’s recipe is one such gentle dish.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suits those troubled by hemorrhoids, mild rectal bleeding or constipation
• Avoid fried, spicy and “heaty” foods while using it; keep the diet light
• If pregnant, use only with your doctor’s guidance; severe or persistent bleeding or pain needs medical attention — please see a doctor

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Dried persimmon cake (shi bing): traditionally regarded as supporting the upright qi and as gentle on the lungs and spleen; long associated with easing hemorrhoid bleeding (note: unlike fresh persimmon, the dried cake is considered milder)
• Black wood-ear fungus (hei mu er): in tradition linked with invigorating and supporting the blood and with a “holding” effect; combined with persimmon it is associated with easing both internal and external hemorrhoids
• Brown sugar (hong tang): rounds out the soup with gentle warmth and sweetness

Ingredients (2 bowls)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried persimmon cakes	2	de-stemmed, cut into pieces
Black wood-ear fungus	~7.5 g	soaked soft, stems removed
Brown sugar	to taste	added at the end
Water	4 bowls	reduces to ~2

Method

1. De-stem the persimmon cakes and cut into pieces. Soak the black fungus until soft and trim the stems.
2. Simmer both in 4 bowls of water for about 30 minutes, reducing to about 2 bowls.
3. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved.
4. Drink the soup and eat the ingredients.

Bro Niu’s tips

Black wood-ear fungus is traditionally regarded as supporting and “holding” the blood; simmered together with dried persimmon, the pair is associated with easing constipation and both internal and external hemorrhoids. If you take Western blood-stopping or anti-swelling medication, you can still have this soup — just leave about 2 hours between them.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (善 / reader): Can I use cloud-ear (yun er) instead of black wood-ear? Same effect? And I’m taking Western blood-stopping and anti-swelling medicine — can I drink this the same day? Bro Niu: Cloud-ear can replace black fungus and has a similar holding effect, only slightly weaker. It’s best to eat the fungus too. With Western medication, just leave about 2 hours before drinking the soup.
• Q (Nat): I’ve heard snow fungus shouldn’t be kept overnight — what about wood-ear? I made this soup but couldn’t finish it in one evening. Bro Niu: All fungus-type ingredients are best eaten the day they’re cooked. Scoop out all the snow fungus and wood-ear, and the remaining soup can be reheated and drunk the next day.
• Q (Didieggs): Can I use ordinary fresh persimmon instead of the dried cake? It’s hard to find dried ones in the US. Bro Niu: Fresh persimmon is high in tannins, which can bind with stomach acid, so it must be eaten after meals and is more cooling. The dried cake is gentler on the upright qi. If you only have fresh, eat it after a meal.

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Published January 13, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.