Soups
Three-Bean Soup (San Dou Tang)
Traditionally used to support liver health, reduce dampness and aid digestion
Why people make this soup
Fatty liver has become one of the more common diet-related health concerns in modern cities, often progressing quietly from a mild stage — where a person simply feels a little tired and craves rich food — to a more noticeable state with digestive discomfort. In Chinese food therapy, this Three-Bean Soup has a long track record as a gentle, daily-use remedy associated with clearing excess “heat and dampness” from the body, two concepts that broadly map onto the conditions that traditional practitioners believe allow fatty liver to develop. The soup tastes naturally sweet and slightly earthy, and it is easy to make a big batch.
Bro Niu points out that this is a nice-tasting soup the whole family can share — not just those with liver concerns.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults and children with mild fatty liver, sluggish digestion, or a tendency to feel heavy and bloated
- Also useful as a general summer or humid-season soup for those who feel weighed down and have a thick, greasy tongue coating
- People with gout must avoid this soup, as beans are high in purines
- People with diabetes can drink the soup itself but should limit how many beans they eat at one sitting
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Adzuki bean (chi xiao dou / Vigna angularis): One of the most classic Chinese food-therapy ingredients for clearing dampness and supporting the kidneys; traditionally considered to help the body process and eliminate excess fluid
- Mung bean (lv dou / Vigna radiata): Cooling and detoxifying in Chinese tradition; associated with clearing internal heat and supporting the liver
- Black soybean, green kernel (qing ren hei dou): Nourishing to the kidney and liver; the black skin is thought to add an additional tonic quality while the green interior supports the middle jiao
- Dried tangerine peel (chen pi): Regulates qi and supports digestion; also helps reduce any bloating that beans might otherwise cause
Ingredients (3–4 bowls)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adzuki beans | ~37 g | Rinse and soak 1 hour |
| Mung beans | ~37 g | Rinse and soak 1 hour |
| Black soybeans, green kernel | ~37 g | Rinse and soak 1 hour |
| Dried tangerine peel | 1 piece | Soak and rinse |
| Rock sugar | small amount | Optional; add at the end |
| Water | ~1.5 litres | Approx. 6 bowls |
Method
- Rinse all three types of beans and the dried tangerine peel, then soak everything together in cold water for about 1 hour.
- Drain, then add fresh water — about 6 bowls — to a pot and bring to a boil.
- Add all the soaked ingredients and return to a boil.
- Reduce to a medium simmer, cover, and cook for approximately 1 hour until the beans are tender.
- Add rock sugar to taste and stir until dissolved.
- Serve warm. Drink the soup; you can also eat some of the beans.
Bro Niu’s tips
Nutritious and well-balanced, this soup is fine for all ages. However, because beans are relatively high in purines, anyone with gout must give it a miss. If you are watching your weight and worried about the sugar content from eating too many beans, Bro Niu’s suggestion is simple: drink the soup and eat just a small amount of the beans — you still get the benefit without the extra calories. No need to skip dinner — nutrition still matters, even when managing weight.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Li, reader): Can the soup be made without rock sugar? I am quite overweight and worried about diabetes. Bro Niu: Absolutely, leave out the sugar. If you drink the soup and eat only a small number of beans, you will not gain weight from this.
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Q (reader, re: gout and fatty liver together): I have both fatty liver and very high uric acid. My body also tends toward the cold and damp side. Can I still follow this recipe? Bro Niu: For a combination of dampness, fatty liver and high uric acid, I would suggest adzuki bean and coix seed congee instead — adzuki beans contain very little purine and can actually help suppress uric acid. Add a piece of tangerine peel if your constitution runs cold.
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Q (Pui, reader): Can a cancer patient on chemotherapy and radiotherapy drink this soup? She has fatty liver and raised liver enzymes. Bro Niu: Cancer patients can take this soup. During chemo and radiotherapy, black wood ear and snow fungus soup is also helpful as it can support blood cell production. For raised liver enzymes, wu wei zi (schisandra) 4 qian with roasted licorice 1 qian in 4 bowls of water, simmered down to 2 bowls, is worth trying.
Published December 13, 2015 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
