Soups
Sauropus Leaf, Tangerine Cake and Apple Sweet Soup
traditionally taken to moisten the lungs and ease a dry cough
Why people make this soup
Autumn is dry, and dryness tends to “harm the lungs” — dry throat, cracked lips, a stubborn dry cough, even dry-bowel constipation. Bro Niu spotted fresh sauropus leaf at the flower stall, a favorite for a hot, dry cough, and put it with apple, tangerine cake and sweet apricot kernel to make a soothing sweet soup that traditionally moistens the lungs, supports the spleen and helps keep things moving.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits all ages; clear, mild and pleasant. Also helpful for tiredness and for those with weaker digestion.
- Use sweet (south) apricot kernel only. Avoid the bitter (north) kernel here — it is mildly toxic and should not be over-used.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Sauropus leaf (long li ye): A classic ingredient for lung-heat cough; traditionally used to clear and moisten the lungs.
- Tangerine cake (jie bing): Traditionally used to moisten the lungs, promote fluids and ease cough and phlegm.
- Apple (ping guo): Strengthens the spleen and stomach, benefits the lungs and bowels, and is associated with supporting immunity. Best eaten with the skin on.
- Sweet apricot kernel (tian xing ren): Traditionally used to moisten the lungs and the bowels.
Ingredients (4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh sauropus leaf | ~38 g (1 liang) | Washed |
| Apples | 2 | Skin on, cored, chunked |
| Tangerine cake | 2 pieces | Rinsed, cut up |
| Sweet apricot kernels | ~38 g (1 liang) | Rinsed |
Method
- Wash the fresh sauropus leaf. Scrub the apples clean (skin on), then chunk and core. Rinse and cut the tangerine cake; rinse the apricot kernels.
- Put everything into a pot with 7 bowls of water and simmer for 40 minutes, reducing to about 4 bowls. Done.
Bro Niu’s tips
Clear, mild and good for all ages. Scrub the apples with salt to remove pesticide and wax from the skin — apple is most beneficial with the skin left on. Besides easing a dry cough, this soup is good for tiredness and for those whose digestion is on the weaker side.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (fanny): Is “sweet apricot kernel” the same as south or north apricot kernel? Bro Niu: Sweet apricot kernel is south apricot (nan xing) — it moistens the lungs, beautifies the skin and moistens the bowels. North apricot (bei xing) is the bitter kernel — it eases cough and wheezing but is mildly toxic and should not be over-used.
- Q (Joyce): My 3.5-year-old has had an on-and-off cold for over 10 days, still some yellowish nasal mucus and a few dry coughs. Any soup to clear it? Bro Niu: Use this soup, but swap the tangerine cake for half a golden monk fruit to help loosen phlegm and ease cough; take for about 3 batches.
- Q (Step): My 6-year-old has a runny/blocked nose, now with cough and pale-yellow mucus, coughing a couple of times at night. What soup suits? Bro Niu: Night cough is likely post-nasal drip. Simmer 8–10 magnolia buds (xin yi hua) with 3 spring-onion whites in 3 bowls of water for 5–7 minutes; take for 3 doses.
Published September 18, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.
