Soups
Papaya, Snow Fungus & Lily Bulb Dessert Soup
Traditionally moistens the lungs and supports a healthy complexion
Why people make this sweet soup
Papaya has long been a beauty favorite — rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, traditionally valued for supporting clear, even skin. When a generous gift of fruit means a couple of ripe papayas need using up, Bro Niu turns them into this gentle dessert soup. With snow fungus, lotus seeds and lily bulb, it is a kind bowl for anyone who burns the midnight oil and wakes up looking washed out.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Good for those who keep late nights or have a dull, tired complexion; suitable for young and old
- Helpful for those who feel a little overheated (liver or heart “fire”)
- Pregnant women should avoid papaya; new mothers and nursing mothers suit it very well
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Papaya (mu gua): rich in vitamin C and antioxidants; traditionally associated with supporting an even, radiant complexion
- Snow fungus (xue er): traditionally moistens the lungs and nourishes the skin
- Lotus seeds (lian zi): traditionally calm and support the spleen
- Lily bulb (bai he): traditionally moistens the lungs and eases restlessness
- Rock sugar (bing tang): moistening, for gentle sweetness
Ingredients (4–5 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ripe papaya | 1 | Peel, core, cut into chunks |
| Snow fungus | ~11 g | Soak soft, trim base |
| Lotus seeds | ~40 g | Rinse |
| Lily bulb | ~40 g | Rinse |
| Rock sugar | to taste |
Method
- Peel and core the papaya, then cut into chunks.
- Soak the snow fungus until soft and trim off the hard base.
- Rinse the lotus seeds and lily bulb.
- Simmer everything in 8 bowls of water down to 4–5 bowls, then add rock sugar and stir until dissolved.
Bro Niu’s tips
This sweet soup is light and pleasant — fine for young and old, and helpful for those who feel overheated. But again: skip the papaya during pregnancy; new and nursing mothers, on the other hand, suit it very well.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (reader): My gums are swollen and sore and I feel “heaty” — what can I drink? Bro Niu: Swollen gums may come from “heat,” or from a cavity. Rinse often with warm salt water to help calm inflammation. You can also make a soup of soybean sprouts with soft tofu and lean pork.
- Q (Ada): I had pneumonia and have recovered, but still cough with green-to-pale-yellow phlegm — what food therapy can I use? Bro Niu: Try 1 snow pear (cored), 40 g of sweet and bitter apricot kernels (nan bei xing) and half a golden luo han guo, simmered in 5 bowls of water down to 3, taken over a day, to help clear heat, soothe the throat and ease phlegm.
Published May 7, 2025 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
