Soups
Fritillary Bulb, Ophiopogon and Snow Pear Soup
traditionally associated with dissolving phlegm, clearing heat from the lungs, and moistening a dry, irritated throat
Why people make this soup
Many people find that after a cold is mostly over, the cough lingers — sometimes for weeks. The throat feels dry and scratchy, sleep is disrupted by coughing fits, and ordinary cough syrups only get you so far. In Cantonese food therapy, this pattern is recognised as a combination of residual lung heat and insufficient lung moisture (yin deficiency). Fritillary bulb and ophiopogon root together are among the most classic tools for this exact situation.
This three-ingredient soup (with pear) is one of Bro Niu’s most-recommended home remedies because it is gentle, genuinely pleasant to drink, and appropriate for the whole family.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suitable for adults, children, and pregnant women
- Best suited for a dry, heat-type cough: persistent cough after illness, dry or slightly sore throat, thirst, yellow or sticky phlegm, insomnia or restless sleep, and tendency toward dry stools
- This soup also traditionally benefits those with lung yin deficiency (dry mouth, dry throat, restlessness, insomnia, constipation)
- Less appropriate for a cold-type cough with thin, white, watery phlegm and no dryness — in that case a warming remedy would be more fitting
- If you are experiencing yellow-green phlegm or fever, the underlying inflammation should be addressed medically first; food therapy is a supportive role here, not the primary treatment. Please see a doctor
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Pearl fritillary bulb (zhen zhu chuan bei mu): One of the most valued herbs in Cantonese respiratory food therapy; the pearl variety is smaller, milder in bitterness, and widely used in cooking. Traditionally associated with dissolving stubborn phlegm, clearing lung heat, and moistening the respiratory tract. Can be used whole or ground into powder for faster effect
- Ophiopogon root (mai dong): A sweet, slightly cooling root widely used to nourish lung and stomach yin; traditionally associated with moistening dryness, clearing heat, and relieving irritable thirst or insomnia associated with yin deficiency
- Snow pear (xue li): Naturally moistening and mildly cooling; in food therapy associated with soothing the throat and lungs, reducing mild internal heat, and adding pleasant sweetness to the broth
- Rock candy (optional): Mildly moistening; softens the slight bitterness of fritillary
Ingredients (2 cups)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl fritillary bulb (chuan bei mu) | 3 qian (~9 g) | Whole or lightly crushed; or ground to powder for faster effect |
| Snow pear | 2 medium | Washed, cored, cut into chunks (do not peel if preferred) |
| Ophiopogon root (mai dong) | 4 qian (~12 g) | Rinse and soak briefly |
| Rock candy | Small amount | Optional; add to taste |
| Water | 5 bowls |
Method
- Rinse the fritillary bulb and ophiopogon root.
- Wash the snow pears, remove the cores, and cut into chunks. There is no need to peel.
- Combine all ingredients in a pot with 5 bowls of water.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer and cook for about 1 hour until approximately 2 cups remain.
- If using rock candy, add it in the last few minutes and stir until dissolved.
- Drink the soup warm and eat the pear pieces.
Bro Niu’s tips
Pearl fritillary is the preferred variety — milder and less bitter than regular chuan bei mu, making it much more palatable, especially for children. It is more expensive but worth it for compliance. If you want a stronger effect, lightly crush or grind the fritillary into powder — the medicinal compounds are released more readily this way. The soup can also be made with apple instead of pear for variety. For children who are not keen on drinking soup, the pear pieces themselves can be given to eat.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Jennifer, 2024): I’m in my 30s and have been coughing for two months. I recovered for two weeks and now it’s come back. In the mornings I have yellow-green phlegm, which turns white by noon. What soup would help? Bro Niu: Yellow-green phlegm indicates that the inflammation hasn’t fully resolved — the best course of action is to see a doctor for treatment. Alongside that, you can try steaming snow pear with fritillary powder (3 qian) — that will help with phlegm clearance.
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Q (Karen lau): My 2-year-8-month-old has had a cold cough for a week with lots of phlegm and nasal mucus, mostly coughing in the daytime. Can they drink this soup? Bro Niu: Yes, children can have this soup. If there is a lot of nasal discharge, add 6 magnolia flower buds (xin yi hua) to the pot as well.
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Q (scy): Does fritillary need to be crushed before being cooked in soup or simmered whole? Bro Niu: Whole fritillary bulbs can be simmered just fine. The reason people grind them into powder nowadays is mainly because fritillary is expensive and because children may not eat the whole pieces; the powder is more potent, but whole pieces work too.
Published April 20, 2012 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 4 min read.
